Seeking to inhibit protein interactions that cause breast cancer

Researchers working with Professor Will Pomerantz seek to inhibit protein interactions that cause breast cancer. Working in collaboration with Professor Julie Ostrander from the Masonic Cancer Center, Pomerantz and his research group are helping to investigate the role of a nuclear receptor coactivator protein, PELP1, in breast cancer initiation and resistance to tamoxifen therapy using in vitro models of early mammary carcinogenesis. Helping to tease apart a new cytoplasmic role for PELP1, Pomerantz' researchers are designing specific PELP1-LXXLL cell permeable peptides to inhibit PELP1 protein protein interactions. These peptides will be developed as tool compounds to study the molecular mechanism of cytoplasmic PELP1. This research is being funded through a one-year Masonic Cancer Center Translational Breast Cancer Award to support research in the biology, prevention, detection, diagnosis, and/or treatment of breast cancer.