Katherine Zhou, MD, PhD

Investigating the biological mechanisms of metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer

Impact

Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive breast cancer subtype that results in particularly poor outcomes when it spreads to distant sites in the body. Understanding the mechanisms of how triple-negative breast cancer spreads is crucial for developing more effective treatments. Researchers have identified a small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) that influences the spread of breast cancer in laboratory models. This snoRNA affects critical cellular processes believed to play a role in cancer metastasis. By studying snoRNA, scientists hope to uncover new ways to combat the spread of triple-negative breast cancer, potentially leading to innovative treatments.

What’s Next

For her Conquer Cancer research supported by BCRF, Dr. Zhou plans to study tumor samples from patients with breast cancer to further understand how snoRNA impacts tumors in humans. A molecule has been developed that inhibits snoRNA, and the team will test its ability to reduce the spread of breast cancer in laboratory models. With deeper insights into the mechanisms behind triple-negative breast cancer metastasis, the team hopes to discover new therapeutic approaches that could prevent or reduce the spread of this aggressive cancer, improving outcomes for patients.