DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Prostate Cancer
Breast Cancer

Research Abstract

Research in my laboratory focuses on developmental oncobiology of epithelial cancer. We are particularly interested in understanding how cancer stem cells evolve from normal target cells of cancer through accumulation of mutations and through interaction with microenvironments, as avenues for identifying pathways unique to them. We study this mainly through developing and analyzing novel mouse models of human cancer based on genetic events occurring in patients. Currently, we focus on modeling recurrent chromosomal abnormalities recently identified in increasing numbers of epithelial cancers (e.g., breast cancer, prostate cancer). The in vivo studies are complemented by cell culture based studies to decipher molecular mechanisms underlying tumor initiation and progression.

Publications

• Li Z, Tognon CE, Godinho FJ, Yasaitis L, Hock H, Herschkowitz JI, Lannon CL, Cho E, Kim SJ, Bronson RT, Perou CM, Sorensen PH, Orkin SH.ETV6-NTRK3 fusion oncogene initiates breast cancer from committed mammary progenitors via activation of AP1 complex.Can
  18068631