Breast Cancer Program

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Scientific Accomplishments

A large number of scientific accomplishments from the Program have been published over recent years. These include the following, representative of all Specific Aims of the Program:

  • First identification of the estrogenic properties of heavy metals in the breast and uterus (Martin with Johnson, Hilakivi-Clarke, and Clarke) (Johnson et al., Nat Med, 2003)
  • Identification of the importance of early life dietary exposures (fetal life; childhood) in affecting susceptibility to breast cancer in animal models (Hilakivi-Clarke and Clarke) (Hilakivi-Clarke et al., J Nutr, 2005)
  • Demonstration of benefit of paroxetine sulfate for the treatment of hot flashes (Isaacs and Gehan) (Stearns et al., J Clin Oncol, 2005)
  • Implication of caveolin-1 in affecting responsiveness to taxanes (Clarke, with Liu and Wang) (Shajahan et al., J Biol Chem, 2007) (Shajahan et al., J Bio Chem, 2007)
  • Completion of the first meta analysis of soy intake and breast cancer risk (Hiliakivi-Clarke and Clarke) (Trock et al., J Natl Cancer Inst, 2006)
  • Demonstration of the role of BRCA1 in affecting ERα and PR function in breast development and cancer (Rosen with Fan and Furth)
  • Development of the first transgenic mouse model of ERα+ and estrogen responsive mammary cancer and DCIS (Furth)
  • Demonstration of increased sensitivity of breast MRI for the detection of breast cancer in hereditary breast cancer (Isaacs) (Lehman et al., Radiology, 2007).
    Establishment of the potential value of real time imaging with reflectance confocal microscopy in breast cancer diagnosis (Liu with Sidawy, Makariou, and Furth) (Tilli et al., J Biomed Opt, 2007)
  • Identification of delta3 AIB1 and evidence of the role of AIB1 in breast cancer cell growth (Riegel and Wellstein) (Oh et al., Cancer Res, 2004)
  • Establishment of the role of the unfolded protein response in endocrine resistance (Clarke with Riggins and Wang) (Gomez et al., FASEB J, 2007)
  • Identification of the mechanism of matriptase activation (Johnson and Dickson) (Oberst et al., J Biol Chem, 2003)
  • Dietary and physical intervention successfully modified pregnancy hormone levels and gestational diabetes - factors associated with increased breast cancer risk (Hilakivi-Clarke) (Kinnunen et al., Eur J Clin Nutr, 2007; Lof et al., Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 2008)
  • First implication of ERRγ in endocrine resistance in invasive lobular breast cancers (Riggins and Clarke) (Riggins et al., Cancer Res, 2008)
  • Identification of the role of EGFRvIII in breast cancer (Tang) (Yu et al., Cancer Biol Ther, 2008)
  • Demonstration of the role of the Syk tyrosine kinase as a breast cancer tumor suppressor (Mueller and Gehan) (Moroni et al., Cancer Res, 2004)