Figure 1

Organization of Department of Defense Center of Excellence Grant. Shown is the organization of our Department of Defense Center of Excellence Grant entitled 'A new therapeutic paradigm for breast cancer exploiting low-dose oestrogen-induced apoptosis'. The model systems to study the survival and apoptosis induced with oestrogen are being used in time course experiments at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. The materials are distributed to Translational Genomics for genomic analysis using comparative genomic hybridization, small interfering (si)RNA analysis or Agilent gene array analysis, and the Vincent T Lombardi Cancer Center is involved in conducting proteomics analysis. All results are uploaded into a shared secure web for data processing and target identification by our informatics and biostatistical group. Each laboratory is able to validate emerging pathways and study individual genes of interest. Our programme is integrated with a clinical trials programme that provides patient samples for validation of apoptotic or survival pathways. We are grateful to our external advisory board of patient advocates and professional colleagues for their continuing advice and support.