Our lab focuses on understanding the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) and inflammatory molecules like S100A7 and PLCG2 in breast and lung cancer pathogenesis. My doctoral research identified novel circulating miRNA biomarkers for breast cancer detection and revealed miR-34a's regulatory role in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Our team has uncovered key signaling molecules regulated by miRNAs that drive TNBC development and progression, with our findings published in high-impact journals such as Cancer Letters, Journal of Proteomics, and PROTEOMICS-Clinical Applications.
We also investigate the role of the pro-inflammatory molecule S100A7 in breast cancer progression and metastasis. Our studies have shown that S100A7 is highly expressed in TNBC and promotes cancer growth by modulating inflammatory and metastatic pathways. Using a novel inducible bi-transgenic mouse model, we demonstrated that S100A7 interacts with the RAGE and enhances cPLA2-mediated downstream signaling, thereby driving breast tumor growth and metastasis, particularly in TNBC.
In collaboration with Prof. Ramesh Ganju's and Kristin Stanford’s labs at Ohio State University Medical Wexner Center, we are also exploring the novel role of S100A7 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its links to obesity and racial disparities in TNBC. Our research shows that S100A7 is elevated in African American TNBC patients and promotes cancer growth and metastasis. We have developed a transgenic floxed mouse model and S100A7 neutralizing antibody to study S100A7's impact on the obese TME and cancer stem cell activity, highlighting its role in linking obesity to aggressive metastatic cancer.
Our lab also mentors graduate students and collaborates on projects investigating miRNA and protein signatures in lung cancer. Currently, we are examining the tumor-suppressive roles of miR-1 and PLCG2 inhibitors in multidrug-resistant lung cancer, aiming to develop novel therapeutic strategies for managing metastatic lung cancer.
Our research is published in esteemed journals such as the Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research, Cancer Research, Cell Death and Disease, British Journal of Dermatology, and Molecular Oncology. As part of the Pelotonia-funded research at OSU, I have engaged in professional development activities and collaborations with leading cancer biologists. My goal is to leverage my expertise in cancer biology to advance drug discovery and therapeutics, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with metastatic breast and lung cancers.
