Redirecting breast cancer cells
Through the use of in vivo and in vitro mammary gland microenvironment model systems we can “redirect” cancer cells to switch to a normal epithelial phenotype. Redirected cancer cells temporarily lose their tumor forming capacity and are able to differentiate into normal mammary epithelial cells. The goal of this project is to determine the mechanisms of cancer cell redirection by using a multidisciplinary approach that includes genetic profiling, systems biology, cell biology, molecular biology and developmental biology techniques and analyses.
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Nuclear label retaining progenitor cells
Somatic stem and progenitor cells are hypothesized to protect themselves from acquiring cellular division associated mutations through a phenomenon called selective segregation of immortal DNA strands during asymmetric cell divisions. During symmetric divisions the stem and progenitor cells can be labeled with thymidine analogs that incorporated into the new immortal strands. The newly acquired nuclear labels are retained through subsequent asymmetric divisions.
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