Co-localisation (yellow) of estrogen receptor (red) and a protein kinase (green) in breast cancer cells suggests functional interaction
Hormones are messenger substances of our body. There is hardly a life process in which hormones are not involved. To name just a few examples, hormones control metabolic pathways, regulate the reproduction cycle, and trigger immune responses. Hormones can also play a role in the development of cancer, since they guard the multiplication and differentiation of cells: They determine when and how often cells are allowed to divide and which cell types will evolve from them. If the complex interactions between hormones and the communication with the target cells get messed up, this can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation – a tumor develops. The aim of our work is to understand how hormones influence cancer development and find ways to interfer with specific processes in order to inhibit cancer growth. In our work, we are focusing on tumors of the breast, prostate, and liver.