SARA COOPER
Microscope slides with Ovarian Cancer cells
Through a longtime clinical collaboration with Rebecca Arend, MD* at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, Cooper and her lab are working to identify new drugs, new drug targets, and new combinations of drugs to overcome current ovarian cancer treatment limitations. In their most recent study, the research team integrated gene expression and metabolic data from tumors and benign tissue to gain a more complete picture of a type of epithelial ovarian tumor called high- grade serous ovarian carcinoma. The researchers found that many pa- tients had tumor gene expression profiles associated with known targetable pathways, meaning new treatments could be developed. In addition, they identified several promising biomarkers of response to treatment and new therapeutic targets, including the WNT signaling pathway that is important for the immune system’s ability to recognize and respond to a tumor. cont. on p. 30
Our study combined gene expression profiles with metabolic analysis in tumors to try to identify new pathways that can be targeted for treatment. We found diverse gene expression and metabolic differences across subtypes of high-grade serous tumors, which supports the use of genomic and metabolic information to help select treatments and predict treat- ment outcomes on an individualized basis. —Dr. Sara Cooper
RESEARCH REPORT
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