Dr. Valerie Weaver is an internationally recognized expert of the tumor microenvironment (TME) focusing on the role of the biochemical and biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that surrounds, supports, and give structure to cells and tissues in the body.
She is credited with establishing the field of Tumor Mechanobiology. Her research program encompasses studies that explore the contribution of cell intrinsic and extrinsic force, stromal fibroblasts, the glycocalyx (proteins and carbohydrates surrounding the cell) and the ECM to breast and pancreatic tumor and glioblastoma development and treatment.
Dr. Weaver is collaborating with Dr. Kornelia Polyak to investigate how differences in sugar molecules (carbohydrates) attached to cancer cells of primary breast tumors compared to those attached to brain metastatic cancer cells affect the cancer cell’s response to treatment, the ability of immune cells to recognize the cells, and the stiffness of the tumor, which affects drug delivery.
Impact
This expert characterization of changes of surface glycoproteins could contribute to a greater understanding of the characteristics of metastatic cells. The role of glycoproteins in drug resistance and escape of the immune system is important and changes in these proteins may promote metastasis.
