![]() Thus, findings our laboratory is challenging the dogma that cell polarity proteins function as tumor suppressors and beginning to identify them as tumor promoters. In this context, LLGL2 promotes adaptation to nutrition stress and tamoxifen resistance by increasing the cell surface level of the leucine transporter, SLC7A5, identify a role for cell polarity proteins as drivers of drug resistance (Nature, 2019). More recently, we demonstrated that LLGL2 is overexpressed in ER+ breast cancer cells. Transgenic mouse models of a mislocalized mutant of Scribble develop mammary tumors by activating S6 kinase (Can Res, 2014). We discovered that Par6 is overexpressed in breast cancer and promotes cell proliferation by activating MAPK signaling (Can. However, recent studies from our laboratory demonstrate that many cell polarity proteins function as promoters of cell proliferation in cancer. Rethinking the role of cell polarity proteins in cancer: Studies in Drosophila models and mammals, including ours (Cell, 2008), have defined cell polarity proteins as tumor suppressors. On a broader note, it is worth noting that the use of 3D culture methods in cancer research has gone from being a rarity in 2001 to becoming the norm today. Active studies include identification of new drug-sensitivities, modeling drug resistance, biomarker discovery, and clinical trials evaluating use of co-clinical organoid pipeline to personalize treatment choices. We continue to develop new organoid models for other organ sites and continue to use these patient-derived organoid models from breast and pancreatic cancer for translational and clinical research. More recently, we have expanded the utility of the 3D culture method to growing human pancreatic exocrine cells as ductal and acinar organoids (Nat. 2001).We subsequently reported on the ways to use the models to understand morphogenesis, oncogene-induced effects on cell polarity, and transformation. In 2001, I developed a 3D culture method for growing MCF-10A cells and demonstrated the use of the platform for modeling transformation induced by the ErbB family of receptors (Nat. Over the past 20 years, our laboratory has made significant contributions to the development of three-dimensional culture and organoid (mini-organ) models. ![]() Outside of science, I enjoy photography, gardening, hiking, and playing badminton. In addition, I take pride in being a citizen of science and help train the next generation of scientists discover their passion for scientific pursuit and sharpen their analytical and problem solving skills. A passion worth pursuing for it is the only path to discover the unknown and to help people suffering from incurable diseases such as cancers. I believe that being a scientist is not just a profession it is a passion. We use these normal or tumor epithelial organoid models to understand cell biological mechanisms of normal development and disease progression to study interaction with immune cells to identify new therapies and to assist oncologists in personalizing treatment decisions for cancer patients. We develop three-dimensional culture methods to grow normal, or tumor cells as organoids with a specific goal of recreating the morphology of normal and disease states to the best possible extent. I also realized that to understand the biology of a disease, one needs to use models that resemble the disease, which laid the foundation for what we do in my laboratory today. What I learned in the course opened my eyes and my mind to the importance of cell and tissue morphology in diagnosing and understanding disease states. Being a newcomer to the field, I first chose to develop a basic understanding of the disease and enrolled myself in pathology of cancer courses offered to medical students. We noticed most people ordering extra, so I wasn’t the only one who was still a little hungry.After my early training in plant genetics, I moved into the field of cancer research for my graduate studies. ![]() At the end of your meal, they ask if you want to order more pieces (which isn’t included in the $80). While I enjoyed the sushi, I didn’t leave full. Most of the sushi is presented au naturel with a light brush of sweet soy sauce or fresh wasabi.īut like I mentioned, for the price, it’s definitely not a ton of food. ![]() The fish is undoubtedly fresh and its simple preparation really let the flavours of the fish shine on its own. My personal favourites were the sardine (definitely not the stuff you get from a can!), shrimp, monkfish liver (they don’t call it the foie gras of the sea for no reason) and scallop. We were famished when we arrived so it was a little torturous in the beginning! The two chefs (one of them being the owner, Yasuhisa Ouchi), prepare the sushi, one piece at a time. It’s quite the opposite of an all-you-can-eat experience.
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