Hormonal Regulation of Mammary Gland Biology and Breast Cancer

Hormones and growth factors such as IGF, EGF and estrogen are master regulators of normal mammary gland biology. They also play major roles in tumorigenesis. The Cohick laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which these growth factor interact to control both normal and abnormal growth. Cell culture models are used to study cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate growth, differentiation and apoptosis. An in vivo rat model is used to study how environmental insults to the fetus during pregnancy affect life-long susceptibility to breast cancer in the off-spring. We are studying possible involvement of the IGF, EGF and estrogen growth factor systems and if epigenetic mechanisms play a role.

An additional research focus involves understanding how certain plant and bacterial toxins such as ricin and shiga toxin kill mammalian cells. These ribosome inactivating proteins damage the cell by removing an adenine from a conserved loop in the ribosome, leading to inhibition of protein synthesis. However, they also activate stress-activated signaling pathways that induce programmed cell death, or apoptosis. This NIH-funded research is important for combating bioterrorism.

Specific areas of research include:

• regulation of IGF binding protein gene transcription
• the role of IGF binding proteins in regulating growth, differentiation and apoptosis of normal mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer cells
• signal transduction pathways by which IGF-I and EGF regulate growth of mammary epithelial cells and mammary fibroblasts
• interactions between the extracellular matrix and growth factors in the mammary gland
• role of alcohol exposure in utero on breast cancer risk in the offspring
• mechanisms by which ribosome inactivating proteins induce cell death

Teaching

Dr. Cohick teaches a molecular biology lab course "Methods in Recombinant DNA Technology" in the undergraduate Biotechnology curriculum and contributes to a team-taught course on Issues and Concepts in Biotechnology. She also teaches a graduate-level course in Animal Biotechnology.

Other Highlights

Dr. Cohick is director of the Graduate Program in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences. She is also a member of the Nutritional Sciences and Molecular Biosciences graduate programs. Dr. Cohick has served on USDA, NIH, and DOD (Breast Cancer Research Program) review panels.

More Info

• Wendie Cohick's Website