Our lab is interested in the underlying mechanism and identifying anticancer targets of breast cancer.
Research Information
Research Interests
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, with an . BCs can be further classified into three subtypes, based on their molecular identifications: Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα)-positive, Her2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)-positive, and triple (ERα-, PR (progesterone receptor)-, and Her2)-negative breast cancer (TNBC). ERα-positive BC accounts for the largest subtype, with approximately 70% of BC patients.
Our lab studies how transcription and the signaling networks control cell fate in BCs. Ultimately, we hope to harness the knowledge gained from these studies to help fight against BCs. Currently, we are working toward answering the following questions:
- How does the PML spliced isoform, PML1, elicits its pro-tumorigenic activity to promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion?
- How can one target endocrine-resistant ERα-positive BC?
Research Projects
The mechanism underlying PML1-mediated oncogenic activity in BCs
The promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is a well-established tumor suppressor known to play a role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage repairs, and transcription. However, recent studies suggest that PML acts as an oncogene in BC and glioblastoma (GBM). Specifically, we show that a loss of PML by knockdown inhibits the proliferation of the ERα-positive BC cells. Conversely, ectopic expression of PML1, the most abundant PML spliced isoform in BC, augments the growth, migration, and invasion of ERα-positive BC cells. In contrast, the expression of PML4, a well-studied PML isoform with tumor suppression activity, does the opposite. We are the first to demonstrate that the spliced isoform PML1 functions as an oncoprotein. Accordingly, clinical data show that high expression of PML1 mRNA in ERα-positive BC correlates with a poor prognosis.
Targeting endocrine-resistant, ERα-positive BC
More than 70% of all BCs are ERα-positive. While initial treatments of current ERα-targeted endocrine therapies are successful, patients with metastasis eventually develop resistance. Among these patients, acquired ERα mutations have been established as a new mechanism of drug resistance for ERα-positive BC patients. ERα is a hormone-activated transcription factor that controls the expression of a network of genes that encode proteins necessary to drive cell cycle progression. Molecular and biochemical studies indicated that these ERα mutants are constitutively active to promote cell/tumor growth.
With Dr. Sichun Yang in the Nutrition department, we have recently identified a novel interface between the DNA- and ligand-binding domains. Mutations at the interface disrupt estrogen (E2)-induced ERα-mediated transcription activity. This observation indicated that the integrity of the interface is critical for ERα transcription activity and raises the possibility that small chemical molecules that bind to the domain interface may regulate ERα activity. With this goal in mind, we screened and identified several FDA-approved drugs, including a drug termed T4, with the ability to bind ERα domain interface and to inhibit E2-induced ERα activity. We are currently characterizing T4 for its ability to inactivate endocrine-resistant mutant ERα activity.
Publications
- Pai CP, Wang H, Seachrist DD, Agarwal N, Adams JA, Liu Z, Keri RA, Cao K, Schiemann WP, Kao HY. Research Square [Preprint]. September 8th, 2023 (Accepted in Cell Death and Differentiation)
- Du Z*, Wang H*, Wu C, Buck M, Zheng W, Hansen AL, Kao HY, Yang S
BioRxiv548966 [Preprint]. July 15, 2023 [cited 2023 July 18]. - Fang, W. Y., Kuo Y. Z,, Chang J. Y., Hsiao J. R., Kao H. Y., Tsai, S. T., and Wu L. W.
Cancers 12(6):1375. (2020) - Alhazmi N., Pai CP., Albaqami A., Wang H., Zhao X., Chen M., Hu P., Guo S., Starost K., Hajihassani O., Miyagi M., and Kao HY
Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 1867, 118707 (2020). - Huang W., Peng Y., Kiselar J., Zhao X., Albaqami A., Mendez D., Chen Y., Chakravarthy S., Gupta S., Ralston C., Kao H.Y., Chance M.R., Yang S.
Nat Commun. 30;9(1):3520(2018). - Zhang Y. Y., Tabataba H., Liu X. Y., Wang J. Y., Yan X. G., Farrelly M., Jiang C. C., Guo S. T., Liu T., Kao H. Y., Thorne R. F., Zhang X. D., and Jin L.
“ACTN4 regulates the stability of RIPK1 in melanoma”
Oncogene 37 (29): 4033-45 (2018). - Pan S. C., Li C. Y., Kuo C. Y., Kuo Y. Z., Fang W. Y., Huang Y. H., Hsieh T. C., Kao H. Y., Kuo Y., Kang Y. R., Tsai W. C., Tsai S. T., and Wu L. W.
Sci Rep 8 (1): 5458 (2018). - Hsu K. S. and Kao H. Y.
Cell Biosci 8: 5 (2018). - Zhao X., Khurana S., Charkraborty S., Tian Y., Sedor J. R., Bruggman L. A., and Kao H. Y.
J Biol Chem 292 (5): 1637-47 (2017). - Hsu K. S., Zhao X., Cheng X., Guan D., Mahabeleshwar G. H., Liu Y., Borden E., Jain M. K., and Kao H. Y.
J Biol Chem 292 (24): 10048-60 (2017). - Hsu K. S., Guan B. J., Cheng X., Guan D., Lam M., Hatzoglou M., and Kao H. Y.
Cell Death Differ 23 (3): 469-83 (2016). - Zhao X., Hsu K. S., Lim J. H., Bruggeman L. A., and Kao H. Y.
J Biol Chem 290 (1): 338-49 (2015). - Lim L. M., Zhao X., Chao M. C., Chang J. M., Chang W. C., Kao H. Y., Hwang D. Y., and Chen H. C.
PLoS One 10 (9): e0138152 (2015). - Kao H. Y.
Cell Biosci 5: 48 (2015). - Guan D. and Kao H. Y.
Cell Biosci 5: 60 (2015). - Guan D., Lim J. H., Peng L., Liu Y., Lam M., Seto E., and Kao H. Y.
Cell Death Dis 5: e1340 (2014). - Guo S., Cheng X., Lim J. H., Liu Y., and Kao H. Y.
Mol Biol Cell 25 (16): 2485-98 (2014).