Mentor Areas
- Mechanisms of cancer development and progression
- Tumor dormancy and recurrence
- Cancer biology
- Genomics and computational biology
- Cancer genetics
- Oncogene and tumor suppressor gene function
- Genetically engineered mouse models for human cancer
- Breast cancer
- Endocrinology
- Stem cells in cancer biology
- Non-invasive imaging
Description:
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality and the most diagnosed cancer impacting women worldwide. Mortality from this disease is primarily due to incurable metastatic recurrence arising after initial treatment. The time to recurrence may vary from months to decades and it has been postulated that this is due to residual tumor cells (RTCs) that are able to survive and enter a state of dormancy. The underlying mechanisms that allow RTCs to enter, survive, and exit dormancy are not completely understood. Therefore, investigating the pathways that regulate tumor dormancy and recurrence is critical to reduce breast cancer recurrence and mortality.
Our laboratory has developed inducible genetically engineered mouse (GEM) models that recapitulate key stages of breast cancer progression. The model drives overexpression of HER2/neu using an inducible promoter. Notably following primary tumor (PT) formation, HER2/neu downregulation induces tumor regression which is followed by spontaneous recurrence months later. To explore mechanisms that allow RTCs to survive and eventually give rise to a recurrent tumor, our lab has generated gene expression data from our HER2/neu mouse model. Interested students will have a critical role in validating candidate pathways mediating RTC entry, survival, and exit from dormancy.Students will learn basic cell culture (to perform dormancy assays), flow cytometry (to quantify proliferative tumor cells and measure various markers of dormancy), fluorescence microscopy (to investigate pathway activity in dormancy), and assist with in vivo tumor studies.
Preferred Qualifications
The student must be highly motivated to learn, comfortable handling rodents, detail-oriented, able to prioritize multiple tasks and to work semi-independently. Previous lab experience is not a prerequisite, but the student must be able to learn how to prepare buffer solutions, perform necropsies, maintain accurate notebooks, and operate/maintain laboratory equipment including gel scanners, pH meters, balances, thermocyclers and power supplies. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills are a must.
Project Website
Learn more about the researcher and/or the project here. https://www.med.upenn.edu/cbio/chair-page.html
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Spring, Summer, Fall
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.