Invasion and Metastasis - PhD and honours Projects - Molecular regulation of breast cancer EMP
Molecular regulation of breast cancer EMP
Project Type
PhD
Summary
Supervisors: Prof Erik Thompson, Dr Mark Waltham
Our studies focus on the mesenchymal-like human breast cancer cell line PMC42 and a subline with epithelial properties, PMC42-LA. Both cell lines become more mesenchymal in response to EGF (reviewed in Hugo et al., 2007). We have initiated gene array analysis of this model, comparing early and late times of EGF treatment in PMC42 and PMC42-LA cells. The student will examine the importance of specific factors identified using gene array analysis for the EGF-induced EMP. Factors found to broadly associate with breast cancer EMP will be targeted, and effects measured by morphology, migration, immunocytochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR. Ultimately, the importance of a specific pathway will be tested by the introduction of dominant negative or constitutively active expression constructs and extended to clinical cancer specimens.