Comprehensive multi-omic analyses of "islands of resistance" tumour cells to identify aromatase inhibitor resistant subclones in ER+ breast cancer

Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) treatment is the most effective therapy for post-menopausal women with early oestrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. Changes of Ki67 value after short-term neoadjuvant AI is a measure of tumour's early response to AI. Some proliferating cells remain in most ER+ cancers after treatment and these cells may be responsible for the outgrowth of resistant clones. This PhD project will focus on discovering the genomic changes that are specific to these resistant clones to provide a better understanding of why these cells did not response to AI and may allow additional personalised treatment targeting these resistant cells.