Sara Zanivan
Associate Professor
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center at Houston
Department of Experimental Therapeutics
Cancer-Associated Fibroblast (CAF) metabolism
The Zanivan Laboratory studies the biology of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in breast and ovarian cancer with the overarching goal of finding intervention strategies to target CAFs effectively to combat cancer in patients. In particular, the lab studies how cell metabolism contributes to defining CAF phenotypes and functions, including via epigenetic regulation. The overarching goal is to exploit these mechanisms to develop new therapeutic strategies to induce the formation of an anti-tumor microenvironment (TME) to block tumor progression and leverage the long-term benefit of immunotherapies.
The Lab also investigates how diet can influence cell functions in the tumor microenvironment. We focus particularly in modulating levels of amino acids relevant for CAF and immune cell functions. The overarching goal of this line of research is to develop dietary intervention strategies to maximize the formation of an anti-tumor TME or maintain an anti-tumor microenvironment to prevent cancer.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics
The Zanivan Lab also develops innovative mass spectrometry-based proteomics workflows tailored to study the TME and cell metabolism. Their current goal is to develop cutting-edge spatial proteomic workflows and combine them with other spatial technologies to study CAF metabolism and the underlying molecular mechanisms in situ in patient tissue samples. Their overarching goal is to identify new mechanisms of immunosuppression that can be therapeutically targeted, as well as biomarkers to accelerate therapeutic decisions.
Recent breakthroughs in mass spectrometry (MS) technology have dramatically advanced the proteomic field. The newest MS technologies coupled to microscopy and image-based single-cell isolation by high-resolution laser-capture microdissection enable spatial proteomic analysis of tissue samples. The Zanivan Lab will take advantage of cutting-edge MS technologies to advance their research.
Education & Training
PhD. - University of Turin - 2006