Molecular mechanism and clinical relevance of endocrine response in breast cancer
The Oesterreich lab includes technicians, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are trained in a multi-disciplinary research environment to work in basic, translational, and clinical aspects of breast cancer research. Specifically, our research projects focus on the role of co-regulator proteins in estrogen response in breast cancer. Estrogen mediates its potent mitogenic effects through the estrogen receptor (ER), which has been a successful target for endocrine therapy in breast cancer. Despite the success of such treatment, de novo or acquired resistance remains a major problem. A better understanding of how ER works is critical for the development of more efficient therapies, and better prediction for who should receive which form of endocrine therapy.
Over the last years, many dogmas in hormone response have changed, which has opened many exciting novel research areas. Examples are estrogen-mediated repression of gene transcription, and the role of co-repressors in this process, the close connection between estrogen signaling and epigenetic regulation of gene transcription, and the role of regulatory elements which are located far outside the promoter of the estrogen regulated genes, and which might even be on other chromosomes. We are studying these processes using state-of-the-art molecular and cellular techniques, mouse models, and clinical specimens. The ultimate goal of Dr. Oesterreich's research is to use this knowledge for improved diagnosis and endocrine treatment of breast cancer patients.
Back to Top