The role of liver receptor homolog-1 in normal and cancerous mouse mammary gland development

Breast cancer affects one in eight women worldwide and is one of the highest causes of cancer related deaths among women. Estrogen is a crucial driver of breast tumour growth and as such, blocking its action is a major chemotherapeutic. However, side effects such as treatment resistance and estrogen independent tumours has prompted the need for novel treatment. This thesis presents a constructed series of experiments that detail the activity of liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) in the mammary gland. The findings are very important as understanding the complexes leading to estrogen action in breast development and cancer, offers the key to preventing resistance to endocrine-based therapies for this disease.