Grant: Operating Grant

PTP1B is a gene that my laboratory and others showed in previous work to be an important target for type II diabetes and obesity. From these observations several companies developed, or are in the process of isolating PTP1B inhibitor. Indeed, at least one company (ISIS Inc) has already entered clinical trials for the treatment of those metabolic diseases with their PTP1B inhibitors. We have found in the past funding period that PTP1B is also an oncogene in breast and other cancers, where metabolic syndrome, and in particular obesity, are risk factors. We propose to pursue our analysis of this gene and identify how PTP1B causes cancer. We also propose to examine what is the relationship between its pro-obesity and type II diabetes action with its cancer promoting activity. Moreover, since there are already PTP1B inhibitors treatments and more will eventually be developed, we want to gather important information on: Which cancers can be treated with existing and future PTP1B inhibitors? What is the genetic profile that defines subgroups of patients that will most benefit from such treatments? And finally, can we use PTP1B inhibitor in conjunction with existing cancer therapies to better treat cancers.