Suzanne Ponik

In breast cancer and other solid tumors, the fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) is considered prognostic of poor patient outcomes. Increased and aberrant deposition of collagen and other ECM proteins in the breast tumor microenvironment is known to promote metastatic progression and drive mechanisms of therapy resistance. Given the clear role of the ECM in breast cancer, the overarching goal of my research program is to better understand the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer progression due to pathophysiologic changes in the ECM and to develop therapies that intercept these mechanisms. My research program integrates cell biology and advanced imaging techniques using 3D cell culture and murine tumor models to investigate three main areas of research, 1) identifying the mechanisms of tumor cell behavior in response to biophysical and biochemical cues from ECM, 2) defining hormone regulation of the stromal microenvironment, and 3) developing methods to analyze and therapeutically target ECM in both primary and metastatic breast tumors.

Publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1lElbtzpgdDkC/bibliography/public/