J. Chuck Harrell, Ph.D.
Research program member: Cancer Molecular Genetics
Box 980662
1101 E. Marshall St.
Richmond, VA 23298
804-828-8710
Email: joshua.harrell@vcuhealth.org
Affiliations
Assistant Professor, Pathology, School of Medicine
Education
PhD, University of Colorado (2007)
Research description
Our current research efforts are focused on identifying new approaches to successfully treat breast cancer metastases. We have developed a novel set of metastasis models from patient-derived xenografts and have performed genome-wide RNA-sequencing to identify the genetic mediators of metastasis. We have used our VCU134 RNA-sequencing dataset to identify the genes within the human cancer cells that become activated during the metastatic process. Analysis of the murine RNA-seq data, has identified a conserved genomic program that occurs in the liver cells in response to the invading metastases. Parallel studies are aimed at repurposing existing FDA-approved drugs for treatment of breast cancer metastases.
Research keywords
Breast cancer, genomics, patient-derived xenografts, therapeutics