Grant: Operating Grant

Cancer occurs when cells divide uncontrollably. In order to proliferate, cells need a lot of energy to build all the components necessary for making new cells. It is therefore not surprising that cancer cells display metabolic reorganizations tailored for their high and rapid energy demands. However, this metabolic reorganization of cancer cells is poorly understood. The focus of my laboratory is to reveal the metabolic abnormalities, as well as the molecules driving them, during the development of the tumor state. We are particularly interested in PGC-1, key regulators of metabolism. It is known that the expression of PGC-1 is reduced in various forms of cancer. The central aim of the proposed research program is to understand the role of PGC-1 in the overall metabolic reorganization of breast cancer cells and to determine if elevating PGC-1alpha levels in these cells could limit tumour growth. Finally, we want to assess if PGC-1alpha is a potential target for the treatment of breast cancer.