Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally. Women in Case CCC's 15-county catchment area have higher incidence and mortality rates than in all of Ohio and the United States, particularly those of non-Hispanic Black descent.
Sichun Yang, PhD, a Case CCC Molecular Oncology Program member, and colleagues have discovered previously unknown molecular switches within the estrogen receptor that, while flexible, work together to coordinate cellular processes. “Changing one part of the protein can trigger a chain reaction that affects how breast cancer cells grow," explains Yang.
While more research is needed, findings from this study, published in the Jan. 8, 2025, issue of Nature, look promising for new treatment development and for assisting in discovering new tools and ideas far beyond breast cancer, as similar protein regions are involved in many other diseases.
Contributing researchers from Case CCC programs are Matthias Buck, PhD, Molecular Oncology; Chen Wu, MD, PhD, Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics; Hung-Ying Kao, PhD, Molecular Oncology; Shuqi Luo, Associate Trainee, Molecular Oncology; and Zhanwen Du, Collaborator.