Significance of Pathways Leading to RhoC Overexpression in Breast Cancer

Tumor biology is a recognized determinant of tumor behavior, including growth rate, motility and metastatic potential, and therapeutic resistance. This project was funded to investigate the regulation and expression of an excellent marker for aggressive breast tumors RhoC-GTPase. When overactive, RhoC transforms mammary epithelial cells into a highly motile and invasive phenotype. We hypothesize that RhoC overexpression may be regulated by the transcription factor NF-kappa B and that at the same time RhoC is overexpressed the tumor also acquires therapy resistance. The objective of this study is to utilize existing breast cancer cohorts with tumor tissue and treatment response data available to assess the correlation between NF-kappa B and RhoC, individually and in combination, to treatment response. The specific aims of the project are to determine I if RhoC and NF-kappa B are correlated 2 if RhoC and NF-kappa B are associated, individually and in combination, with aggressive breast cancer and 3 if NF-kappa B and RhoC are associated with therapy resistance.