Edith A. Perez, MD

2009-2010 BCRF Project:
(made possible by generous support from Play For P.I.N.K)

Dr. Perez is focused on the hypothesis that each patient's tumor may harbor unique features important to cancer cell survival, growth and metastasis. Over the next year, she proposes a number of experiments to identify genetic factors that will be important in identifying people at risk as well as those that will benefit from particular treatments. The ultimate goal is to be able to tailor therapeutic strategies to individual needs. Dr. Perez believes strongly in the importance of collaboration between clinicians and basic scientists in order to advance patient care.

The studies proposed for this year rely on a team of basic scientists at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Communication between the three basic research arms of this proposal and the clinical application of these studies will be aided by Dr. Cathy Andorfer, Translational Science Coordinator for Dr. Perez. Current investigations led by Dr. Al Copland include utilizing original breast cancer tissues, derivative cell lines and tumor tissues grown in laboratory models to identify candidate genes using gene arrays and comparative genomic hybridization methods. Confirmation of candidate genes will be performed with gene silencing (shRNA) or re-expression methods. Drugs known to target pathways identified by these screens will be then be tested for anti-tumor effects.

Funding from BCRF last year has allowed the initiation of a Breast Tumor Tissue Bank at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Collection of primary and metastatic breast cancer tissue samples with accompanying detailed demographic, clinical and pathological data is well underway under the guidance of Dr. Panos Anastasiadis and will continue to grow with this year's BCRF continued support. A number of collaborations within Mayo Clinic and across institutions have already been initiated utilizing this highly useful resource. The oncogenic pathways that are responsible for the aggressive behavior of triple negative breast cancer are not well understood. The researchers are currently using phospho-proteomic methods on samples collected via the Tumor Bank to identify and validate oncogenic pathways in individual triple negative breast tumors.

Additional studies by Dr Perez's group concern the development of therapeutic strategies to target regulators of breast tumor cell invasion. Most available chemotherapeutics target highly proliferating cells. Tumor cells either proliferate or invade but do not do both at the same time. Thus compounds that target cell proliferation tend to be ineffective in targeting invading cells. This difficulty may be overcome through identification of regulators of breast tumor cell invasion. A protein named PKD1 was recently indentified to be a suppressor of cell invasion by Dr. Peter Storz, another member of Dr. Perez's team of translational breast cancer researchers. Dr Perez's group will therefore test several FDA approved compounds (and combinations of compounds) known to regulate PKD1 in both breast cancer cell lines and in tumor tissue grown in models. Together these studies are aimed at understanding the molecular variation and heterogeneity of individual tumors and how we can treat and prevent tumor cell growth, invasion and recurrence.

Mid-Year Progress Report:
Current investigations led by Dr. Al Copland utilizing original breast cancer tissues, derivative cell lines and tumor tissues grown in laboratory models to identify candidate genes using gene arrays and comparative genomic hybridization methods have been initiated. Confirmation of candidate genes will then be performed with gene silencing (shRNA) or re-expression methods. Drugs known to target pathways identified by these screens will be tested for anti-tumor effects. These techniques may pave the way towards a more personalized cancer therapy in the future.

The collection of primary and metastatic breast cancer tissue samples with accompanying detailed demographic, clinical and pathological data for the Breast Tumor Tissue Bank is continuing with over 100 fresh-frozen tumor and 100 patient-matched normal tissue specimens collected to date. A number of collaborations within Mayo Clinic and across institutions have already been initiated utilizing this Tissue Bank.

The oncogenic pathways that are responsible for the aggressive behavior of triple negative breast cancer are not well understood. Studies led by Dr. Panos Anastasiadis using phospho-proteomics to identify and validate oncogenic pathways in individual triple negative breast tumors are ongoing. Compounds that target proliferating cells do not generally target invading cells. This difficulty in cancer therapy may be overcome through identification of regulators of tumor cell invasion. Dr. Peter Storz is currently testing a combinatorial therapy strategy to activate a protein named PKD1 that, when expressed and active, inhibits breast tumor cell invasion.

Overall, these ongoing studies are aimed at understanding the molecular variation and heterogeneity of individual tumors and will hopefully provide significant insight into how we can treat and prevent tumor cell growth, invasion and recurrence.

Bio:
Edith A. Perez, MD, is the Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in Florida, director of the Breast Program, and the Serene M. and Frances C. Durling Professor of Medicine at Mayo Medical School. She is a cancer specialist and an internationally known translational researcher at Mayo Clinic. Her roles extend nationally, including chairing the Breast Committee for the North Central Cancer Treatment Group, as well as other positions within the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Perez has developed, and is involved in, a wide range of clinical trials exploring the use of new therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. She also has developed studies to evaluate the role of genetic markers in the development and aggressiveness of breast cancer.

Dr. Perez has authored more than 555 research articles in journals, books, and abstracts. She receives invitations to lecture at national and international meetings frequently, and serves on the editorial boards of multiple academic journals.

Dr. Perez is a recipient of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation's Research Grant Award (1998-2010); the Horizon Achievement Award in Cancer Research (2002); the North Florida Hispanic of the Year Award (2003); the Mayo Clinic Outstanding Faculty Award (2002 & 2004); the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Educator Award (2003); the named Serene M. and Frances C. Durling Professorship of Medicine (2006); Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of North Florida (2006); Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator (2007); the Florida State Biomedical Research Advisory Council [BRAC] (2009-2012); member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (2009) and Mayo Clinic Outstanding Course Director (2010).