Cell Signaling and Cancer Therapy

Biography

Dr. Sherine Elsawa is a member of Department of Biological Science. She is currently working in Northern Illinois University. She has completed Ph.D. in 2003 from University of North Carolina, Charoltte, NC.

Research Interest

The long-term goal of our research group is to improve the treatment of cancer patients through the understanding of cytokine signaling in the tumor microenvironment. Our group is studying the tumor microenvironment using the bone marrow microenvironment as a model. We have identified cytokines that are dysregulated in lymphoma patients and their impact on the biology of these malignancies. Using a combination of in vitro/in vivo genetic and pharmacological models, we have shown a define signaling that uses GLI transcription factors, effectors of the Hedgehog pathway, as mediators of the crosstalk between the cytokines such as CCL5 (RANTES) and IL-6 in the tumor microenvironment. Ongoing projects in our group focus on the following topics like New signaling molecules affecting the tumor-microenvironment, Cytokine interaction in the tumor microenvironment, Development of in vivo models to study the tumor microenvironment.