Dr. Kaladhar Reddy, a WSU associate professor at the Department of Pathology and the Karmanos Cancer Institute, recently was awarded RO1 grant form National Cancer Institute, NIH.

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among women. The antiestrogen drugs, such as tamoxifen (Tam) are effective in the treatment for estrogen receptor alpha (ER)- positive breast cancers by slowing the growth of the tumors, preventing the recurrence of the disease, and with relatively few side effects. However, almost all responsive tumors eventually relapse due to the development of tamoxifen resistance. The mechanism(s) responsible for resistance and/or growth promoting effects of Tam are not clear at present. The five-year project with direct cost is $950,000.00. The total cost of the $1,414,400.00 award will support Dr. Reddy as he pursues research investigating the mechanism by which PKC regulates antiestrogen resistance. According to Dr.Reddy, completion of this project should provide defined molecular target(s) for clinical intervention in tamoxifen resistant breast tumors.