Dr. Thresia Thomas conducts research centered on estrogens, polyamines, and breast cancer. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of cell growth are examined to understand how endogenous hormones and exogenous toxicants affect growth regulatory pathways. She is interested in the causation of breast cancer and the development of possible therapeutic and preventive agents. Her research on breast cancer has been supported by the National Institutes of Health for the last 18 years. Her work has contributed to the understanding of mechanisms of gene regulation by estradiol and polyamines. Polyamines are organic cations present in all cells. Her work identified the involvement of polyamines in estrogenic pathway of growth regulation in breast cancer cells. This work led to the design and synthesis of several polyamine analogues which arrest breast cancer cell growth. Her objectives in the current studies are: (1) to elucidate the role of polyamine-induced conformational transition in ER-ERE interactions and develop a molecular target for breast cancer therapy, (2) to examine the therapeutic potential of polyamine analogs in estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells, (3) to examine the mechanism of action of polyamine analogs in altering cell cycle, and (4) to characterize polyamine-responsive and ER-associated proteins in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Results of these studies will provide new insights into the mechanism of polyamine action and help to develop novel therapeutic agents for breast cancer.

	Thomas, T., and Thomas T. J. Polyamine metabolism and cancer. J Cell. Mol. Med. 7, 113-126, 2003
	Lewis, J. S., Thomas, T. J., Klinge, C. M., Gallo, M. A., and Thomas, T. Regulation of cell cycle and cyclins by 16alpha-hydroxyestrone in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. J. Mol. Endocrinol. 27, 293-307, 2001
	Greenfield, N., Vijayanathan, V., Thomas, T. J., Gallo, M. A., Thomas, T. Increase in the stability and helical content of estrogen receptor alpha in the presence of the estrogen response element: analysis by circular dichroism spectroscopy. Biochemistry. 40(22):6646-52, 2001
	Shah, N, Thomas, T. JD., Lewis, J.S., Klinge, C. M., Shirahata, A., Gelinas, C., Thomas, T. Regulation of estrogenic and nuclear factor kappa B functions by polyamines and their role in polyamine analog-induced apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Oncogene. 20, 1715-1729, 2001