Urology at Northwestern University Medical School Olga Volpert, Ph.D. Tumor angiogenesis and molecular mechanisms of action of the naturally occurring inhibitors of angiogenesis Dr. Volpert's major research interest involves tumor angiogenesis and molecular mechanisms of action of the naturally occurring inhibitors of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is required for the progressive growth of all solid tumors and detailed knowledge of molecular mediators of angiogenesis would be a valuable aid in developing the most effective combinations of agents to interfere with tumor growth.
Angiogenesis is also indicative of aggressive , metastatic cancer of prostate.
Currently Dr Volpert is conducting a search of a novel anti-angiogenic factor that is present in benign prostate hyperplasia but is lost in prostate cancer. The expression of this putatutive inhibitor is controlled by a novel tumor suppressor ZO-2A, a tight junction protein that is lost in a number or cancers of ductal origin. She also worked in close collaboration with Dr. Campbell investigating the loss inhibitor of angiogenesis thrombospondin-1 in progression of bladder cancer. Another focus of Dr. Volperts reaserch are signal transduction events underlying inhibition of angiogenesis and endothelial cell apoptosis by thrombospondin-1. Detailed knowledge of such events would provide additional means in optimizing therapies based on anti-angiogenic agents, including thrombospondin.