Dr Leigh Murphy, PhD

Since estrogen is a major driver of human breast cancer, and the action of estrogen changes during breast tumourigenesis and breast cancer progression, the overall aim of my research program is to elucidate the mechanisms by which estrogen action changes during the development of breast cancer and how breast cancers develop resistance to endocrine therapies and progress from hormone dependence to independence. To do this my group is identifying the molecular players involved in the estrogen receptor signaling pathways in human breast tissues, how they are altered during tumourigenesis, and breast cancer progression to hormone independence.

We are specifically determining the types and putative function of estrogen receptor isoforms, i.e. estrogen receptor alpha and beta and its phosphorylated forms, that are expressed in human breast tissues in vivo, using tissues obtained from the Manitoba Breast Tumour Bank/Clinical Database. We have identified a phosphorylation profile of estrogen receptor alpha with prognostic significance. The kinases that are involved in regulating the estrogen receptor alpha phosphorylation score in vivo are now being studied as potential therapy targets. Estrogen and androgen signaling may have a role in some lung cancers so in collaboration with Drs Marshall Pitz, Shantanu Banerji, Sri Navaratnam and Gefei Qing, we are developing human lung cancer tissue microarrays and associated clinical information to explore the molecular players involved in the estrogen and androgen signaling pathways in lung tissue and relationship to clinical outcome.

In collaboration with Dr Peter Watson and the Manitoba Tumour Bank, we are also investigating tissue collection issues that may affect detection of various gene products in banked tissues.  Through the Manitoba Tumour Bank, we are contributing to genomic, proteomic  and metabolomic  cancer studies locally, nationally and internationally.

Contact information

Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology
6020-675 McDermot Ave
Winnipeg, Mb R3E 0V9
(204) 787-4071
Email: Dr Leigh Murphy PhD

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