Investigating astrocyte responses in brain metastasis of HER2-positive breast cancer

Brain metastasis of breast cancer has a very poor prognosis in patients. Treatment options are limited because the blood-brain-barrier prevents drugs from entering the brain. Importantly, we are lacking information on how brain cells are supporting the growth of metastatic breast cancer cells. Using HER2-positive breast cancer cells isolated from a patient brain metastasis the Hombach lab has established a mouse model to study the responses of astrocytes, the most abundant glial cells in the brain, to brain metastatic tumors. Astrocytes will be isolated from the mouse brain at early and late time points of metastatic development to determine changes in their gene expression profile. We will validate selected genes and will use mouse brain tissue sections to study their localization. This will allow us to identify the responses of astrocyte in the vicinity of brain metastasis and inform us on novel therapeutic targets to explore in the future.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sabine Hombach-Klonisch

Student:

Partner:

Dr. D. Y. Patil Biotechnology & Bioinformatics Institute

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Manitoba

Program: