Our laboratory’s mission is to contribute to reducing cancer incidence. We do so with two foci in basic molecular pathology. One is to develop methods for early detection of abnormal cells using sensitive and noninvasive methods. The other focus is to understand the process of malignant conversion of tumors.

Early Detection

Cancer deaths, including mortality due to breast cancer can be prevented by early detection. We are developing a method that is non-invasive and sensitive for early diagnosis of abnormal mammary epithelia. We are developing this method to detect neoplasms by miRNA profiling of vesicles that are released from mammary epithelia into body fluids. This project is supported by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP).

Malignant Progression

The pathology of pre-malignant tumor progression into solid cancers is often marked by a transient tetraploidization event. We are conducting research to understand the causes tetraploidization, and how tetraploidization contributes to cancer development, with the ultimate aim to find therapies to prevent tumor progression. This project is supported by the Illinois Chapter of the American Cancer Society.