Mary Beth Martin, PhD

Professor
Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Georgetown University Medical Center
E411 New Research Building 
Washington, DC 20057 
Phone: 202 687-3768
Fax: 202 687-7505 
martinmb@georgetown.edu 

Research Interests

Hormone dependent cancers

Research Summary

The goal of our research program is to define the mechanisms responsible for controlling the expression and activity of estrogen receptor (ER-alpha) in the etiology and progression of breast cancer. To understand the mechanisms that control of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) expression, the research goals are: 1) to define the role of ER-alpha in the repression of ER-alpha gene transcription in ER-positive breast cancer, 2) to define the mechanism responsible for the loss of ER-alpha gene transcription in ER-negative breast cancer cells and 3) to define the mechanism responsible for post-transcriptional regulation of ER-alpha expression. The laboratory is also interested in the mechanisms that regulate ER-alpha activity. The goals of this research are: 1) to define the mechanism by which growth factors activate ER-alpha and 2) to define the role metals in the etiology of breast cancer. We are also interested in defining the mechanism for the estrogen receptor-positive, hormone-independent phenotype in breast cancer. 

Representative publications

• Stoica, A., Saceda, M., Fakhro, A., Joyner, M., Martin, M.B. Role of insulin-like growth factor-I in the regulation of estrogen receptor-a gene expression. J. Cell. Biochem. 76: 605-614, 2000.
• Stoica, A., Saceda, M., Doraiswamy, V.L., Coleman, C., Martin, M.B. Regulation of estrogen receptor-a gene expression by epidermal growth factor. J. Endocrinol. 165:371-378, 2000.
• Stoica, A., Pentecost, E., and Martin, M.B. Effects of selenite on estrogen receptor-a expression and activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. J. Cell Biochem. 74:282-292, 2000
• Martin, M.B., Franke, T.F., Stoica, G.E., Chambon, P., Katzenellenbogen, B.S., Stoica, B.A., McLemore, M.S., Olivo, S.E., and Stoica, A. A role for Akt in mediating the estrogenic functions of EGF and IGF-I. Endocrinol. 141:4503-4511, 2000
• Martin, M.B., Voeller, H. J., Gelmann, E.P., Lu, J., Stoica, E.-G., Hebert, E.J., Reiter, R., Singh, B.,Danielsen, M., Pentecost, E., and Stoica, A. Role of cadmium in the regulation of androgenreceptor gene expression and activity. Endocrinol. 143:263-275, 2002.