A Novel Apoptotic Molecular Bok for the Treatment of Breast Cancer

This current proposal is based on previous publications that (1) the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bok, is capable of exerting growth inhibition on cancer cells growing in tissue culture, and (2) the apoptotic activity of Bok is not inhibited by the anti- apoptotic molecules Bcl-2 and Bclx(L). To further investigate the anti-tumor activity of Bok on breast cancer and to develop a Bok gene therapy for breast cancer, we have proposed three specific aims to accomplish our objectives. Specific Aim 1: To confirm hBok-mediated transformation suppression in breast cancer cells. Specific Aim 2: To investigate the mechanisms of hBok-induced apoptosis. Specific Aim 3: To develop a tumor specific promoter using hTERT promoter driven hBok to examine the preclinical effect of hBok for breast cancer gene therapy.