Defining the molecular mechanisms of human epithelial cancer invasion and metastasis.

CressLab studies the regulation of cell surface molecules (called integrins) and their role in cancer cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix. My research team discovered that laminin adhesion structures are dramatically altered in human cancer resulting in invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance.

We have developed three approaches to interrupt cell adhesion to laminin: (1) using cyclized peptides, (2) deploying small molecules, and/or (3) using a function-blocking antibody. Currently we are using gene editing and other genetic tools to identify actionable pathways within heterotypic cancer clusters to block invasion and metastasis.