THE LEE LABORATORY
Steroid hormone receptors and growth factor interactions in normal breast development and breast cancer.
Images of mouse mammary glands during the progression to mammary cancer. Top images are whole mounts, bottom images are H+E. Click for a larger image.
Two of the most widely studied areas of breast cancer growth include the estrogen receptor (ER) and growth factor receptor systems (e.g. ErbB2). Not surprisingly, these two areas have also been the major focus of targeted treatment, leading to the successful development of antiestrogens, aromatase inhibitors, and anti-ErbB2 strategies.
Despite the success of such treatments, side-effects are a problem, efficacy is still not maximal, and resistance often occurs. A better understanding of the cell biology of breast cancer, and development of the normal breast, will undoubtedly lead to better treatments and, hopefully, the prevention of breast cancer.
The goal of my laboratory is to explore the emerging levels of cross-talk between hormone receptor and growth factor signaling pathways in development of the normal breast and changes that occur during the progression to breast cancer. The main focus (Projects) is on interactions between the estrogen receptor and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathways. We believe that the normal interaction and synergism between these pathways during normal breast development is perturbed in the earliest stages of premalignant breast disease, and that targeting this cross-talk will be useful for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
The laboratory consists of technicians, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows (Lab members) who are trained (Training) in a multi-disciplinary environment to work on the basic, translational, and clinical aspects of breast cancer research.
Lee Lab
