Project Summary:
Globally, breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related fatalities among women. In 2024, BC accounted for 32% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases among women in the United States. In Wisconsin, BC is one of the top-five commonly diagnosed cancers with an average incidence rate of 134.6 per 100,000, higher than the national average. Despite a steady decline in the mortality, BC continues to be a leading cause of death among Women in Wisconsin, leading to approximately 750 death each year. Hence, early detection of BC may help reduce BC death rates and may improve patient outcomes in Wisconsin.
The incidence of BC is increasing in Wisconsin, with an average of 1,175 women diagnosed with Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) each year in Wisconsin. DCIS is highly heterogeneous; some remain indolent with low clinical importance while others progress to become invasive and deadly. Currently, the molecular underpinnings that determine DCIS progression remains poorly understood. It's imperative to understand the mechanisms that mediate the invasiveness of DCIS, to identify women in Wisconsin at high risk of developing BC and to improve clinical outcomes.
This project will investigate a previously unexplored potential mechanism that contributes to BC initiation—the role of Jun TFs in the maintenance of unstable MECs that may contribute to the development of BC. The study’s findings may yield vital information, serving as a biomarker to identify women who are more susceptible to BC in Wisconsin. Further, the study intends to test and evaluate preventive treatment strategies such as Jun blockade in women with high-risk DCIS.