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Virtual Seminar: Tumor Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms Promoting Brain Metastasis

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Diana Cittelly, Ph.D.

Diana Cittelly, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pathology
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
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Virtual Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar: Tumor Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms Promoting Brain Metastasis

Jan. 28, 2022

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

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About this Seminar

Brain metastases have emerged as an unmet clinical need in cancer research. Recent advances show that cancer cells adapt to unique features and cells within the brain microenvironment, and that paracrine mechanisms initiated in the brain niche are critical for metastatic colonization and outgrowth. With a focus on breast-to-brain metastasis, this seminar will show how estradiol acts on estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) astrocytes leading to the upregulation of growth factors and chemokines than in a paracrine manner, promote brain metastatic traits in breast cancer cells lacking ERs (or triple-negative breast cancer). This seminar will explore a novel function of ovarian and brain-derived estrogens in the modulation of neuroinflammatory responses during brain metastatic progression.

Additional Details

This is a free event hosted by the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute and co-sponsored by the institute's Cancer Research Group. The Pioneers in Biomedical Research Seminar Series, which runs annually from September to May, has featured leading biomedical researchers from throughout the country since the program began in 2012. The lectures are also open to all members of the Virginia Tech community including graduate students, undergraduates, faculty, and staff, as well as the public.

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