Titles and Affiliations
Associate Researcher
National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
American Association for Cancer Research
Research Area
Targeting a protein active in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) to make tumors less aggressive.
Impact
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive and difficult to treat because it lacks three key proteins that are often targeted by existing breast cancer treatments. The protein ID4 is highly active in TNBC. ID4 contributes to the aggressive behavior of TNBC and may also reduce the activity of genes that protect against cancer like BRCA1 and estrogen receptor alpha (ERa). Dr. Branham’s research focuses on reducing the activity of ID4 in TNBC to potentially reprogram tumor cells, pushing them to behave more similarly to less aggressive types of breast cancer. This reprogramming could allow TNBC cells to become responsive to therapies currently used for other breast cancer types.
What’s Next
Dr. Branham is conducting experiments to determine how targeting ID4 could lead to significant changes in TNBC cells, including the reactivation of genes linked to better treatment responses. Using genetic analysis tools, she and her team will investigate the effects of modulating ID4 in a TNBC model system combined with endocrine therapies for tumor response and progression. Dr. Branham also aims to identify changes in gene expression to further understand the regulatory pathways that drive cellular reprogramming. Elucidating the mechanisms by which ID4 influences TNBC biology has the potential to uncover a novel therapeutic strategy for TNBC.
Biography
Maria Teresita Branham, PhD received her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from the National University of San Luis in 2002. She earned her PhD in Biology with a specialization in Molecular Biology in 2010 from the PROBIOL Program at the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina. Dr. Branham is currently an Associate Researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina. Her research focuses on triple-negative breast cancer, exploring strategies such as epigenetic regulation and cellular reprogramming. By studying genes like ID4, she aims to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities to improve outcomes for breast cancer patients.
