General Research Interest
Exploring novel mechanisms of chemo- and radiosensitization in a variety of malignancies, as well as DNA damage response pathways in tumors and how this relates to therapeutic resistance. Other areas of interest include the role of stroma and tumor-microenvironment, and identifying molecular signatures which predict metastasis and response to radiation and molecularly-targeted therapies.Research Description
My laboratory research interests center around gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, including pancreatic cancer. I am interested in the molecular biology and genetics of DNA damage response, and those pathways which dictate tumor aggressiveness such as invasion and metastasis, and those factors governing response to treatment from chemotherapy, molecularly-targeted agents, and radiation. I am also interested in the role of pancreatic stromal elements and their relationship to tumorigenesis, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. In addition, I have a strong interest in better understanding the role of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) in aggressive neoplasms, such as pancreatic ductal carcinoma, glioblastoma, and renal cell carcinoma, which are neoplasms demonstrating a high degree of Cav-1 overexpression.