Current Research: While working in Dr. Tallant’s lab, I am investigating whether Angiotensin-(1-7) can be used as a novel first-in-class therapy for estrogen receptor (ER) positive and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) amplified breast cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated that Ang-(1-7) decreases the growth of non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo. The decrease in tumor growth is associated with a corresponding downregulation in activated MAPK and COX2. My preliminary studies have shown that subcutaneous infusion of Ang-(1-7) reduces orthotopic HER2 amplified (BT-474) breast cancer and orthotopic ER-positive (ZR-75-1) breast cancer. In addition, it was shown that the decrease in HER2 amplified breast cancer may be due in part to a decrease in active MAPK activity, decreased COX2, and decreased VEGF. My research will also focus on the molecular mechanism of Ang-(1-7) mediated growth reduction in HER2 amplified and ER-positive breast cancer with special focus on Ang-(1-7) effect on the protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. Honors and Awards: Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Predoctoral Fellowship NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant, Molecular Medicine Program Publications: Cook Katherine L., Soto-Pantoja, DR, Gallagher PE and Tallant EA. Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibition of human breast tumors with distinct hormone receptor expression results in a differential regulation of Akt. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 2008. Soto-Pantoja DR, Menon J, Cook K, Chacko S, Gallagher PE and Tallant EA. Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits growth of triple negative breast cancer in a mouse orthotopic model. To be submitted to Cancer Research December 2008 Cook Katherine L., Patricia E. Gallagher, E. Ann Tallant. Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits the growth of orthotopic human breast tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 99th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2008 Apr 12-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2008. Abstract nr LB-232 |