Evolution of metabolic phenotypes in variable tumor microenvironment
The central aim of my lab research is to use ecological-evolutionary principles to understand molecular mechanism of breast and ovarian cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis through adaptation to microenvironment. I hypothesize that evolution of new metabolic phenotypes under variable microenvironment selection can drive cancer through metabolic reprogramming linked to epigenetics and transcription factors activation and stabilization.

We study how the tumor adaptation can shape the new microenvironment and metabolism that shape emerging selective pressures. This interplay between tumor cells and microenvironment plays a fundamental role in development of ever-changing tumor ecosystem leading to more genotypic heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity. We use integration of single cell genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome, and pathomics analysis to capture the heterogeneity and plasticity of cancer cells in their natural context.