Primary cancer cell models

B. Lange (MPI-MG)

Here, we will exploit a low passage mamma primary cell model to elucidate molecular changes of oestrogen receptor (ER) signalling by systematically dissecting the pathway components in functional cellular assays. A second goal of this project is the evaluation of chemotherapeutics in this low passage primary cell model that has the advantage of an in vitro system that is “as close as possible” to the patient. Hence, the goals and workplan are:

• the establishment of primary mamma cancer cell lines 
• to analyse the aberrations of oestrogen receptor pathway signalling in the primary cell model by mRNA and protein profiling in combination with functional cellular assays.
• to evaluate the relevance of anti-cancer therapies through detailed analysis of the response to drug treatment in ER positive and ER negative cell lines
• to provide structural and functional data for a focussed set of important protein complexes from the oestrogen receptor pathway (e.g. mTOR, AKT; PIK3).

The obtained results will contribute to the overall goal of the IG-CSG to develop a cellular response model, predicting and testing quantitative hypotheses for oestrogen signalling events.