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The Tumor Promoting Role of BAD in Breast Cancer Cells
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- Author / Creator
- Buckland, Timothy, W
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In Canada, approximately 40% of the population will be diagnosed with cancer and 25% will die of this disease. In order to treat cancer more effectively, new prognostic and therapeutic targets need to be discovered. In breast cancer, the BH3 only protein BAD has been shown to correlate with response to treatment. However, the role of BAD in cancer is unclear. Although BAD is well characterized as a pro-apoptotic protein, alternative roles exist that may influence cancer progression. In this study, we determine that BAD over-expression promotes proliferation and tumor growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. These roles are regulated by serine phosphorylation, specifically serine 118. Finally, enforced phosphorylation of BAD at serine 118 promotes apoptotic resistance. This study suggests that in order to use BAD as a prognostic or therapeutic target, the phospho-status of BAD must also be examined.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2012
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.