Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant form of liver cancer and a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Inactivation of different tumor suppressors, whose cooperation forms tumor suppressor networks, has been linked to HCC development, but the genetic events involved in HCC are still poorly understood. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is essential for cell growth and metabolism, and its hyper-activation plays an important role in pathogenesis and prognosis of HCC. However, the relationship between mTOR signaling dysregulation and the tumor suppressor networks in HCC, and whether mTOR inhibition could be a therapeutic strategy in some types of HCC remain largely unknown. Here I propose to use a genome-wide CRISPR knockout library to screen potential tumor suppressors in implanted mouse HCC models. The mouse hepatocytes depleted of different mTOR pathway components, with differential mTOR activities, will be separately infected with the CRISPR knockout library and implanted into immunocompromised mice to induce tumor. The goal of the proposed project is to understand the role of mTOR signaling dysregulation in the tumor suppressor networks in HCC. The specific objectives are: 1) to understand the tumor suppressor networks in HCC with differential mTOR activities in a genome-wide scale, 2) to examine how mTOR dysregulation controls the landscape of tumor suppressors, and 3) to explore whether mTOR inhibition could be developed as a treatment for specific subclasses of HCC. Using a combination of state-of-the-art CRISPR screening, molecular and cell biology, mouse models, next-generation sequencing, and bioinformatics tools, this project will link the mTOR signaling to tumor suppressor networks. This study will also unravel fundamental mechanisms underlying liver cancer development and contribute to potential targeted therapy. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologyliver cancernatural sciencesbiological sciencescell biology Keywords mTOR mTORC1 mTORC2 TSC1 PTEN hepatocellular carcinoma liver cancer tumor suppressor CRISPR genome-wide screening metabolism Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2017 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITAT BASEL Net EU contribution € 187 419,60 Address PETERSPLATZ 1 4051 Basel Switzerland See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Nordwestschweiz Basel-Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 187 419,60