Positions

Research Areas research areas

Overview

  • My research focuses on understanding the roles of STATs and related transcription factors in breast and ovarian cancer and we use that knowledge to identify drugs to target the pathways associated with these transcription factors. In my lab, we use a 3D culturing system to mimic advanced stages of cancer. Moreover, we use a combination of wet lab experiments and bioinformatics to identify possible drugs for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer.

    • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title
    2023 JAK-STAT Signaling in Inflammatory Breast Cancer Enables Chemotherapy-Resistant Cell States..  Cancer Research.  83:264-284. 2023
    2022 The antimicrobial drug pyrimethamine inhibits STAT3 transcriptional activity by targeting the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase.  Journal of Biological Chemistry.  298:101531-101531. 2022
    2021 Targeting constitutively active STAT3 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A clinical trial of the STAT3 inhibitor pyrimethamine with pharmacodynamic analyses.  American Journal of Hematology.  96. 2021
    2021 Epigenetic targeting of Waldenström macroglobulinemia cells with BET inhibitors synergizes with BCL2 or histone deacetylase inhibition..  Epigenomics.  13:129-144. 2021
    2020 A single-cell landscape of high-grade serous ovarian cancer..  Nature Medicine.  26:1271-1279. 2020
    2020 CDK5RAP3 is a co-factor for the oncogenic transcription factor STAT3..  Neoplasia.  22:47-59. 2020
    2019 Atovaquone is active against AML by upregulating the integrated stress pathway and suppressing oxidative phosphorylation..  Blood Adv.  3:4215-4227. 2019
    2019 Study of Cathepsin B inhibition in VEGFR TKI treated human renal cell carcinoma xenografts..  Oncogenesis.  8:15. 2019
    2018 The kinases IKBKE and TBK1 regulate MYC-dependent survival pathways through YB-1 in AML and are targets for therapy..  Blood Adv.  2:3428-3442. 2018
    2018 A Clinical Trial of the STAT3 Inhibitor Pyrimethamine in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.  Blood.  132:1855-1855. 2018
    2018 IL-6 Mediates Cross-Talk between Tumor Cells and Activated Fibroblasts in the Tumor Microenvironment..  Cancer Research.  78:4957-4970. 2018
    2018 The STAT3 Target Gene TNFRSF1A Modulates the NF-κB Pathway in Breast Cancer Cells..  Neoplasia.  20:489-498. 2018
    2016 FLT3 Splice Variant (FLT3Va) As a Potential Immunotherapeutic Target in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).  Blood.  128:1681-1681. 2016
    2016 Gene expression-based discovery of atovaquone as a STAT3 inhibitor and anticancer agent..  Blood.  128:1845-1853. 2016
    2016 Identification of a gain-of-function STAT3 mutation (p.Y640F) in lymphocytic variant hypereosinophilic syndrome..  Blood.  127:948-951. 2016
    2016 NTRK2 activation cooperates with PTEN deficiency in T-ALL through activation of both the PI3K-AKT and JAK-STAT3 pathways..  Cell Discovery.  2:16030. 2016
    2015 Inhibiting STAT5 by the BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 disrupts human dendritic cell maturation..  Journal of Immunology.  194:3180-3190. 2015
    2015 Granulin, a novel STAT3-interacting protein, enhances STAT3 transcriptional function and correlates with poorer prognosis in breast cancer..  Genes and Cancer.  6:153-168. 2015
    2015 The transcriptional modulator BCL6 as a molecular target for breast cancer therapy..  Oncogene.  34:1073-1082. 2015
    2014 Targeting STAT5 in hematologic malignancies through inhibition of the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) bromodomain protein BRD2..  Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.  13:1194-1205. 2014
    2014 STAT3 Activity and Function in Cancer: Modulation by STAT5 and miR-146b..  Cancers.  6:958-968. 2014
    2014 Fold change of nuclear NF-κB determines TNF-induced transcription in single cells..  Molecular Cell.  53:867-879. 2014
    2014 STAT3 induction of miR-146b forms a feedback loop to inhibit the NF-κB to IL-6 signaling axis and STAT3-driven cancer phenotypes..  Science Signaling.  7:ra11. 2014
    2014 Distinct roles of STAT3 and STAT5 in the pathogenesis and targeted therapy of breast cancer..  Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology.  382:616-621. 2014
    2013 STAT5 outcompetes STAT3 to regulate the expression of the oncogenic transcriptional modulator BCL6..  Molecular and Cellular Biology.  33:2879-2890. 2013
    2013 Whole-exome sequencing identifies a recurrent NAB2-STAT6 fusion in solitary fibrous tumors..  Nature Genetics.  45:131-132. 2013
    2012 Targeting STAT5 in Leukemia Through Inhibition of Bromodomain Proteins.  Blood.  120:399-399. 2012
    2012 The STAT5 Inhibitor Pimozide Displays Efficacy in Models of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Driven by FLT3 Mutations..  Genes and Cancer.  3:503-511. 2012
    2012 Dual inhibition of Jak2 and STAT5 enhances killing of myeloproliferative neoplasia cells..  Leukemia.  26:1407-1410. 2012
    2011 The JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is required for growth of CD44⁺CD24⁻ stem cell-like breast cancer cells in human tumors..  Journal of Clinical Investigation.  121:2723-2735. 2011
    2011 The STAT5 inhibitor pimozide decreases survival of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells resistant to kinase inhibitors..  Blood.  117:3421-3429. 2011
    2011 STAT3 Inhibition by Microtubule-Targeted Drugs: Dual Molecular Effects of Chemotherapeutic Agents..  Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology.  3:13-19. 2011
    2010 Microtubule-targeted chemotherapeutic agents inhibit signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling..  Molecular Pharmacology.  78:903-908. 2010
    2009 Inhibition of Both Jak2 and STAT5 Enhances Toxicity to Myeloproliferative Cells..  Blood.  114:1905-1905. 2009
    2009 Reciprocal effects of STAT5 and STAT3 in breast cancer..  Molecular Cancer Research.  7:966-976. 2009
    2008 Nifuroxazide inhibits survival of multiple myeloma cells by directly inhibiting STAT3..  Blood.  112:5095-5102. 2008
    2007 Pimozide Inhibits STAT5 Signaling in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia and Reduces the Viability of Both Imatinib Sensitive and Imatinib Resistant Cells..  Blood.  110:2953-2953. 2007
    2007 STAT5 represses BCL6 expression by binding to a regulatory region frequently mutated in lymphomas..  Oncogene.  26:224-233. 2007
    2006 Nifuroxazide Inhibits STAT3 Function and Shows Potent Anti-Tumor Activity Against Multiple Myeloma..  Blood.  108:3450-3450. 2006
    2006 Identification of human STAT5-dependent gene regulatory elements based on interspecies homology..  Journal of Biological Chemistry.  281:26216-26224. 2006
    2004 Isolation of unique STAT5 targets by chromatin immunoprecipitation-based gene identification..  Journal of Biological Chemistry.  279:54724-54730. 2004
    2004 Electrical wound-healing assay for cells in vitro..  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA.  101:1554-1559. 2004

    Chapter

    Year Title
    2013 Jak/STAT Signaling in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Multiple Myeloma.  117-138. 2013

    Conference Paper

    Year Title
    2020 Abstract 2730: BCL6 promotes ovarian cancer metastasis.  Cancer Research. 2730-2730. 2020
    2020 Abstract 6077: The role of STAT3 and Snai2 in ovarian cancer metastasis.  Cancer Research. 6077-6077. 2020
    2020 Abstract B14: Atovaquone targets STAT3 in ovarian cancer spheroids.  Clinical Cancer Research. B14-B14. 2020
    2020 Abstract B16: STAT3 promotes ovarian cancer spheroid growth and metastasis.  Clinical Cancer Research. B16-B16. 2020
    2019 Abstract B32: Mutant KRAS downregulates LIFR to enhance glycolysis in pancreatic cancer.  Cancer Research. B32-B32. 2019
    2019 Abstract 387: Pyrimethamine inhibits STAT3 transcriptional activity via dihydrofolate reductase.  Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics. 387-387. 2019
    2018 Abstract B01: Gene expression network--based identification of drugs targeting advanced ovarian cancer.  Clinical Cancer Research. B01-B01. 2018
    2017 Abstract NTOC-111: TARGETING COMPONENTS OF THE STAT3 SIGNALING PATHWAY FOR OVARIAN CANCER THERAPY: IMPLICATIONS FROM 3D CULTURE SYSTEMS.  Clinical Cancer Research. ntoc-111-ntoc-111. 2017
    2016 Abstract A46: Targeting transcriptional networks for ovarian cancer therapy..  Clinical Cancer Research. A46-A46. 2016
    2015 Abstract LB-230: SOCS5 mediates defective function of monocyte-derived dendritic cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.  Cancer Research. lb-230-lb-230. 2015
    2015 Abstract P5-07-01: Granulin, a novel STAT3-interacting protein, promotes breast cancer tumorigenicity.  Cancer Research. p5-07-01-p5-07-01. 2015
    2012 Abstract 971: Identification of BCL6 targeted therapies for breast cancer through gene expression networks.  Cancer Research. 971-971. 2012
    Cell Phenotyping Core: Spotlight on EVOS

    Teaching Activities

  • Cell Pheno & Tissue Eng Lab Taught course 2023
  • Cell Pheno & Tissue Eng Lab Taught course 2023
  • Doctoral Thesis Taught course 2023
  • Honors Senior Thesis Taught course 2023
  • Undergrad Teaching Experience Taught course 2023
  • Doctoral Thesis Taught course 2022
  • Honors Senior Thesis Taught course 2022
  • Persp Biochem/Mole&Cell Bio Taught course 2022
  • Principles of Cell Biology Taught course 2022
  • Principles of Cell Biology Taught course 2022
  • Advanced Research Experience Taught course 2022
  • Cell Pheno & Tissue Eng Lab Taught course 2022
  • Cell Pheno & Tissue Eng Lab Taught course 2022
  • Doctoral Thesis Taught course 2022
  • Honors Senior Thesis Taught course 2022
  • Undergrad Teaching Experience Taught course 2022
  • Doctoral Thesis Taught course 2021
  • Honors Senior Thesis Taught course 2021
  • Honors Senior Thesis Taught course 2021
  • Persp Biochem/Mole&Cell Bio Taught course 2021
  • Principles of Cell Biology Taught course 2021
  • Principles of Cell Biology Taught course 2021
  • Student Research Experience Taught course 2021
  • Cell Pheno & Tissue Eng Lab Taught course 2021
  • Cell Pheno & Tissue Eng Lab Taught course 2021
  • Doctoral Thesis Taught course 2021
  • Rsrch Exp/MCBS Taught course 2021
  • Doctoral Thesis Taught course 2020
  • Principles of Cell Biology Taught course 2020
  • Principles of Cell Biology Taught course 2020
  • Cell Pheno & Tissue Eng Lab Taught course 2020
  • Cell Pheno & Tissue Eng Lab Taught course 2020
  • Senior Honors Thesis Taught course 2020
  • Undergrad Teaching Experience Taught course 2020
  • Principles of Cell Biology Taught course 2019
  • Principles of Cell Biology Taught course 2019
  • Senior Honors Thesis Taught course 2019
  • Undergrad Teaching Experience Taught course 2019
  • Honors Senior Thesis Taught course 2019
  • Investigations Biomedical Sci Taught course 2019
  • Tissue Engineering Taught course 2018
  • Tissue Engineering Taught course 2018

    • Education And Training

  • B.S. Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • B.S. Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Ph.D. Cell and Developmental Biology, Harvard University

    • Full Name

  • Sarah Walker

    • Mailing Address

  • University of New Hampshire

    Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences

    46 College Rd, Rudman Hall 185

    Durham