The Alexander Laboratory
Faculty > Caroline M. Alexander
Caroline M. Alexander
Associate Professor, Oncology
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Organ System/Disease Focus:Cancer Stem Cells
Aligned Research Focus: Mammary stem cells, mouse mammary tumor models, Wnt signaling, Syndecan-1
Research Description>
We are studying aspects of mammary gland biology and neoplasia using transgenic mouse models. Particularly, we have found that Wnt signaling dysregulates mammary stem cells, and that this precedes the formation of differentiated, bilineal tumors. Wnt signaling is highly oncogenic to mammalian epithelia, and indeed comprises one of the main sources of human tumor initiation identified to date. Our hypothesis is that the transforming potential of Wnt signaling is unique to stem/progenitor cells. Our work aims to elucidate the function of tumor stem cells, and the role of normal stem cells in mammary development. Current projects include:
- Modeling of basaloid breast cancer
- The analysis of adult stem cell responses during tumor initiation
- Determination of how Wnt signaling supports normal mammary stem cell function
- Molecular investigations of cell-cell interactions in mammary gland
Selected References
S. Goel, E.N. Chin, S.A. Fakhraldeen, S.M. Berry, D.J. Beebe, and C.M. Alexander. Both Lrp5 and Lrp6 receptors are required to respond to physiological Wnt ligands in mammary epithelial cells (and fibroblasts). JBC, Papers in Press. Published on March 20, 2012.
Kim, S., Roopra, A. and Alexander, CM. A Phenotypic Mouse Model of Basaloid Breast Tumors. PLoS One, 7(2): e30979, 2012. PMCID: PMC3276569
S. Kim, S. Goel and C.M. Alexander. Differentiation Generates Paracrine Cell Pairs that Maintain Basaloid Mouse Mammary Tumors: Proof of Concept. PLoS One, 6(4): e19310, 2011. PMCID: PMC3082567
C.M. Alexander, J. Puchalski, K.S. Klos, N. Badders, L, Ailles, C.F. Kim, P. Dirks and M.J. Smalley. Separating Stem Cells By Flow Cytometry: Reducing Variability for Solid Tissues. Cell Stem Cell, 5: 579-580, 2009
N.M. Badders, S. Goel, R. J. Clark, K.S. Klos, S. Kim, A. Bafico, C. Lindvall, B.O. Williams and C.M. Alexander. The Wnt Receptor, Lrp5, is Expressed by Mouse Mammary Stem Cells and is Required to Maintain the Basal Lineage. PLOS One, 4(8): e6594, 2009.