Role of SOCS3 in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis

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We are studying the role of a family of inhibitory molecules (SOCS) in breast tissue; these proteins have been established to have critical roles in the immune system and in regulating growth of the entire animal. We have demonstrated that one member of this family can block the action of the prolactin hormone and have recently obtained evidence that another member of this family, SOCS3, affects survival of breast cells. Furthermore, this protein leads to increased growth when overexpressed in breast cells. We propose to define the normal role of this gene in mouse mammary tissue and to examine the consequences of expressing the gene at high levels in the mammary glands of mice. Inappropriate expression of this gene may predispose humans to breast cancer. SOCS3 expression will be directly studied in a cohort of primary invasive breast cancers with associated clinical outcome data, to determine whether it has a role as a potential prognostic marker.