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Breast Cancer Research Consortium | |
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Vision
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This shared bioresource will fuel individual investigator-led genomic and proteomic research within the Breast Cancer Research Consortium. Using the resources and infrastructure assembled within the DMMC, Irish scientists will be able to translate laboratory findings into improved clinical practice through the development of novel diagnostic and prognostic markers for the disease.
Recognising the wealth of complementary expertise and resources across Dublin, the Breast Cancer Research Consortium was formed to build a critical mass in the field and to address common infrastructural deficits uniting biomedical researchers across Dublin with shared research objectives to :-
1. Build a biocollection of serum and tissue materials from a well phenotyped patient population using harmonised standard operating procedures.
2. Apply sophisticated genomic, proteomic and imaging technologies to molecularly characterise biobanked materials with a view to identifying in hypothesis-driven research programmes, novel biomarkers for earlier diagnosis and improved prognosis.
3. Combine both laboratory and clinical characterisations to allow more sophisticated patient stratification leading to the application of more targeted therapeutic strategies.
4. Explore aspects of the molecular and cellular signalling and control events underlying disease pathogenesis.
5. Exploit our knowledge of the disease processes at a molecular level to identify novel biomarkers, targets and therapeutic strategies.
6. Increase public awareness and support for breast cancer research.
Link here to : Irish Breast Cancer Research Portal
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Establishment of a Shared Bioresource
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| The BCRC will collect blood, serum and tissue from patients presenting at each of the five participant hospitals subject to appropriate patient and ethical review approvals. Materials will be collected and, in the first instance, stored locally using harmonised sampling procedures. Procedures will be established at each hospital site to protect the confidentiality of the donor patient and the integrity of the specimen samples. Donors will be provided with details of the BCRC, an overview of the types of research being undertaken and a description of how the consortium benefits from their donation. Samples will be stored for a fixed period to allow donors an opportunity to withdraw their consent and request sample destruction. After this time, code which links sample identification with patient identifiers will be irrevocably broken. Thereafter it will not be possible for the consortium to identify individual patient samples.
Based on current patient populations at each of the five principal hospitals, the Breast Cancer Research Consortium believes it can collect approximately 1600 blood and 600 tumour tissue samples over two years. |
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Research Objectives
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1. Specific Research Programmes using Genomic, Proteomic & Imaging Technology
Current research themes can be divided into five main categories:
I Mammary gland development
II Cell growth and signalling
III Invasion and metastasis
IV Inherited genetic disorders
V Epidemiology and clinical research
The Consortium aims to promote and link research in these areas through programmes and shared use of technologies, samples & resources
2. Patient Stratification Leading to More Targeted Therapies
The correlation of clinical phenotype information and characterisation data will lead to the improved stratification of patient populations. Such stratification will enable more effective targeting of therapies to specific population subgroups. Advanced computational biology approaches to facilitate re-analysis and integration of both private and publicly available breast cancer-related gene expression databases are being developed by DMMC Researchers.
3. Understanding Molecular and Cellular Signalling Events
As an endocrine tumour, breast cancer is under the influence, not only of locally produced growth factors, but also circulating estrogen, leading to disruption of the cell cycle and tumour progression. .
Metastasis is a multi-step event involving proteolytic modification of the extracellular matrix, local tumour cell invasion, angiogenesis, entry of malignant cells into the circulation, evasion of apoptosis, extravasation and growth at a secondary site. DMMC Investigators are working on genes/proteins involved in the modulation of the extracellular matrix and the role of the emerging extracellular matrix proteins, fibulins, in tumour progression.
4. Identification of Novel Targets and Therapeutic Strategies
Current endocrine therapies are based on targeting the steroid receptor. In advanced breast cancer, there has been increased clinical use of microtubule inhibitors in combined chemotherapeutic regimes. However, some breast cancer patients exhibit de novo resistance, or incomplete response to these agents.
The use of tissue microarray technology to validate candidate breast cancer-associated biomarkers and the employment of SELDI-MS technology to profile sera from breast cancer patients and non-cancer controls are being developed by members of the consortium.
Research examining the gene expression of profiles of lung and bone metastases with a view to identifying potential therapeutic targets has shown compelling associations between IGFBP-4 and/or PAPP-A and metastasis in human breast cancer and is currently being investigated.
5. Increasing Public Awareness & Support for Breast Cancer Research
Public awareness of modern biomedical research and support for the establishment of tissue banks is vital to the success of this project. Hence, it is imperative that the work being conducted by the consortium is adequately articulated to both healthcare professionals and the general public.
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Investigators |
| Dr. Ursula Bond BA PhD |
| Prof. Martin Clynes |
| Dr. Sean Costello |
| Dr. Thomas Crotty |
| Prof. Peter Dervan MD, MSc, FRCPath, FCAP |
| Prof. Michael J Duffy |
| Dr. Patricia Fitzpatrick |
| Prof. William Gallagher BSc, PhD, CBiol, MIBiol |
| Dr. Helen Gallagher BSc, PhD |
| Dr. Judith H Harmey Ph.D |
| Prof. Brian Harvey Ph.D, DSc |
| Prof. Arnold Hill |
| Dr. Ann Hopkins |
| Prof. Elaine Kay MD, MRCPath, FRCSI, FFPath (RCPI), MB, BCh, BAO. |
| Prof. Finian Martin Ph.D |
| Dr. Amanda McCann BA Mod., Micro Ph.D |
| Ronan McDermott |
| Dr. Susan McDonnell |
| Dr. Sallyann O'Brien |
| Dr. Lorraine O'Driscoll |
| Dr. Cecily Quinn MD FRCPI FRCPath |
| Dr. Peter Smyth |
| Maurice Stokes |
| Adam Stubbs |
| Dr. Ezzat Tadros |
| Warren Thomas |
| Dr. Leonie Young PhD |
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