Carman Li, PhD

Basal-like breast cancer is one of the most dangerous types of breast cancer. It is hard to treat because many cancer drugs do not work well against it. This cancer is common in people who inherit certain harmful gene changes, but it can also affect people with no family history of the disease. Today, treatment often includes chemotherapy or surgery to remove breast tissue. These options can be difficult for patients and do not always stop the cancer. Better ways to prevent and treat this disease are needed.Our research looks at the early changes that happen before this cancer forms. We created special mouse models to study how the disease begins. Using these models, we found an early change called chromatin priming. During this step, normal breast cells start to act differently and become more likely to turn into cancer cells. Changes in the way DNA is packed inside cells make it easier for genes linked to cancer to switch on. We also found that the same genes are active in both inherited and non-inherited forms of basal-like breast cancer. This means the two forms of the disease may start in similar ways.Our next goal is to learn what causes these early changes and how they lead to cancer. If we can block these changes, we may be able to stop tumors from growing. This work could lead to better treatments and better outcomes for patients.