Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: MAML1 Identified as a Promising Therapeutic Target
A study published in the Journal Cell Death & Differentiation has identified new molecular pathways involved in the onset and progression of triple-negative breast cancer. The research was conducted by the team led by Professor Diana Bellavia at Sapienza University of Rome, with the support of the Pasteur Institute Italy – Cenci Bolognetti Foundation.
Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the most aggressive forms of breast carcinoma. It is characterized by tumor cells that lack estrogen and progesterone receptors and exhibit very low or absent levels of the HER2 receptor, molecules that can normally be used as targets for specific therapies. The absence of these receptors makes this type of cancer more difficult to treat. Clinically, triple-negative breast cancer is a highly aggressive disease, tending to progress rapidly and potentially recur over time despite pharmacological treatments. At the molecular level, TNBC is considered heterogeneous, arising from the simultaneous dysregulation of multiple signaling pathways, which contributes to its malignancy and poor drug response.
The research led by Sabrina Zema (a fellow of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation) opens new perspectives for identifying novel molecular targets in triple-negative breast cancer, such as the elevated expression of the protein Mastermind-like 1 (MAML1). Beyond its known function as a transcriptional co-activator of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, MAML1 was found to play a non-canonical role in controlling the stability of various proteins that can acquire oncogenic properties. The research demonstrates a dual role of MAML1, acting as a pivotal “molecular switch” that orchestrates the activation of multiple oncoproteins, supporting both TNBC heterogeneity and tumor cell malignancy. These findings position MAML1 as a promising target for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating tumor signaling networks.
Additional insights are provided in the study available at the following link:
