Dartmouth Researchers Identify New Factor in Breast Cancer

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Lupien Lab researchers, from left, are Elizabeth Ballantyne, Mathieu Lupien, Ph.D., Luca Magnani, Ph.D., and Xiaoyang Zhang. (Courtesy Dartmouth-Hitchcock)

Researchers at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center have discovered a new “pioneer” factor, called PBX1, that may help unlock the keys to understanding how breast cancer tumors develop resistance to current therapies.

Led by Mathieu Lupien, PhD, assistant professor of genetics at Dartmouth Medical School and the Cancer Center, the scientists identified a protein—PBX1—which appears to be related to treatment response. The greater the presence of this protein, the more aggressive a tumor appears to be.

Data suggest that PBX1 may contribute to development of resistance to common estrogen-based treatments for breast cancer. PBX1 may be able to edit and promote the expression of genes that allow the cells to adapt to therapy and become resistant.

Read the full story at DMS news.

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