Nuclear Tubulin: A Novel Target for Breast Cancer Chemotherapy
Abstract
Our research is based on our finding that the beta (II) isotype of tubulin is found in the nuclei of breast cancer cells. Our goals are to learn the function of nuclear beta (II) and to design a novel anticancer drug to target it. We have found that beta (II) occurs in the nuclei of human breast tumor cells in situ but not in normal cells. Using cultured breast cancer cells, we have found a correlation between the presence of nuclear beta (II) and the presence of estrogen receptor. We have also found that breast cancer cells which do not have nuclear beta (II) in culture, acquire it after implantation into mice. This implies that the nuclear localization of beta (II) is under hormonal control with the likely hormone being estrogen. We have also found that the distribution of nuclear beta (II) is correlated with resistance to taxotere. In another cell type, we have found that nuclear beta (II) co-localizes with vault ribonucleoprotein, which is involved in drug resistance, estrogen receptors and nucleocytoplasmic transport. We have also synthesized a peptide which rapidly enters the nucleus; we are in the process of coupling that peptide to an anti-tubulin drug to test our first antitumor drug which targets nuclear beta (II).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADB257408
Entities
People
- Richard F. Luduena
Organizations
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio