Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women, with approximately one in eight women in the U.S. expected to develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. Our laboratory focuses on understanding the altered signaling pathways that drive breast cancer initiation and progression. By identifying and characterizing these pathways, we aim to develop novel, more effective therapeutic strategies.

In recent years, our research has expanded to explore how signaling pathways regulate metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells — a critical aspect of tumor growth and survival. Each year, about 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the U.S., and an estimated 40,000 women lose their lives to this disease. The majority of breast cancer deaths occur due to metastasis to vital organs, which becomes particularly lethal when the cancer spreads to the brain.

To address this challenge, our lab has developed innovative ex vivo models that allow us to rapidly test therapeutic agents targeting the growth of breast cancer brain metastatic cells. Notably, we have recently identified novel inhibitors of a metabolic enzyme that induce immunogenic cell death in these cells. Our long-term goal is to advance these promising new agents into clinical trials to improve treatment options for patients with breast cancer brain metastases.