Grant: Operating Grant

Targeting ER, using drugs like tamoxifen, is successful in treating and preventing breast cancer. Nevertheless, such therapies are limited by development of resistance. Newer therapies, targeting ER, are also likely to be limited by development of resistance. Understanding the mechanisms of ER action holds promise for increasing further the arsenal of approaches to treat ER+ breast cancer, the most frequent type of breast cancer. The more targets, the more likely we will be able to control this disease. The development of more precise biomarkers of therapy response is valuable, so that the most appropriate therapies can be used quickly with minimal side-effects. We have potentially identified more precise markers of response to endocrine therapies. As well identification of the enzymes that are responsible for phosphorylating ER and pathways that control their activity, may offer specific targets and alternative approaches to develop new endocrine therapies for treating and preventing breast cancer.