Cancer Prevention Lab

The Cancer Prevention Lab studies ovarian cancer metastases, exploring cellular adaptation, mitochondrial changes, and the obesity-cancer link for potential drug targets.

Ovarian cancer is often detected late when the cancer cells already have metastasized throughout the peritoneal cavity, drastically reducing the survival of the afflicted women. Our research is focused on the molecular, cellular, and physical events that are involved in the survival of ovarian metastases in the peritoneal cavity.

We are interested how the cancer cells adapt to their changing environment, handle detachment, aggregation, and the lack of nutrients and oxygen. We are especially interested in the plasticity of mitochondrial morphology and function during the progression of the disease and metastasis, and how the increased risk of ovarian cancer in women with obesity is related to these processes.

For our studies, we are using a mouse cell model of progressive ovarian cancer that represents early and late stages of ovarian cancer for in vivo and in vitro studies. Using a genetic, molecular and cellular biology approach, we aim to identify targets for drugs that can suppress secondary outgrowth of disseminating ovarian metastases.

Principal Investigator