Charles Roberts, MD, PhD

Investigating how mutations in a protein complex promote breast cancer

Impact

Chromatin is a complex of DNA and protein packed tightly into the chromosomes inside cells. For genes to turn on and off, chromatin must unwind during a closely regulated gene expression process. SWI/SNF complexes are a specific group of proteins that control a cell’s identity during differentiation – when a cell undergoes the changes needed to transform it into a cell type with specialized function. They do this by changing chromatin architecture to regulate gene expression. Dr. Roberts and his team have previously found that SWI/SNF subunits help cells “remember” their type during division. These complexes are mutated in nearly 25 percent of all human cancers, including breast cancers. The reasons why these mutations cause cancer are not well understood. By investigating how these mutations disrupt the normal functioning of the SWI/SNF complex, researchers can gain valuable insights into how they might selectively kill the cancer cells that bear the SWI/SNF mutations.

What’s next

The research team will use laboratory breast cancer models to study alterations in SWI/SNF protein complexes that contribute to changes in gene expression resulting in cancer formation. Their research will generate insight into how these mutations promote cancer and may reveal vulnerabilities that can be pursued for new therapeutic interventions.