Väitös (biologia): MSc William Eccleshall
Aika
7.3.2025 klo 12.00 - 16.00
MSc William Eccleshall esittää väitöskirjansa ”PIM kinases in luminal A breast cancer” julkisesti tarkastettavaksi Turun yliopistossa perjantaina 7.3.2025 klo 12.00 (Turun yliopisto, Natura, X-luentosali, Turku).
Vastaväittäjänä toimii professori Marc Vooijs (Maastrichtin yliopisto, Alankomaat) ja kustoksena apulaisprofessori Päivi Koskinen (Turun yliopisto). Tilaisuus on englanninkielinen. Väitöksen alana on biologia.
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Tiivistelmä väitöstutkimuksesta:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women, and understanding the mechanisms that drive its growth and spread is crucial for developing better treatments. This dissertation focuses on a family of proteins called PIM kinases, which influence how breast cancer cells grow, survive, and spread, with a particular emphasis on estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, the most common subtype.
The research performed for this dissertation investigated how PIM kinases affect ER+ breast cancer cells by modifying three key molecules through a process called phosphorylation. Phosphorylation is an enzymatic process in which kinases, like PIM kinases, alter the activity of other molecules. A range of experiments was conducted using cultured breast cancer cells to explore these effects:
Notch3: Phosphorylation by PIM kinases alters the normal functioning of the Notch3 protein. Surprisingly, this modification supports tumor growth through mechanisms not yet fully understood.
LKB1: PIM kinases phosphorylate and reduce the activity of an enzyme called LKB1, which is widely recognized as a tumor suppressor — a protein that helps prevent uncontrolled cell growth and tumor development.
Estrogen Receptor alpha: PIM kinases play a critical role in regulating Estrogen Receptor alpha, a protein essential for supporting breast cancer growth in many contexts.
The impact of this research is twofold. First, it enhances our understanding of how breast cancer cells function, providing insights into the molecular processes driving their growth. This knowledge is an essential step toward developing new therapeutic strategies. Second, it highlights PIM kinases as potential targets for treatments, particularly for ER+ breast cancer patients.
By shedding light on these processes, this dissertation contributes to the broader effort to create more effective treatments for breast cancer and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
Vastaväittäjänä toimii professori Marc Vooijs (Maastrichtin yliopisto, Alankomaat) ja kustoksena apulaisprofessori Päivi Koskinen (Turun yliopisto). Tilaisuus on englanninkielinen. Väitöksen alana on biologia.
***
Tiivistelmä väitöstutkimuksesta:
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women, and understanding the mechanisms that drive its growth and spread is crucial for developing better treatments. This dissertation focuses on a family of proteins called PIM kinases, which influence how breast cancer cells grow, survive, and spread, with a particular emphasis on estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, the most common subtype.
The research performed for this dissertation investigated how PIM kinases affect ER+ breast cancer cells by modifying three key molecules through a process called phosphorylation. Phosphorylation is an enzymatic process in which kinases, like PIM kinases, alter the activity of other molecules. A range of experiments was conducted using cultured breast cancer cells to explore these effects:
Notch3: Phosphorylation by PIM kinases alters the normal functioning of the Notch3 protein. Surprisingly, this modification supports tumor growth through mechanisms not yet fully understood.
LKB1: PIM kinases phosphorylate and reduce the activity of an enzyme called LKB1, which is widely recognized as a tumor suppressor — a protein that helps prevent uncontrolled cell growth and tumor development.
Estrogen Receptor alpha: PIM kinases play a critical role in regulating Estrogen Receptor alpha, a protein essential for supporting breast cancer growth in many contexts.
The impact of this research is twofold. First, it enhances our understanding of how breast cancer cells function, providing insights into the molecular processes driving their growth. This knowledge is an essential step toward developing new therapeutic strategies. Second, it highlights PIM kinases as potential targets for treatments, particularly for ER+ breast cancer patients.
By shedding light on these processes, this dissertation contributes to the broader effort to create more effective treatments for breast cancer and improve outcomes for patients worldwide.
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