Patients with ER negative breast cancer have the worst prognosis of all breast cancer subtypes, often experiencing rapid recurrence or progression to metastatic disease shortly after diagnosis. Using a mouse systems genetics approach, Resf1 was identified to be associated with metastatic susceptibility. Resf1 is a poorly characterized gene, published in only 7 papers. This study revealed Resf1 as a tumor suppressor and metastasis promoter. This was my PhD dissertation project.

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This research identified a set of genes nicknamed "Goldilocks" genes, which seem promising for developing treatments that target metastasis. These genes include NANOS, PUM2, and CPSF4, which control metastasis and are part of a network involved in the process. They influence the levels of Smarcd1 mRNA, a molecule crucial for metastasis. Surprisingly, both very high and very low levels of Smarcd1 are linked to better patient outcomes, but moderate levels are associated with worse prognosis. The manuscript is under review.

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In the 1970s, Nowell suggested that specific mutations could cause cancer to spread, but we still don't know much about these driver mutations. Using breast cancer mouse models, a driver mutation was found in a gene called Shc1, which seemed to make cancer spread more easily. By altering this gene, we saw that it might indeed play a role in cancer spreading. More research is needed to understand exactly how these mutations work and how they affect cancer.