Cathy Mendelsohn, PhD (left)
Professor of Urological Sciences (in Urology) and Pathology & Cell Biology and Genetics & Development (in the Institute of Human Nutrition)
Department of Urology
Program: Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics (CGE)
Title: "Characterizing a new mouse model of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer."
Description: PPARG has been suggested to be a driver of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) based on frequency of PPARG activating mutations in NMIBC tumors from patients in the TCGA database.To directly evaluate the role of PPARG in the context of NMIBC, we have generated mice that harbor a constitutively activated form of Pparg (VP16;Pparg) which is activatable in cells expressing Cre recombinase. Expression of VP16;Pparg in basal progenitors of the urothelium induces them to differentiate directly into mature urothelial cell types, but expression of the VP16;Pparg after 1 month of exposure to BBN, a carcinogen found in cigarette smoke, induces formation of luminal papillary tumors that strongly resemble those in tumors in patients: Luminal/Papillary tumors in VP16;Pparg mice cluster with LP tumors in the TCGA database base (Plumber et al., 2021) and harbor similar sets of mutations as in human tumors, including Kdm6a, Kmt2d/c, Fgfr3, P53. We will now investigate tumor formation over time in this model via WES, SC-RNA-seq cut&Run analysis, to assess the sequence of mutations, changes in pathways and chromatin alterations as they occur over time, from the stages of pre-injury through progression.
Katja Pinker-Domenig, MD, PhD (right)
Professor of Radiology
Department of Radiology
Program: Cancer Population Science (CPS)
Title: "Transforming Breast MRI: New Coils, Low-dose Contrast, and Contrast-Free Imaging for Precision Detection"
Description: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast is the most sensitive modality for detecting breast cancer, but traditional protocols remain limited by long acquisition times, reliance on intravenous contrast, and restricted accessibility. In this talk, I will present recent advances in coil technology, contrast-agents, high–temporal/high–spatial resolution MRI techniques that improve lesion characterization and reduce unnecessary biopsies. I will then discuss the development of abbreviated protocols using advanced sequence technologies and low-dose high relaxivity contrast agents designed to deliver clinically actionable results within minutes, enhancing patient comfort and screening efficiency. Finally, I will highlight emerging non-contrast MRI methods, including advanced diffusion-weighted imaging and AI-assisted reconstruction, that offer a safer, cost-effective, and scalable approach for women with dense breast tissue. Together, these innovations have the potential to transform breast MRI into a faster, more accurate, and widely accessible tool for precision breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://columbiacuimc.zoom.us/j/98062087107?pwd=ODN1TFwbtR23dO0Pk7Bq73td7fG91L.1
Meeting ID: 980 6208 7107
Passcode: 267022
