Bioflavonoids and breast cancer
Because of the increased consumption of soy-based food products, phytoestrogens have become one of the most widespread and potent xenoestrogens in the human environment. There is an ongoing debate over the safety of these compounds. The increased and chronic exposure of the population to isoflavones is therefore a major societal and public health issue. We study the effects of phytoestrogens with emphasis on breast cancer prevention and progression. We also identify and characterize new phytoestrogens that possess a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) activity, which might be of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical interest.
Project leader: François Ferrière
Participants: Farzad Pakdel, Yann Le Page, Pascale Le Goff, Léa Clusan
Relevant publications: PubMed
Funding: Inserm | Université de Rennes 1 | La Ligue Contre le Cancer
Collaborations: Patrick Balaguer (Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier)
Roles of Cancer/Testis genes in breast cancer progression
Cancer/Testis genes (CT genes) encode protein-coding and non-coding RNAs that can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. CT genes are typically expressed in the male germline and somatic cancers but not corresponding normal tissues. We are specifically interested in the roles testicular RNAs play in the progression of breast cancer.
Project leaders: Florence Demay
Participants: Noureddine Boujrad, Michael Primig
Relevant publications: PubMed
Funding: Inserm | Université de Rennes 1 | La Ligue Contre le Cancer
Collaborations: Cecilia Lindskog (Uppsala, The University of Uppsala, Sweden)
Mechanotransduction and breast cancer
Living cells are constantly exposed to mechanical stimuli from the surrounding extracellular matrix or neighboring cells. The intracellular molecular processes by which these physical signals are transformed into a biological response are collectively referred to as mechanotransduction. We study the mechanisms that link the physics of the cell nucleus to the control of the phenotype and fate of breast tumor cells, in particular their resistance to cytotoxic and antiproliferative treatments.
Project leaders : Sophie Lelièvre
Participants : Gilles Flouriot
Relevant publications : PubMed
Funding : Inserm | Université de Rennes 1
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