Patricia Steeg
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Patricia Steeg | |
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| Alma mater | University of Maryland |
| Known for | Discovering the NME1 gene |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Breast cancer research |
| Institutions | Center for Cancer Research National Institute of Dental Research National Cancer Institute |
Patricia Steeg is a cancer researcher working in the field of breast cancer metastasis, and was the first person to discover the NME1 gene, which spreads breast cancer to other parts of the body.[1][2][3]
Education
[edit]Steeg attended the University of Maryland, which is where she got her PhD in 1982.[1]
Career
[edit]Steeg had been the Deputy Chief of the Women’s Malignancies Branch since 2014 at the Center for Cancer Research[1] as well as being the co-director of the Office of Translational Resources for the Center.[1] Steeg was also a recipient of the Jane Coffin Child Memorial Fund for Medical Research Fellowship in the Laboratory of Departmental Biology and Anomalies,[1] as well as the National Institute of Dental Research, and the Laboratory of Pathology at the National Cancer Institute.[1] In 1992, Steeg was also given tenure at the Laboratory of Pathology.[1]
Research
[edit]Steeg discovered the NME1 gene by realizing that breast cancer was less likely to spread to other parts of the body in people who had this gene.[4] When the NME1 gene is introduced in highly metastatic breast cancer line it decreased the potential for the cancer to spread anywhere from 50 to 90 percent.[5] The NME1 gene reduces the likelihood of cancer spreading by producing a protein referred to as NME1 protein.[5] This means that cancerous cells will lack this protein, so Steeg and her team synthesized a drug called nitidine analog that will locate cancerous cells and destroy them based on the amount of proteins the cell contains.[6] This drug is less cancerous than chemotherapy, and has shown promise in working against melanoma, colon cancer, and small-cell lung cancer.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Patricia S. Steeg, Ph.D. |". NIH Intramural Research Program. Federal government of the United States. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ "Patricia S. Steeg, Ph.D." Center for Cancer Research. National Cancer Institute. August 12, 2014. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ "Patricia S. Steeg's research works: National Institutes of Health, MD (NIH) and other places". ResearchGate. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- ^ Knox, Richard (March 29, 1990). "Genes that curb cancer reported findings may help dictate therapy". Boston Globe. ProQuest 294518865.
- ^ a b Robert Cooke, STAFF WRITER. "Identifying Cancer's Deadly Emissaries Scientists Try to Crack Secrets of Metastasis: NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]." Newsday, Sep 21, 1993, Combined editions. ProQuest 278701316.
- ^ a b Sternberg, Steve. "Drug found to Target Remote Cancer Cells: FINAL Edition]." Usa Today, Nov 03, 1997. ProQuest 408789598.
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