Seminar

Amplified-FRET-FLIM reveals oncoprotein activation in breast cancer

Banafshe Larijani, PhD

Currently there is a transition point in cancer research, towards a need for a more profound understanding of molecular heterogeneity in various types of tumours, as well as a sensitive and specific quantitative methodology for analysis of the activation status of biomarkers. Therefore, Dr. Banafshe Larijani's group developed an innovative, portable approach to assess proteomic heterogeneity as well as the activation status of biomarkers, which is a crucial contribution to the field of cancer research. To date studies of endogenous proteins using imaging tools have been limited due to lack of sensitivity. Here they were able to identify molecular heterogeneity of an established oncoprotein PKB/Akt, between different regions of interest within the same tumour core and between various cores within the same patient. They have sought to explore the clinical relevance and molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of Akt in breast carcinoma. Their findings have the potential of determining a quantification parameter for molecular heterogeneity with a high degree of specificity, a major advance in cancer proteomics and diagnosis.