Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – Scientists from the University of Alberta has discovered a vital protein that plays a role in the healthy development of mammary glands during puberty, however in certain breast cancers, its functions are not normal. The scientists are now working to identify medications that could correct this malfunction.
In their latest published findings, the researchers detail how a protein known as BAD can be shifted from a dangerous state to a protective one. They also propose that medications already approved for treating melanoma and lung cancer might be repurposed to address this issue.
The lead researcher Ing Swie Goping, a biochemistry professor and holder of the Lilian McCullough Chair in Breast Cancer Research indicated that during puberty, the mammary gland transforms from a tiny, undeveloped structure into a fully formed breast capable of nourishing offspring. She pointed out that it is truly an extraordinary transformation.
During puberty or lactation, when cell growth is necessary, the BAD protein is deactivated by entering a “phosphorylated” state. Once breast development is complete, it switches to its “non-phosphorylated” form, where it acts like a regulator to keep cell growth in check.
Goping’s research reveals that in cancer, this regulatory function is disrupted—essentially silencing the “referee” that’s supposed to stop uncontrolled growth.
“Breast cancer can reawaken that signal to allow the cells to start moving again, and that’s called metastasis,” added Goping. “We found that the BAD protein is important to regulate that process.”
Goping’s research team discovered that using a specific drug to switch the BAD protein into its non-phosphorylated state can restore its function as a growth regulator, effectively halting abnormal cell growth and the spread of cancer.
According to Goping, roughly 25% of breast cancers involve abnormal phosphorylation of the BAD protein. Her team observed that patients whose tumors contain high levels of the phosphorylated version tend to have poorer survival outcomes.
Goping stated that they wanted to know if they could shift the balance in tumors with high phosphorylated BAD levels by converting it back to its active, non-phosphorylated state that prevents metastasis. “She pointed out that they have pinpointed how this conversion happens and found a drug that can help reactivate the protective form of BAD.
Researchers pointed out theta a major benefit of this approach is that the drug in question is already approved for use in treating other cancers, which means it could potentially reach patients faster by bypassing some of the usual regulatory barriers.
Goping and her research team were honoured with the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s Game Changer Award in 2024 for pioneering work on patient-derived organoids at the University of Alberta. These organoids—three-dimensional cell cultures grown from individual tumours—serve as powerful tools for testing how different drugs impact cancer development.
By using organoids, the researchers can identify each tumour’s unique molecular “fingerprint,” enabling more precise and personalized treatment strategies. So far, tissue donations from 36 patients have helped build a living biobank, which the team is thoroughly analyzing at the molecular level. Their aim is to make this important resource accessible to other scientists studying breast cancer.
As the Lilian McCullough Chair in Breast Cancer Research, Goping is expanding the university’s cancer research efforts by fostering partnerships across departments and institutions. She has launched seed funding initiatives, helped recruit new faculty, and brought together multidisciplinary teams to encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange.
“The more authentic our relationships are, I think the better it is for research in general and for the community as a whole,” explained Goping. “Community is really important — it is the ignition and the engine for everything we do.”
