In my research, I am studying signal transduction, specifically the role of aberrant prolyl isomerization in breast cancer. Prolyl isomerization catalyzed by Pin1 is a post-phosphorylational regulatory mechanism that has recently been found to be important for signal transduction downstream from oncogenic Ras and Her2/Neu. Based on my basic laboratory work I have developed a strong interest in translational research, and I am working on a phase I study exploring the combination of Herceptin and Rad001 in metastatic Her2 breast cancer.
Wulf G, Garg P, Yih-Cherng Liou, Iglehart D. and Lu KP. Modeling breast cancer in vivo and ex vivo reveals an essential role of the prolyl isomerase Pin1 for tumorigenesis. EMBO J , Aug 18;23(16):3397-407. Epub 2004 Jul 15.
Wulf GM, Liou YC, Ryo A, Lee SW, Lu KP. Role of Pin1 in the regulation of p53 stability and p21 transactivation, and cell cycle checkpoints in response to DNA damage. J. Biol Chem 2002 Dec 13;277(50):47976-9
Wulf G, Ryo A, Wulf GG, Lee SW, Niu T, Petkova V and Lu KP. Pin1 is overexpressed in breast cancer and cooperates with Ras signaling in increasing c-Jun transcriptional activity towards cyclin D1. EMBO J. 2001 20: 3459-3472
Wulf G, Finn G, Suizu F. Phosphorylation-specific prolyl isomerization: is there an underlying theme? Nat Cell Biol. 2005 May;7(5):435-41.Wulf G, Finn G, Suizu F. Phosphorylation-specific prolyl isomerization: is there an underlying theme? Nat Cell Biol. 2005 May;7(5):435-41.
External Recognition:
1991 - 1993 Mildred-Scheel Cancer Research Foundation (Germany)
PI: Gerburg M Wulf; Title: Role of the vav protooncogene in hematopoiesis
1999 - 2002 Department of Defense DAMD17-99-1-9081
PI: Gerburg M Wulf; Title: Roles of the Mitotic Checkpoint Regulators Pin1 and Pin2 in Breast Cancer
2002 - 2007 NIH K08 CA 93655-01A1
PI: Gerburg M Wulf; Title: Role of the Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 in Breast Cancer
2004 –2005 DFHCC Breast SPORE career Development Award PI: Gerburg M. Wulf
2005-2006 Department of Defense Concept Award; Mapping Primary Mammary Epithelial Cell Transformation PI: Gerburg M. Wulf
2005 Avon Supplement to P50 DFHCC/SPORE PI: Gerburg M. Wulf
Treament of Metastatic Breast Cancer with Herceptin and a Rapamycin ester
Major Collaborative Activities:
I am part of the Dana Farber Harvard Cancer Center and member of the Breast Cancer SPORE group
