Photo of Al Charest,  PhD

Al Charest, PhD

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Phone: (617) 667-5687


acharest@bidmc.harvard.edu

Al Charest, PhD

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

EDUCATIONAL TITLES

  • Associate Professor, Medicine, Harvard Medical School
  • Associate Professor, Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Member, Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

DF/HCC PROGRAM AFFILIATION

Research Abstract

Reconstituting Human Cancer Gene Mutations in Mice Through Genetic Engineering to Accurately Model Cancer

A major drive of the lab is to model primary brain cancer (low and high grade gliomas) in genetically engineered mouse models to study the molecular and microenvironmental processes driving the initiation and maintenance of these cancers.

We are particularly interested in elucidating the elements that dictate how a normal cell responds to specific oncogenic mutations at the molecular level and how the resulting cancer cell wiring can be exploited for therapeutic intervention.

Identifying Novel Cancer Targets, Eploiting Signaling Vulnerabilities and Developping Pre- and Co-Clinical Trial Programs

Using orthogonal approaches, we strive to decipher the complexities of signal transduction pathways in cancer and to reveal molecular vulnerabilities.

Integrating Glioma Cancer Mutations With Tumor Immunology

We are determining the immunological landscape of high grade glioma (Glioblastoma Multiforme) in genetically-defined mouse models and from clinical sources.

Publications from Harvard Catalyst Profiles

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  • Zeng A, Wei Z, Rabinovsky R, Jun HJ, El Fatimy R, Deforzh E, Arora R, Yao Y, Yao S, Yan W, Uhlmann EJ, Charest A, You Y, Krichevsky AM. Glioblastoma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Facilitate Transformation of Astrocytes via Reprogramming Oncogenic Metabolism. iScience 2020; 23:101420. PubMed
  • Charest A. Experimental and Biological Insights from Proteomic Analyses of Extracellular Vesicle Cargos in Normalcy and Disease. Adv Biosyst 2020. PubMed
  • Ko J, Wang Y, Carlson JCT, Marquard A, Gungabeesoon J, Charest A, Weitz D, Pittet MJ, Weissleder R. Single Extracellular Vesicle Protein Analysis Using Immuno-Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction Amplification. Adv Biosyst 2020; 4:e1900307. PubMed
  • Vidal B, Bryke C, Hsu N, Alterman R, Yeo AT, Charest A, Varma H. A high-grade glioma with amplification. Clin Neuropathol 2019. PubMed
  • Gyuris A, Navarrete-Perea J, Jo A, Cristea S, Zhou S, Fraser K, Wei Z, Krichevsky AM, Weissleder R, Lee H, Gygi SP, Charest A. Physical and Molecular Landscapes of Mouse Glioma Extracellular Vesicles Define Heterogeneity. Cell Rep 2019; 27:3972-3987.e6. PubMed
  • Jun HJ, Appleman VA, Wu HJ, Rose CM, Pineda JJ, Yeo AT, Delcuze B, Lee C, Gyuris A, Zhu H, Woolfenden S, Bronisz A, Nakano I, Chiocca EA, Bronson RT, Ligon KL, Sarkaria JN, Gygi SP, Michor F, Mitchison TJ, Charest A. A PDGFRα-driven mouse model of glioblastoma reveals a stathmin1-mediated mechanism of sensitivity to vinblastine. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3116. PubMed
  • Zhou S, Appleman VA, Rose CM, Jun HJ, Yang J, Zhou Y, Bronson RT, Gygi SP, Charest A. Chronic platelet-derived growth factor receptor signaling exerts control over initiation of protein translation in glioma. Life Sci Alliance 2018; 1:e201800029. PubMed
  • Boussiotis VA, Charest A. Immunotherapies for malignant glioma. Oncogene 2017. PubMed
  • Yeo AT, Charest A. Immune Checkpoint Blockade Biology in Mouse Models of Glioblastoma. J Cell Biochem 2017; 118:2516-2527. PubMed
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