Primary Cancer Cell Models

Coordinator:		PD Dr. Bodo M.H. Lange
Institution:		Max-Planck Institut für molekulare Genetik, Berlin
Homepage:		www.molgen.mpg.de/~ag_lange/

The estrogen-receptor pathway has been the subject of intensive biochemical as well as genetic studies but molecular information on the dynamics of disease related protein interactions is lacking. In particular, quantitative approaches are required to gain a better understanding of compounds that modify estrogen pathways and relevant downstream events in mamma cancer cells. Here, we will apply a low passage mamma primary cell model to elucidate molecular changes of estrogen receptor (ER) signalling by dissecting pathway components on a cellular level. A second goal of this project is the evaluation of therapeutics in a low-passage primary cell model. The isolation and characterisation of low-passage number mamma carcinoma cells lines from cancer tissue will provide tools for a preliminary validation of findings that are close to the in vivo situation. Hence, cellular assays will explore pathways modified in breast cancer development and progression to achieve a molecular understanding of drug resistancies. The validation with clinical samples is crucial for the identification of potential drug targets and the systematic development of new drugs.





Additional relevant Internet link:
Integrated Genome Network Cellular Systems Genomics (IG-CSG)