Scientist receives grant to examine protein trigger involved in cell function regulation in breast cancer

The New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) has awarded Janice Thomas, PhD, a post-doctoral fellow in the X.F. Steven Zheng laboratory at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey a two-year $100,000 grant (#DFHS13PPCO32) to further examine the impact of a protein 'trigger' involved in the regulation of cell function in breast cancer.

The overall aim of the research is to investigate a unique activator of the mTOR protein, which is a central controller of cell growth and metabolism. Overproduction of this activator - a novel small GTPase enzyme -- causes mTOR function to be heightened, especially in colorectal and breast cancers, causing tumor cells to gain growth advantage. While there are anti-cancer drugs designed to block the mTOR function in advanced kidney and breast cancers, implications are not yet known if this small GTPase enzyme could be used as a surrogate biomarker for mTOR-targeted treatments. The grant will support Dr. Thomas and colleagues in further exploring that possibility as it relates to breast cancer.