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Synthetic lethal targeting of lobular breast cancer

Year:
2014
Duration:
35 months
Approved budget:
$199,792.00
Researchers:
Professor Parry Guilford
Health issue:
Cancer (oncology)
Proposal type:
Breast Cancer Research Project
Lay summary
The inactivation of tumour suppressor genes is the most common of all genetic events in cancer, but not one that can be targeted by conventional therapy because the tumour suppressor protein is lost from the cancer cell. However, the loss of these genes is predicted to create vulnerabilities in the cancer cell that can nevertheless be targeted with drugs. We have compelling data showing that the loss of the tumour suppressor gene CDH1, an event that is a hallmark of the lobular subtype of breast cancer, creates vulnerabilities which can be targeted with drugs. In this project we will develop new breast cancer treatments which exploit these vulnerabilities.