The Role of RNA Methylation in Breast Cancer
Abstract
Objective and Rationale: Breast cancer researchers have made tremendous progress for breast cancer treatment overall in the past half century. These advancements, however, did not arrive equally to all patients with breast cancer. Development of effective treatment strategies for specific subsets of breast cancer subtypes are lagging behind. The major clinical challenge associated with these breast cancer subtypes is the high recurrence rates. Once a primary breast tumor is formed, a subset of cells in the primary tumor become cancer stem cells. Because of unique biological characteristics associated with cancer stem cells, they are difficult to eliminate with currently available technologies. Cellular RNAs are decollated with variety of naturally occurring chemical modifications. These RNA modifications control protein outputs; this mechanism of controlling protein abundance is called epitranscriptomics. Recent studies suggested that breast cancer stem cells show abnormal levels of RNA modifications. My study plan is aimed to explore the role of the RNA modification in breast cancer stem cells. The results from my study will examine (1) the role of the RNA modification across different breast cancer subtypes and (2) the role of the RNA modification during breast cancer stem cell formation and breast cancer growth from these stem cells. The goal of my study is to evaluate the therapeutic possibility of the RNA modification pathway for breast cancer treatment, especially for the subtypes that currently lack effective treatments. Career Goals and Training Plan: My ultimate career goal is to become an independent investigator to contribute to the cure for breast cancer. My researcher development plan lays out comprehensive career development opportunities that I will maximally utilize under guidance of Dr. Samie Jaffrey and Dr. Vivek Mittal through research skill development as well as professional, leadership, and management skill development. I believe my individualized development plan with Dr. Jaffrey and Dr. Mittal in the environment at Weill Cornell Medical College and Tri-Institution with Memorial Sloan-Kettering and Rockefeller University will prepare me to achieve my career goal. Applicability and Impact of the Research: My research plan tackles overarching challenges in breast cancer research by identifying what drives recurrent breast cancer growth and exploring clues for a way to stop it. The results from my study may also explain why some breast cancers become metastatic; thus, they may also provide crucial implications for how to reduce the mortality rates associated with metastatic breast cancer. My research plan is focused on an emerging area of study involving the naturally occurring RNA modifications aberrantly regulated in breast cancer cells. Since this field has just started rigorous studies in the past few years for the first time, it presents exciting possibilities to revolutionize treatment regimens by replacing them with ones involving manipulation of the RNA modification pathways that are more effective, less toxic, and impact survival. Breast cancer stem cell is thought to be the cause of recurrence for a certain subset of breast cancers. A major question that I ask through my research proposal is if and how RNA modifications that are abnormally regulated in breast cancer cells control the breast cancer stem cell functions. My study is aimed to help find new therapeutic targets for patients who are at a risk of recurrence by preventing the formation of breast cancer stem cells and the tumor growth from these stem cells. If the results from my study indicate that the RNA modification pathway is a viable therapeutic target and if clinically applicable interventions are available, it will be administered to patients with a currently hard-to-treat subset of breast cancers alone or in combination with chemotherapy to prevent the formation of breast cancer stem cells. Also, i
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 16, 2019
- Source ID
- W81XWH1910118
Entities
People
- Shino Murakami
Organizations
- United States Army
- Weill Cornell Medicine