Page 38 - The Hormel Institute 2024 Annual Report

38 | THE HORMEL INSTITUTE
// UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Breast cancer continues to be a major cause of cancer-related mortality, accounting for over 42,000 deaths annually in the United
States alone. Despite recent treatment advances, critical gaps remain in our understanding of how to effectively prevent and halt cancer progression and metastasis. Addressing these gaps is essen- tial to improving survival outcomes and quality of life for patients. Over the past fiscal year, our lab has made notable strides in advancing breast cancer research, a field that continues to inspire the scientific community and the public alike.
Our research has focused primarily on TXNIP, a multifaceted protein that plays essential roles
in cellular metabolism, oxidative stress regula- tion, and, more recently, has shown potential as a tumor suppressor. TXNIP has emerged as a promising molecular target for breast cancer due to its ability to modulate metabolic and apoptotic pathways that are crucial in maintaining cellular homeostasis. This year, we made a breakthrough by dissecting the molecular mechanisms and pathways through which TXNIP exerts its anti-cancer effects. Specifically, our studies identified how TXNIP interfaces with signaling networks regulating apoptosis and metabolic responses, contributing to decreased tumor
cell viability and invasiveness. These findings highlight TXNIP’s potential as
lications detailing these insights into TXNIP’s tumor-suppressive functions, with an emphasis on the molecular pathways it influences. By expanding the scientific understanding of TX- NIP’s regulatory impact, our research opens new avenues for developing therapeutic interventions that specifically harness TXNIP’s capabilities, with the potential to benefit millions of breast cancer patients globally.
In acknowledgment of our research accomplish- ments, our lab was awarded a prestigious grant from the Veteran Affairs Office, securing critical funding for the expansion of our research scope. Additionally, we were honored with the Transfor- mative Ideas Program Award from The Hormel Institute, which recognizes the innovative poten- tial of our work. These awards underscore the importance of our research within the cancer field, also providing opportunities for us to pres- ent our findings at international conferences. Our active engagement in the scientific commu- nity has broadened the impact of our research, fostering new partnerships and expanding collaborative networks.
In summary, this past year has been marked
by major scientific breakthroughs, prestigious recognitions, and collaborative advancements, all made possible by the invaluable support from our funders and the wider scientific community. We look forward to the future with a clear objective: to conduct transformative research that gen- erates meaningful, long-lasting impacts within both our local and global communities. Through dedicated science, we strive to enhance the lives of countless individuals affected by cancer.
Our research opens new avenues for developing therapeutic interventions with the potential to benefit millions of breast cancer patients globally.
a novel therapeutic target, add- ing a new dimension to breast cancer treatment strategies focused on the suppression of aggressive cancer phenotypes.
Our work culminated in two original, peer-reviewed pub-