Hormone-Dependent Cancers
This group works in the area of hormone-dependent cancers, particularly breast and prostate carcinomas. Breast and prostate cancers are 2 of the major killers in Western society, and their incidence is increasing. The group is focussed primarily on determining the mechanisms that control how hormones act in these tumours. In particular, how oestrogen in breast cancer and androgens (testosterone) in prostate cancer regulate proliferation of the cells and growth. This involves understanding how these hormones signal in the cancer cells, and we have been focussed on the protein receptors for some of these studies, such as the testosterone (androgen) receptor and the HER2 receptor, as well as some of the interactions with the nuclear oestrogen receptor at the level of the DNA and gene regulation. By understanding some of these cellular processes, the group plans to develop novel therapeutic strategies to limit growth and progression of these diseases.
A critical link in the production of receptors is the messenger RNA (mRNA), which carries genetic information from the chromosomes in the nucleus to the protein production machinery in the cytoplasm of the cell. It is now clear that the factors responsible for regulating the fate of mRNA are of prime importance in determining how much receptor is produced. The expertise of the laboratory lies in the identification and characterisation of novel proteins that target specific mRNAs. The group has made several important discoveries involving novel mRNA-protein interactions in the above-mentioned systems. The recent identification of a new set of nuclear receptor coregulator proteins that regulate oestrogen and androgen action at the DNA transcription level in cancer cells has generated a lot of interest in the field.
Senior Research Staff
Professor Peter Leedman
Deputy Director, WAIMR
Research: hormone action in breast and prostate cancers; thyroid disease |
Dr Shane Colley
Fellow
Research: nuclear receptors and their co-regulators; SLIRP in breast and prostate cancer; SLIRP in regulating energy and lipid metabolism |
)
)