How research into estrogen could change the treatment of breast cancer
Starting with a breakthrough discovery in 2005 as a PhD student, Marina Holz has helped change our understanding of cell biology.\n\nIn her conversation with ACS, Dr. Holz talked about her new research related to estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers. She also talked about what it\u2019s like to be the Dean of the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences at New York Medical College, and she offered some great advice for young scientists.\n\n1:45 \u2013 On her seminal 2005 paper:\nAt this conference last fall\u2026there was a person sitting next to me, and she said, \u201cisn\u2019t it amazing that 15 years later we\u2019re still talking about this paper?\u201d And it really was. It was really a proud moment for me, and I was really honored that our work really made an impact and laid this foundation that is very solid.\n\n5:00 \u2013 On her most recent publication:\nIn my lab\u2014I started my lab a little over 12 years ago\u2014we focus specifically on breast cancer, and about 70% of breast cancers are diagnosed as hormone dependent. Specifically, they are dependent on the hormone estrogen. This is what our recent paper is about\u2014how estrogen controls protein synthesis in the cells.\n\n9:45 \u2013 Why is it significant that 70% of breast cancer ceases are estrogen-receptor positive?\nNot all patients respond to endocrine therapy. For most patients, eventually, there is some sort of resistance that develops and they stop responding. So there\u2019s really a need to understand exactly how estrogen acts in breast cancer and what other treatments we can offer to prevent the development of resistance and to really make endocrine therapy curative, as opposed to just something that allows the disease to be more of a chronic nature.