Research

QBCF Strategic Grants Program

Research Factsheet

PROFESSOR MICHEL TREMBLAY *

McGILL CANCER CENTRE, MONTRÉAL

PROJECT TITLE Role of the protein tyrosine phosphatase Prl-2 in breast cancer

development and metastasis

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Professor Michel Tremblay

INSTITUTE McGill Cancer Centre

TOTAL RESEARCH BUDGET $658,349

RESEARCH SUMMARY:

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in European and North American women. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) constitute a large family of enzymes that can exert both positive and negative effects on cell

growth. Importantly, deregulation of PTP activity can contribute to cancer, a complex disease that comes from the loss of control over cell division resulting in tumor formation. Moreover, this process is frequently followed by metastatic spreading, where tumor cells migrate from the initial tumor mass throughout the whole body. This research project focuses on PRL-2, a PTP that is highly expressed in breast cancer. Therefore, using biochemical and genetic techniques, we will investigate the role of PRL-2 on the transformation and metastatic process in breast cancer, and generate a new model to better understand the molecular basis of breast cancer progression.

This study could potentially lead to the generation of a novel important marker for early  metastasis diagnosis that could rapidly be translated to the clinic, and provide important information on the mechanism of breast cancer cell growth and metastasis.

This document is a non-scientific summary.

*Originally financed by the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation (QBCF), this granting program will now be co-financed by the QBCF and Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance.  The new research amount will be $658 349 over 5 years.