Research
Professor Donald Poirier – Research Centre of the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université Laval, Quebec
QBCF Strategic Grants Program
Research Factsheet
PROFESSOR DONALD POIRIER
RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE CENTRE HOSPITALIER DE L’UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL, QUEBEC
PROJECT TITLE
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of three molecules of high therapeutic potential with different mechanisms of action in the treatment of
ER+/ER- breast cancers
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Professor Donald Poirier
INSTITUTE Research centre of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université Laval, Quebec
TOTAL RESEARCH BUDGET $405,000
RESEARCH SUMMARY*:
Breast cancer is still a major cause of mortality among women. In spite of the advances achieved in the last few years, there is a need for new therapeutic approaches and tools to improve the rate of success and reduce adverse effects and drug resistance. The hormone estradiol (E2) plays an important role in breast cancer development and growth through its action on estrogen receptors (ER). Among the enzymes involved in E2 biosynthesis, steroid sulfatase (STS) plays a very important role as it transforms inactive steroid sulfates into free steroids capable of binding to ER or available for E2 biosynthesis. As our studies have led to potent STS inhibitors and to steroid agents that block cancer cell proliferation, we now wish to determine the therapeutic potential of these compounds in two types of breast cancers, i.e., hormone-dependant and hormone-independent tumors. This project is based on three hypotheses: 1) A non-estrogenic STS inhibitor (INH-A) would exhibit a therapeutic effect in the endocrine therapy of hormone-dependant (ER+) breast cancers. 2) A SERM type STS inhibitor (INH-B) would exhibit a therapeutic effect in the treatment of hormone-dependant (ER+) breast cancers. 3) An aminosteroid that would selectively inhibit cancer cell proliferation (INH-C) would exhibit a therapeutic effect in the treatment of hormone-independant (ER-) breast cancers.
These studies should lead to the identification of a molecule to be tested in pre-clinical and clinical studies.
* This document is a non-scientific summary.
