GET THE APP

Resistance to endocrine therapy in breast cancer: A systems biology approach
..

Journal of Computer Science & Systems Biology

ISSN: 0974-7230

Open Access

Resistance to endocrine therapy in breast cancer: A systems biology approach


6th International Conference on Bioinformatics & Systems Biology

August 22-23, 2016 Philadelphia, USA

Robert Clarke

Georgetown University Medical Center, USA

Keynote: J Comput Sci Syst Biol

Abstract :

70% of breast cancers express the estrogen receptor-alpha (ER; ESR1) transcription factor. Of these, ~50% will respond to drugs that block ER action (e.g., antiestrogens: Tamoxifen, Fulvestrant; aromatase inhibitors: Letrozole). While these interventions decrease the risk of recurrence and death, many ER+ breast cancers eventually fail to respond and recur. Recurrent metastatic breast cancer remains largely incurable. We apply a systems biology approach to explore endocrine responsiveness and the acquisition of resistance to therapies that target ER function. We use computational and mathematical modeling to integrate multi-omics data from human breast cancer specimens, animal models, and cell lines. Our current multi-scale models implicate a complex network of signaling that is driven by ER action to perturb the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome in a coordinated manner to regulate a series of critical cellular functions. Central to this regulation is the sensing of changes in glucose and energy production by the glucose regulated proteins (GRPs) and AMPK that occur following blockade of ER-mediated signaling. Reduction in glucose influx activates GRP78 that, in turn, induces the unfolded protein response (UPR). In an apparently redundant manner, lower production of ATP from glucose activates AMPK signaling in a manner that is also affected by GRP78. UPR activation leads to XBP1 splicing, upregulation of prosurvival BCL2 family members, and the regulation of autophagy through interactions with BECN1 (beclin-1). mTOR/AMPK signaling also redundantly activates autophagy. Cells exhibit a resistant phenotype by recovering metabolic homeostasis through autophagy and likely also by scavenging extracellular nutrients from the tumor microenvironment.

Biography :

Robert Clarke is an internationally recognized Leader in Breast Cancer Research and Dean for Research at Georgetown University. He obtained his PhD and DSc from the Queen’s University of Belfast and completed his Post-doctoral training at NCI. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (UK). He has served as Chair for several peer-reviewed study sections for NIH and the Department of Defense, and currently serves on the editorial boards of over a dozen international peer reviewed journals.

Email: clarker@georgetown.edu

Google Scholar citation report
Citations: 2279

Journal of Computer Science & Systems Biology received 2279 citations as per Google Scholar report

Journal of Computer Science & Systems Biology peer review process verified at publons

Indexed In

 
arrow_upward arrow_upward