Investigating whether Aurora-A overexpression and BRCA1 or BRCA2 alterations co-operate in breast tumourigenesis.

Previous studies have been shown an association between Aurora-A amplification and mutations in the BRCA2 gene in breast cancers. In particular, amplification of 20q13 has been described in approximately 60% of BRCA2-mutant breast tumours. In addition, it has been shown that Aurora-A phosphorylates and inactivates BRCA1. We aim to investigate whether Aurora-A over-expression and BRCA1 / BRCA2 mutations co-operate in breast tumourigenesis using In Vitro Imagine System (IVIS) approach, exploiting existing expertise within the Breakthrough Research Centre.