Janet Sawicki

Janet Sawicki
Fields Cancer nanotherapies, stem cells and cancer, pulmonary Mycobacterium avium
Institutions Lankenau Institute for Medical Research
Alma mater Cornell University (PhD)
University of Delaware (BA)

Janet Sawicki is a cancer researcher and Deputy Director of the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR). Her research is focused on the preclinical development of treatments for cancers, including prostate, ovarian, cervical and pancreatic. She is most notable among cancer biologists for her extensive work on cancer nanotherapies.[1]

Education and career

Sawicki earned her B.A. in Biology from the University of Delaware in 1971 where she graduated magna cum laude. Her PhD in Genetics was earned at Cornell University in 1976.

She trained in classical Drosophila genetics and developmental biology at Cornell and at Yale University as a postdoctoral researcher, and then with Charles Epstein at University of California at San Francisco (UCSF).[2][3][4][5][6] While at UCSF, she expanded her research interests to gene regulation/expression in early mammalian development.[1]

In 1981, Sawicki moved back to the mid-Atlantic area to work at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, first as a research associate and then as Assistant Professor. She also served as Assistant Professor of Human Genetics in the Associated Faculty of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine.

Cancer research

In 1990, Sawicki moved her lab to LIMR, where she and her team are developing new therapeutic strategies for improving the treatment of metastatic cancer.[1] These strategies are based on the delivery of genetic material, specifically DNA and siRNA, exclusively to tumor cells, thus protecting healthy cells from damage. She was among the first to explore the use of non-viral vectors for the in vivo delivery of DNA.[7][8][9]

Nanoparticles and HuR research

To carry the genetic material inside cancer cells, Sawicki and her collaborators use nanoparticles. Sawicki identified therapeutic targets and evaluated the efficacy of many nanoparticle formulations in various cancer mouse models, including for pancreatic cancer,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] as well as for highly aggressive forms of ovarian cancer for which no effective long-term treatment currently exists.[9][18][19]

Sawicki also collaborates in research to develop and administer therapeutic agents that inhibit HuR, an RNA-binding protein that plays a crucial role in promoting the growth of tumors and the development of acquired drug resistance. These studies have contributed to an understanding of the role that HuR plays in regulating the expression of genes that help pancreatic and ovarian cancer cells survive.[20][21]

Stem cells

Sawicki's research also entails identifying stem cells in normal developmental processes and the gene-expression profiles of those cells.[22][22][23][24]

Mouse models

Sawicki is also known for her expertise in generating transgenic mice.[25][26] Using this technology, she has developed several cancer mouse models useful for her lab’s studies, as well as those of other researchers investigating the role of selected genes in cancer initiation and progression.[26][25]

Mycobacterium avium complex

In addition to her work on cancer and mouse models, Sawicki also is known for her work on pulmonary ''Mycobacterium avium'' complex (MAC) infection, a bacterial pathogen found in water and soil that can have profound effects on pulmonary function of infected patients.[27][28][29] She is collaborating with pulmonologists at the Lankenau Medical Center to identify specific sources of MAC infection in the Philadelphia area, how hormonal status influences contraction of the disease, and what lifestyle measures patients can take to avoid re-exposure to MAC.

Awards

Sawicki's research has been funded by awards from the National Institutes of Health and the United States Department of Defense, as well as from private foundations.[1]

In 2008, she was named a "Woman on the Move" by Main Line Today magazine.[30]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Janet Sawicki, PhD - LIMR - Researcher Profile". LIMR. 2015-09-21. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  2. ↑ Sawicki, J; MacIntyre, RJ (1977). "Synthesis of ovarian acid phosphatase in Drosophila melanogaster". Dev Biol. 60 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1016/0012-1606(77)90106-3. PMID 409635.
  3. ↑ Yasbin, R; Sawicki, J; MacIntyre, RJ (1978). "A developmental study of acid phosphatase-1 in Drosophila melanogaster". Dev Biol. 63 (1): 35–46. doi:10.1016/0012-1606(78)90111-2. PMID 415915.
  4. ↑ Sawicki, J; MacIntyre, RJ (1978). "Localization at the ultrastructural level of maternally derived enzyme and determination of the time of paternal gene expression for acid phosphatase-1 in Drosophila melanogaster". Dev Biol. 63 (1): 47–58. doi:10.1016/0012-1606(78)90112-4. PMID 204531.
  5. ↑ "Evidence for expression of the paternal genome in the two-cell mouse embryo". Nature.com. 1981-12-03. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  6. ↑ Epstein, CJ; Smith, SA; Zamora, T; Sawicki, JA; Magnuson, TR; Cox, DR (2015-09-28). "Production of viable adult trisomy 17 reversible diploid mouse chimeras". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79: 4376–80. PMC 346674Freely accessible. PMID 6956868.
  7. ↑ Peng, W; Anderson, DG; Bao, Y; Padera, RF; Langer, R; Sawicki, JA (2007). "Nanoparticulate delivery of suicide DNA to murine prostate and prostate tumors". Prostate. 67: 855–62. doi:10.1002/pros.20576. PMID 17427200.
  8. ↑ "Nanoparticle Delivery of Suicide DNA for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Therapy". Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology: 209–219. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-68969-2_17. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  9. 1 2 Huang, YH; Zugates, GT; Peng, W; Holtz, D; Dunton, C; Green, JJ; Hossain, N; Chernick, MR; Padera, RF; Langer, R; Anderson, DG; Sawicki, JA (2015-09-28). "Nanoparticle-Delivered Suicide Gene Therapy Effectively Reduces Ovarian Tumor Burden in Mice". Cancer Res. 69: 6184–91. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-0061. PMC 2735403Freely accessible. PMID 19643734.
  10. ↑ Showalter, SL; Huang, YH; Witkiewicz, A; Costantino, CL; Yeo, CJ; Green, JJ; Langer, R; Anderson, DG; Sawicki, JA; Brody, JR (2015-09-28). "Nanoparticulate delivery of diphtheria toxin DNA effectively kills Mesothelin expressing pancreatic cancer cells". Cancer Biol. Ther. 7: 1584–90. PMC 3218426Freely accessible. PMID 19039293.
  11. ↑ "Scientists deliver toxic genes to effectively kill pancreatic cancer cells". Phys.org. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  12. ↑ Tholey, R; Sawicki, JA; Brody, JR (2015-09-28). "Molecular-based and alternative therapies for pancreatic cancer: looking "out of the box"". Cancer J. 18: 665–73. doi:10.1097/PPO.0b013e3182793ff6. PMID 23187855.
  13. ↑ "Mitoxantrone Targets Human Ubiquitin-Specific Peptidase 11 (USP11) and Is a Potent Inhibitor of Pancreatic Cancer Cell Survival". Mcr.aacrjournals.org. 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  14. ↑ Lal, S; Burkhart, RA; Beeharry, N; Bhattacharjee, V; Londin, ER; Cozzitorto, JA; Romeo, C; Jimbo, M; Norris, ZA; Yeo, CJ; Sawicki, JA; Winter, JM; Rigoutsos, I; Yen, TJ; Brody, JR (2015-09-28). "HuR post-transcriptionally regulates WEE1: Implications for the DNA damage response in pancreatic cancer cells". Cancer Res. 74: 1128–40. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-13-1915. PMC 4353573Freely accessible. PMID 24536047.
  15. ↑ "MUC1 Promoter–Driven DTA as a Targeted Therapeutic Strategy against Pancreatic Cancer" (PDF). Mcr.aacrjournals.org. 2015-03-01. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  16. ↑ "Targeting the mRNA-binding protein HuR impairs malignant characteristics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells". Oncotarget. 6: 27312–27331. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.4743.
  17. ↑ Blanco, FF; Jimbo, M; Wulfkuhle, J; Gallagher, I; Deng, J; Enyenihi, L; Meisner-Kober, N; Londin, E; Rigoutsos, I; Sawicki, JA; Risbud, MV; Witkiewicz, AK; McCue, PA; Jiang, W; Rui, H; Yeo, CJ; Petricoin, E; Winter, JM; Brody, JR (2016). "The mRNA-binding protein HuR promotes hypoxia-induced chemoresistance through posttranscriptional regulation of the proto-oncogene PIM1 in pancreatic cancer cells". Oncogene. 35: 2529–41. doi:10.1038/onc.2015.325. PMID 26387536.
  18. ↑ Huang, YH; Bao, Y; Peng, W; Goldberg, M; Love, K; Bumcrot, DA; Cole, G; Langer, R; Anderson, DG; Sawicki, JA (2009). "Claudin-3 gene silencing with siRNA suppresses ovarian tumor growth and metastasis". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 106: 3426–30. doi:10.1073/pnas.0813348106. PMC 2651300Freely accessible. PMID 19208807.
  19. ↑ Huang, YH; Peng, W; Furuuchi, N; Gerhart, J; Rhodes, K; Mukherjee, N; Jimbo, M; Gonye, GE; Brody, JR; Getts, RC; Sawicki, JA (2016). "Delivery of Therapeutics Targeting the mRNA-Binding Protein HuR Using 3DNA Nanocarriers Suppresses Ovarian Tumor Growth". Cancer Res. 76: 1549–59. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-15-2073. PMID 26921342.
  20. ↑ Huang, YH; Cozzitorto, JA; Richards, NG; Eltoukhy, AA; Yeo, CJ; Langer, R; Anderson, DG; Brody, JR; Sawicki, JA (2015-09-28). "CanScript, an 18-Base pair DNA sequence, boosts tumor cell-specific promoter activity". Cancer Biol. Ther. 10: 878–84. doi:10.4161/cbt.10.9.13234. PMC 3040857Freely accessible. PMID 20798601.
  21. ↑ Huang, YH; Cozzitorto, JA; Richards, NG; Eltoukhy, AA; Yeo, CJ; Langer, R; Anderson, DG; Brody, JR; Sawicki, JA (2010). "CanScript, an 18-Base pair DNA sequence, boosts tumor cell-specific promoter activity". Cancer Biology & Therapy. 10: 878–884. doi:10.4161/cbt.10.9.13234. PMC 3040857Freely accessible. PMID 20798601.
  22. 1 2 "Insights from HuR biology point to potential improvement for second-line ovarian cancer therapy | Huang | Oncotarget". Impactjournals.com. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  23. ↑ Sawicki, JA; Rothman, CJ (2015-09-28). "Evidence for stem cells in cultures of mouse prostate epithelial cells". Prostate. 50: 46–53. PMID 11757035.
  24. ↑ Sawicki, JA (2015-09-28). "Fetal Microchimerism and Cancer". Cancer Res. 68: 9567–9. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-3008. PMC 2638004Freely accessible. PMID 19047129.
  25. 1 2 "Molecular Carcinogenesis : Purchase Instant access" (PDF). Onlinelibrary.wiley.com. 26: 32–36. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2744(199909)26:1<32::AID-MC4>3.0.CO;2-E. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  26. 1 2 Chen, Y; Megosh, LC; Gilmour, SK; Sawicki, JA; O'Brien, TG (2015-09-28). "K6/ODC transgenic mice as a sensitive model for carcinogen identification". Toxicol. Lett. 116: 27–35. PMID 10906419.
  27. ↑ Lande, L; Peterson, DD; Gogoi, R; Daum, G; Stampler, K; Kwait, R; Yankowski, C; Hauler, K; Danley, J; Sawicki, K; Sawicki, J (2015-09-28). "Association between pulmonary mycobacterium avium complex infection and lung cancer". J Thorac Oncol. 7: 1345–51. doi:10.1097/JTO.0b013e31825abd49. PMID 22699888.
  28. ↑ Wallace, RJ; Iakhiaeva, E; Williams, MD; Brown-Elliott, BA; Vasireddy, S; Vasireddy, R; Lande, L; Peterson, DD; Sawicki, J; Kwait, R; Tichenor, WS; Turenne, C; Falkinham, JO (2015-09-28). "Absence of Mycobacterium intracellulare and Presence of Mycobacterium chimaera in Household Water and Biofilm Samples of Patients in the United States with Mycobacterium avium Complex Respiratory Disease". J. Clin. Microbiol. 51: 1747–52. doi:10.1128/JCM.00186-13. PMC 3716115Freely accessible. PMID 23536397.
  29. ↑ Danley, J; Kwait, R; Peterson, DD; Sendecki, J; Vaughn, B; Nakisbendi, K; Sawicki, J; Lande, L (2015-09-28). "Normal estrogen, but low dehydroepiandrosterone levels, in women with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex. A preliminary study". Ann Am Thorac Soc. 11: 908–14. doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.201312-422OC. PMID 24963545.
  30. ↑ "Women on the Move - Main Line Today - October 2008 - Philadelphia, PA". Main Line Today. Retrieved 2016-04-21.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/21/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.