Welcome to The Mischel Lab
The Mischel laboratory aims to transform the care of patients with glioblastoma, the most common form of brain cancer in adults, through molecular medicine. We use quantitative molecular approaches to study and understand the signaling networks that are altered in cancer cells in culture, in relevant in vivo cancer model systems and most importantly in human cancer patients. We have developed, and continue to develop, a suite of approaches for studying glioblastoma patients in state-of-the-art, moleculary guided clinical trials, with the goal of using this information to develop more effective, less toxic therapies. Our laboratory is patient-focused and greatly values interdisciplinary collaboration.
Our main areas of interest are:
1) Signal Transduction in glioblastoma.
In cancer, response to targeted inhibitors is determined not only be the presence of the key mutant targets, but also by other critical changes in the molecular circuitry of cancer cells; e.g. such as loss of key tumor suppressor proteins, the selection for kinase resistant mutants and the deregulation of feedback loops. Our laboratory aims to elucidate this circuitry to develop more effective treatment strategies. We have a particular interest in the EGFR/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling network. The Mischel laboratory works very closely with Dr. Timothy Cloughesy (http://www.neurooncology.ucla.edu) and with several research laboratories across the US and internationally.
2) Studying the impact of molecularly targeted agents in patients.
Traditional pathologic methods are not sufficient for guiding molecularly targeted therapies. Our lab aims to develop quantitative molecular diagnostic tools to guide more effective, personalized cancer treatment. This includes new approaches for measuring signaling networks in complex heterogeneous tumor microvenvironments, including in cancer stem cells. This work leverages new nanotechnologies and physical science approaches developed in collaboration with the Heath laboratory at CalTech through the CalTech/UCLA/Institute of Systems Biology NanoSystems Biology Cancer Center (http://www.caltechcancer.org/).
3) Oncogenic signaling and altered cellular metabolism.
Understanding how oncogenic signaling in cancer regulates tumor cell metabolism and developing more effective strategies for targeting it.
News Update
November, 2011 | Cancer Discovery cover image features our research paper "Oncogenic EGFR Signaling Activates an mTORC2–NF-κB Pathway That Promotes Chemotherapy Resistance". It's also profiled in "mTORC 2:1 for Chemotherapy Sensitization in Glioblastoma" by , , and
September 15, 2011 | Research paper "An LXR Agonist Promotes Glioblastoma Cell Death through Inhibition of an EGFR/AKT/SREBP-1/LDLR–Dependent Pathway" published in Cancer Discovery was profiled by a number of news media.
JAMA News: Blocking choresterol could eliminate deadly brain cancer cells
AACR Public & Media: Targeting cholesterol may help slow glioblastoma
Ivanhoe News:Targeting cholesterol to fight brain cancer
UCLA Newsroom: Blocking cholesterol in brain cancer cells may offer new strategy to fight deadly glioblastoma
Podcast
Cancer Discovery Podcast on research paper:
Oncogenic EGFR Signaling Activates an mTORC2–NF-κB Pathway That Promotes Chemotherapy Resistance
Listen here
ScienceSignaling Podcast on research paper:
EGFR Signaling Through an Akt-SREBP-1-Dependent, Rapamycin-Resistant Pathway Sensitizes Glioblastomas to Antilipogenic Therapy
Listen now