Characterization of Esophageal Cancers
& Metaplasia
RESEARCH
Lineage tracing
Background
Esophageal cancers are significant health problems that account for approximately 450,000 new cancer cases annually worldwide. Esophageal cancer occurs as either squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. To reduce the mortality rate associated with these cancers, it is crucial to better understand the origin of esophageal cancers and the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of these diseases and translate that knowledge into novel approaches for their diagnosis, prognosis and/or treatment.
Projects
The research in our laboratory is focused on two main topics:
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Characterization of the molecular processes involved in the development of esophageal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma.
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Identification of a molecular core in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its role in cancer growth and resistance to therapy.
Single cell RNA sequencing
in situ hybridization
Methods
To address these questions, we use a multidisciplinary approach based on:
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Transgenic mouse models
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Conditional knockout and overexpression systems
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Lineage tracing
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2D and 3D cell culture from mouse and human esophageal cells
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Epigenetic and transcriptomic sequencing of FACS sorted cells including single cell RNA sequencing
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1D/2D-PAGE, kinase activity assays and mass spectrometry
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Immunostaining, in situ hybridization and qPCR
