Investigating the molecular pathology and biology of basal-like breast cancer
Overview
The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit, King's College London, will be located in Guy’s Hospital, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, adjacent to King’s College London Academic Breast Unit.
Researchers at the unit will be investigating the molecular pathology and biology of invasive breast carcinoma of basal-like type and its precursor lesions. The unit aims to identify and validate novel therapy targets, prognostic factors and biomarkers for this poorly-understood form of breast cancer.
Our focus
The Breakthrough Research Unit, King's College London, aims to identify the biological mechanisms that cause and drive basal-like breast cancer based on a molecular pathological characterisation that will lead to the identification and validation of novel therapy targets, prognostic factors and biomarkers.
Breast cancers may be broadly classified into distinct subtypes by expression of combinations of oestrogen receptor (ER)-regulated genes, growth factor receptors and basal cytokeratins. A basal-like sub-type, negative for ER, progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 but either EGFR or basal cytokeratins CK5/6 positive, has a high frequency of early systemic relapse and unlike ER-positive and HER2-positive tumours, currently has no specific targeted therapy. The aetiology and biology of the basal-like subtype of breast carcinoma is poorly understood and therefore, insights into its pathobiology are predicted to yield targets for therapy and prevention.
The basal-like sub-type is more common in young women and most frequent in women of African-American origin where it represents 39-59% of breast cancer cases (c.f.-16% of Caucasian women).
Contact
Dr Andrew Tutt
Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Unit
King’s College London School of Medicine
Guy’s Hospital
London SE1 9RT
E-mail: Dr Andrew Tutt
