PROMOTING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BETWEEN INDIA AND THE U.S.
Microbiology
Michigan State University
We are investigating the mechanisms by which estrogen and antiestrogens regulate the cell cycle in human breast cancer cells. A majority of primary breast tumors require estrogen to proliferate, and arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle in the absence of estrogen or presence of antiestrogens. Because of this, antiestrogens are often used in the treatment of breast cancer patients. We are studying the effects of estrogen/antiestrogens on the activities of proteins that regulate progression from G1 to S phase, such as the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (pRb) and cyclin dependent kinases (cdks). Our long term goal is to identify changes that occur in breast tumor cells as they progress to an antiestrogen resistant phenotype, because the development of antiestrogen resistance causes treatment failure in many breast cancer patients.