Pilot Project B: EGFR, ErbB2 and 110 kD-sEGFR Proteins in Sera and Breast Tissues of Hispanic Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Co-Investigators
Elsa Cora, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biochemistry, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Vicente Valero, M.D., Professor, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Karin Hahn, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
The ultimate goal of this research project is to define the role of EGFR, ErbB2, 110 kD-sEGFR and p105-sErbB2, individually or in combination, in the tumor biology of Hispanic women diagnosed with breast cancer. As a corollary, we are interested in elucidating if the biology of the tumor is responsible for the differences in breast cancer incidence, mortality and clinical outcome observed among women of different racial/ethnic backgrounds. As a first step towards this goal, we hypothesize that the expression of EGFR, ErbB2, p105-sErbB2 and 110 kD-sEGFR is altered in Hispanic women diagnosed with breast cancer. Therefore, we propose experiments to determine the expression of EGFR and ErbB2 in the tumors of Hispanic women with breast cancer. In addition, serum levels of 110 kD-sEGFR and p105-sErbB2 will be determined in the same group of patients. The results of these experiments/ analyses will be correlated with the serum levels of 110 kD-sEGFR and p105-sErbB2, respectively.
Specific Aims
Characterize the expression of EGFR, 110 kD-EGFR and ErbB2 in the tumors from Hispanic women diagnosed with breast cancer
Determine the serum levels of 110 kD-sEGFR and p105-sErbB2 in Hispanic women diagnosed with breast cancer
Correlate the tissue expression of 110 kD-EGFR and ErbB2 with the serum levels of 110 kD-sEGFR and p105-sErbB2, respectively, in Hispanic women diagnosed with breast cancer