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<\/a>From left: biochemistry and molecular biology graduate students Seth Murdock and Abdul Alagili; Weiwen Long, associate professor and associate chair of biochemistry and molecular biology; biochemistry and molecular biology graduate student Rangarirai Makuku; and biological sciences major Phylicia Carpenter. (Photo by Erin Pence)<\/p><\/div>Wright State University researchers are working to uncover how a protein reduces the effectiveness of hormon<\/span>e therapies in some breast cancer patients.<\/p>\n Weiwen Lon<\/span>g, Ph.D., associate professor and associate chair of biochemistry and molecular biology<\/a>, says that better understanding the protein, called FBXL16, could on<\/span>e day help patients for whom such hormon<\/span>e therapies do not work.<\/p>\n Lon<\/span>g received a $450,000 grant from the Nation<\/span>al Cancer Institute to examine how FBXL16 affects patients who have estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, which is stimulated by the hormon<\/span>e estrogen.<\/p>\n This form of breast cancer is treated with endocrine therapies, including selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as tamoxifen, which block hormon<\/span>es from attaching to receptors on<\/span> cancer cells; aromatase inhibitors, such as letrozole, which decrease the body\u2019s production of hormon<\/span>es; and selective estrogen receptor degraders, such as fulvestrant, which deplete estrogen receptor protein.<\/p>\n While these drugs are effective at treating estrogen receptor\u2013positive breast cancer, about 30% of patients are resistant to the drugs or eventually develop resistance to the medication<\/span>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is an urgent need to identify new drugs that may regulate estrogen receptor activity, and hopefully, we\u2019re able to develop drugs for treating estrogen receptor-positive patients, particularly those with estrogen receptor mutation<\/span>s,\u201d said Lon<\/span>g, who earned a Ph.D. in structural and cellular biology from Tulane University and did postdoctoral training at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston<\/span>.<\/p>\n Lon<\/span>g\u2019s research indicates that FBXL16 could play an essential role in the regulation<\/span> of estrogen receptor signaling and that knocking down FBXL16 could inhibit the growth and spread of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.<\/p>\n More importantly, Lon<\/span>g found that FBXL16 may cause resistance to endocrine therapies, so inhibiting FBXL16 in breast cancer cells could increase the effectiveness of endocrine therapies in more patients.<\/p>\n One of the goals of Lon<\/span>g\u2019s research project is to understand the molecular mechanism for how FBXL16 works, which could lead to the development of drugs to inhibit estrogen receptor protein in patients.<\/p>\n In another research project, Lon<\/span>g and Marion<\/span> Morel, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher, found that FBXL16 promotes growth and drug resistance in lung adenocarcinomas with KRAS mutation<\/span>s.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are interested in FBXL16 in different cancers,\u201d Lon<\/span>g said. \u201cIdeally, if we can con<\/span>firm FBXL16 is an on<\/span>coprotein, our ultimate goal is to develop a drug to treat different cancers, including breast cancer and lung cancer.\u201d<\/p>\n Assisting Lon<\/span>g in the research project is Abdul Alagili, who is pursuing a master\u2019s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and works as a graduate research assistant in Lon<\/span>g\u2019s lab.<\/p>\n Alagili is originally from Tripoli, Libya, where he was a veterinarian. He diagnosed many cancer cases in dogs, which often faced limited treatment options, so Alagili decided to pursue a career as an on<\/span>cologist.<\/p>\n He said he is excited to work with Lon<\/span>g on<\/span> a new line of research investigating FBXL16.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what makes me passionate about the project and excited about it,\u201d Alagili said.<\/p>\n Weiwen Long received funding to support undergraduate students like Phylicia Carpenter, a biological sciences major, to participate in his breast cancer research.<\/p><\/div>Lon<\/span>g\u2019s award from the National Cancer Institute is an R15 grant, which provides support for undergraduate students to work on<\/span> the research.<\/p>\n Phylicia Carpenter, a biological sciences major, and Bailey Trawick, a biochemistry and molecular biology major, are working on the project in Lon<\/span>g\u2019s lab.<\/p>\n The project will expose the undergraduate students to cancer research and teach them important research skills, Lon<\/span>g said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do need highly motivated and passionate young scientists, and that\u2019s one of the challenges we have right now,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s good to get the students interested in cancer research early in college.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Weiwen Long, associate professor and associate chair of biochemistry and molecular biology, is working to uncover how a protein reduces the effectiveness of hormone therapies in some breast cancer patients. 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