 |
|
|
Michael M Shen
|
Professor of Medicine and Genetics and Development
|
| Address: |
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue, Room 217B New York NY 10032 |
| Phone: |
212-851-4723 |
| Fax: |
212-851-4572 |
E-mail:
|
mshen@columbia.edu
|
|
|
Education and Training:
|
Ph.D. 1988, Cambridge University
Postdoctoral Fellowship 1988-1994, Harvard University
|
|
Affiliations:
|
 Genetics and Development
Department of Medicine
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
|
|
Training Activities:
|
Department of Genetics and Development
Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biophysical Studies
|
|
Research Summary:
(800 words, max)
|
Molecular mechanisms of pattern formation and cellular differentiation during mouse embryogenesis; Organogenesis and regeneration of the prostate gland; Mouse models of prostate cancer. |
|
Current Research:
|
Our laboratory investigates the regulation of pattern formation and organogenesis during vertebrate development, and how these processes are disrupted in cancer initiation and progression. These studies primarily utilize experimental approaches involving genetically-engineered mice, but also employ cell culture and biochemical approaches to investigate molecular mechanisms.
In the first major area of interest in our laboratory, our laboratory is investigating the biological functions of Nodal, a member of the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGFβ) family that is essential for multiple critical processes during formation of the vertebrate body plan, including anterior-posterior and left-right axis specification, as well as formation of the germ layers during gastrulation. We have been particularly interested in the regulation of Nodal signaling at the extracellular level by EGF-CFC co-receptors and Lefty soluble inhibitors, using approaches ranging from phenotypic analyses of gene-targeted mouse embryos to biochemical studies of protein interactions. In ongoing studies, we are continuing work on the establishment of the anterior-posterior axis as well as analyses of signaling pathways that govern pre-gastrulation development. We are also pursuing new projects on the molecular regulation of self-renewal and differentiation of stem cell types derived from the peri-implantation mouse embryo.
In a second primary area of research, our laboratory is investigating the molecular mechanisms of tissue organogenesis and their relationship to tumor initiation and progression, through the generation and analysis of mouse models of prostate cancer. Many of our studies have focused on functional analyses of the homeobox gene Nkx3.1, which is essential for normal prostate epithelial differentiation and is inactivated during human prostate cancer initiation. In current studies, we are examining the role of prostate epithelial progenitor cells in prostate organogenesis and regeneration, as well as cancer initiation. Using targeted conditional and inducible mice for lineage-marking, we have identified a novel epithelial progenitor cell population that can also serve as a cell type of origin for prostate cancer. Primary objectives of our ongoing work are to identify key signaling pathways that regulate proliferation and differentiation of these candidate stem cells, and to determine their relationship to putative cancer stem cells during carcinogenesis. Further studies will examine the roles of analogous cell populations in the genesis of human prostate cancer, and assess the abilities of potential therapeutics to target these progenitor cells.
|
|
Publications:
(6 max)
|
1. Chu, J., Ding, J., Jeays-Ward, K., Price, S. M., Placzek, M., and
Shen, M. M: (2005) Non-cell-autonomous role for Cripto in axial
midline formation during vertebrate embryogenesis.. Development 132: 5539-5551
2. Chen, C., Ware, S. M., Sato, A., Houston-Hawkins, D. E., Habas, R., Matzuk, M. M., Shen, M. M., and Brown, C. W: (2006) The Vg1-related protein Gdf3 acts in a Nodal signaling pathway in the pre-gastrulation mouse embry. Development 139: 319-329
3. Wang, X., Kruithof-de Julio, M., Economides, K. D., Walker, D.,
Yu, H., Halili, M. V., Hu, Y.-P., Price, S. M., Abate-Shen, C., and
Shen, M. M: (2009) A luminal epithelial stem cell that is a cell of
origin for prostate cancer. Nature 461: 495-500
4. Chu, J., and Shen, M. M: (2010) Functional redundancy of EGF-CFC
genes in epiblast and extraembryonic patterning during early mouse
embryogenesis. Dev. Biol 342: 63-73
5. Shen, M. M., and Abate-Shen, C: (2010) Molecular genetics of
prostate cancer: new prospects for old challenges. Genes Dev 24: 1967-2000
6. Kruithof-de Julio, M., Alvarez, M. J., Galli, A., Chu, J., Price, S. M., Califano, A., and Shen, M. M: (2011) Regulation of extraembryonic endoderm stem cell differentiation by Nodal and Cripto signaling. Development, in press
|
|
URL for lab page:
|
|
|
|
