Shivendra V. Singh, PhD

Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology
UPMC Chair Cancer Prevention Research
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Research Interests

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous malignancy broadly grouped into different major subtypes including luminal-type, basal-like (mostly triple-negative), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (Her-2)-enriched, and normal-like characterized by unique gene expression signatures. The primary cause of morbidity and mortality in breast cancer patients is attributable to metastatic spread to distant organs including liver, lung, brain, and bone. However, bone is the most preferred site for colonization of metastatic breast cancer cells for each subtype of the disease. The standard of therapeutic care for breast cancer-induced osteolytic bone resorption/bone metastasis includes bisphosphonates (e.g., zoledronic acid) and a humanized antibody (denosumab) against receptor activator of nuclear factor κ-B ligand (RANKL). However, these therapies are palliative, and a subset of patients still develop new bone lesions and/or experience serious adverse effects. The focus of our research project is to identify novel regulators of bone metastasis and agents effective for the prevention or treatment of the disease.

Technique Expertise or Resources to share

Mouse models of breast cancer (each subtype), cell lines, osteoclast differentiation assay

Keywords

Breast cancer, cancer prevention, natural products