Suzanne Fuqua Laboratory

RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

An internationally recognized breast cancer research program has existed for many years in the group that now constitutes the Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and this program offers a unique opportunity for scientists interested in careers in translational breast cancer research. Dr Fuqua has been a member of this team of investigators since 1985. The diversity of research interests in Dr. Fuqua’s laboratory, combined with this team of investigators, provides a unique resource for those interested in translational breast cancer research.

Investigators appointed in the Breast Center represent a mix of different disciplines including clinical science, pathology, molecular genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, and biostatistics. This team of investigators have a strong record of accomplishments and productivity in translational breast cancer research and they provide a critical resource for the training of young clinical and basic researchers.

Among the various research programs in the Breast Center are studies of prognostic and predictive biomarkers, estrogen receptor structure and function, molecular mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance, transcription factors and signal transduction, retinoids in prevention and treatment, genetics of normal, premalignant and malignant breast disease, growth factors, ras, and AP-1 transcription factors in breast cancer development and progression, heat shock proteins in breast cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance, gene therapy and vector development, tumor suppressor genes in breast cancer, and molecular profiling of breast cancer using microarray technology. These projects use the extensive tumor and tissue bank resources funded by the Breast SPORE and Program Project grants that include frozen and archived tissue with associated computerized clinical follow-up on many of the patients. Through a series of organized conferences, data reviews, and research planning meetings, investigators in the Breast Center have developed over the years a collaborative and synergistic relationship necessary for effective translational research, and they provide a unique scientific environment.