Research Summary
Understand the biology of ovarian cancer invasion and metastasis and identify novel targets for treatment
The laboratory is dedicated to improving our understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer metastasis and to exploring the use of novel drugs for its treatment. Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, and has the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic malignancies. The high fatality of the disease is because it is often diagnosed at a late stage, when tumor cells have disseminated within the peritoneal cavity.
After the malignant transformation of ovarian surface epithelial cells and the growth of the tumor within the ovary, tumor cells detach from the ovary and attach to the peritoneum or omentum, but rarely leave the peritoneal cavity. Despite aggressive treatment more than two thirds of all patients succumb to their disease within 5 years.
Main projects in the laboratory:
- Understand the early steps of ovarian cancer metastasis to the peritoneum and omentum and characterize tumor – stroma interactions in ovarian cancer metastasis (1-10).
- Characterize new treatment targets and test them in pre-clinical models. Recent work from our lab has shown that c-Met might be a good treatment target for breast and ovarian cancer (11-15).
- Investigate new agents to delay or inhibit the development of ovarian cancer (3, 11, 13, 16).
- Study the role of miRNA’s in ovarian cancer metastasis (17-19).
In our research we use primary and cultured ovarian cancer cell lines and mouse models of ovarian cancer (xenograft, genetic). We have also assembled 10 tissue micro arrays (200 patients) with tissue from primary and metastatic ovarian cancers. These tissue samples are linked to an ACCESS database containing clinico-pathologic information on all ovarian cancer patients operated on at the University of Chicago since 1992. Data are collected prospectively.
We cooperate very closely with the Department of Pathology at the University of Chicago, particularly with three Gynecologic Pathologists, Drs. Gwin, Montag, and Krausz. Another important collaborator is Dr. Marcus Peter from the Ben May Department for Cancer Research and Dr. Joe Piccirilli from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
I am an Obstetrician and Gynecologist and a Gynecologic Oncologist, with a special clinical focus on the surgical treatment of ovarian cancer: http://www.uchospitals.edu/physicians/ernst-lengyel.html
My scientific focus is on the biology of ovarian cancer. For a recent interview on my ovarian cancer research click here:
Ultimately, we hope to realize the major goal of the laboratory; to translate our findings and understanding of ovarian cancer tumor biology into novel therapeutic treatments that will improve the survival of those with this devastating disease. Our research is funded by the NIH, the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, and the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation.
Ernst Lengyel
February 2010
Principal Investigator
Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD
elengyel@uchicago.edu
The University of Chicago
Section of Gynecologic Oncology, MC 2050
929 E. 57th St.
Rms W106 (office) and W107 (lab)
Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
Geri Cooper, Academic Assistant
Committee on Cancer Biology Web page
Hilary Kenny, PhD
hkenny@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu
General OBGYN
link to Webpage
Postdoctoral Fellow
amitra@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu
Kristin Nieman, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
knieman@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu
OBGYN Resident
Andras.Ladanyi@uchospitals,eduHeather Crane, BA
Research Laboratory Technician
hcrane@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu
Payton Leonhardt, BA
Research Laboratory Technician
pleonhardt@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu
Research Laboratory Technician
ptiwari@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu
Student
mzillhardt@uchicago.edu
Lengyel Laoratory News
The Cover of the October 2007
International Journal of Cancer
displays a picture of the 3D omental
metastasis model created by the Lengyel Lab
Press Releases
July, 2007
March, 2008
November, 2009:
We recently discovered that vitronectin receptor (αvβ3-integrin) expression significantly improved ovarian cancer patient prognosis. These findings are presented in the November 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.
Zillhardt M, Christensen JG, Lengyel E,.An orally available small-molecule inhibitor of c-Met, PF-2341066, reduces tumor burden and metastasis in a preclinical model of ovarian cancer metastasis was published in the January 2010 issue of Neoplasia:
click to see larger image
The University of Chicago 947 East 58th Street Chicago, IL 60637
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