Michael DiGiovanna, MD/PhD
Yale Cancer Center
Combination Targeting of IGF-I Receptor and HER2 in Breast Cancer
Awarded $50,000
About this Project:
This project studies interactions between three receptors in the breast tumors. One of these receptors, IGF1R, may play a role in resistance to drugs such as Herceptin and Tamoxifen that specifically target the other two receptors, HER2 and ER respectively. In addition, HER2 is one member of a family of four similar receptors that work cooperatively to make cancer cells grow. It has been discovered that a cancer’s use of the other receptors in the family may play a role in resistance to drugs that only target one of these receptors. Therefore, it may be more effective to inhibit all of the receptors rather than just one. CTBHI has been funding this project for the past three grant funding years and continues to support its progress.