“Investigating the role of microRNAs in Triple Negative

CaliforniaStateUniversity,Fresno,DepartmentofBiologypresents:

“InvestigatingtheroleofmicroRNAsinTripleNegativeBreastCancer”

MaxineUmehPhDCandidate,Biochemistry

UCDavis

Friday,November9,20183:00–4:00PM

Science2,room109Forfurtherinformation:www.csufresno.edu/biology

Abstract:Triplenegativebreastcancer(TNBC)isclinicallydefinedastumorsthatlackexpressionoftheestrogenandprogesteronehormonereceptors,andamplificationofHer2.TNBCaccountsfor10-20%ofcases,andalthoughitrepresentsthemostaggressivesubtypeofbreastcancer,therearecurrentlynoeffectivetargetedtherapiesforTNBCduetoitslackofdrug-targetablereceptors.TNBChastheshortesttimetorelapse(highestmetastaticrate)andlowest3-5yearsurvivalrate,comparedtoothersubtypes,likelybecausethemajorityofTNBCpatientsshowlittle/noresponsetostandardchemotherapy,yetitistheonlyoptionforsystemictreatment.Thus,TNBCremainsbothachallengetounderstandandachallengetotreat,withtheneedtoidentifynovelgeneticdrivers,signalingaxes,andtherapeutictargetsforthisbreastcancertype.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)aresmallnon-codingRNAsthatnegativelyregulatetheexpressionofgenesthroughsequencespecificinteractionsinthe3’UTRofmRNAtargets,leadingtotranslationinhibitionormRNAdegradation.miRNAshaveemergedasbothmasterregulatorsofcancersignalingpathwaysandaspromisingtargetsforcancertherapy.miR-127isatumorsuppressormiRNAthatisdownregulatedinTNBC,suggestingthatitmayplayaroleinTNBCpathogenesis.TheoverallgoalofourprojectistoinvestigatethebiologicalfunctionofmiR-127inTNBCusinginsilico,invitro,andinvivoapproaches.Bio:Iama5thyearPhDcandidateatUCDavisintheBiochemistry,Molecular,Cell,andDevelopmentalBiologygraduategroup.MyeducationalbackgroundincludesaB.S.inDevelopmentalBiologyandaM.Sc.inQuantitativeandSystemsBiology,bothfromUCMerced.IamcurrentlyinthelaboratoryofDr.Sweeneywherewestudymammaryepithelialbiologyandbreastcancer.Myresearchfocusesontriplenegativebreastcancer(TNBC),whichisthemostaggressivetypeofbreastcancer,significantlyaffectingAfrican-AmericanandHispanicwomen,youngerwomen,andhasalowerlikelihoodofsurvival.

Ifyouneedadisability-relatedaccommodationorwheelchairaccess,pleasecontactLindasueGarnerattheDepartmentofBiologyat278-2001ore-maillgarner@csufresno.edu(atleastoneweekpriortoevent).