Decoding the Function of Kaiso

Researchers: Dr. Juliet Daniel
Co-Investigators: Dr. Robert W. Cowan
Project Status: In Progress
Decoding the Function of Kaiso in the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Cycle

Breast cancer remains the most common cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is a very aggressive type of breast cancer with no specific treatment. TNBC is most common in young Black women for unknown reasons. The primary investigators have found that TNBC tumours from Black women have a lot of a protein known as Kaiso that plays a role in controlling how tumour cells multiply.

This study will examine how Kaiso affects other genes in TNBC as the cell divides and proliferates. The researchers will analyse tumour cells with or without the Kaiso protein and determine which genes are expressed as the cells divide. They will also look at TNBC patient tissues to see if there is a relationship between the Kaiso protein and increased rates of cell proliferation. The results will help them understand Kaiso’s role in cell proliferation and aggressive TNBC, and potentially offer new ways to treat TNBC.