Role of Cyclin D1 and p27 in Steroidal Control of Cell Cycle Progression in the Mammary Gland in Vivo

Abstract : Estrogen and progesterone are critically involved in both the development of the mammary gland and the pathogenesis of breast cancer, functions thought to rely on their regulation of cell proliferation. This project aims to complement studies of cell cycle control in breast cancer cells in tissue culture by addressing cell cycle control mechanisms in the normal mammary gland. Of particular interest are the roles of cyclin D1 and p27, which have been implicated in steroid regulation of proliferation, and are aberrantly expressed in a subset of breast cancers.