Cherie’ Scurrah
University of California
Ken Lau lab
Colon cancer is one the most well-studied cancer, yet is still one of the top 3 deadliest cancers in the United States. I hypothesize that microenvironment surrounding the initial neoplasia events in the colon influences colon tumor characteristics and a better understanding of these interactions can lead to advancements in treatment options. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how inflammation influences the tumor cell-of-origin and if there is a signature of this interaction in the cancer stem cells present within the tumor. To investigate these phenomena, I am using various single-cell analytical techniques to decipher these cellular interactions and tumor phenotypes. Results from these studies will aid in discovering possible novel therapeutic targets.