Natalia Ignatenko

For the past 20 years I have been involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) research with the focus on the molecular mechanisms of detection and prevention. My research activity include identification and validation of downstream effectors of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) tumor suppressor gene and K-ras protooncogene within polyamine and prostaglandin pathways and study the luminal and dietary risk factors of colonic inflammation and colorectal carcinogenesis. I also have an expertise in developing Genetically Engineered Mouse (GEM) models of gastrointestinal cancer for studying different steps of carcinogenesis. Current research in my laboratory is focused on regulation and pathophysiological functions of kallikrein-related peptidase 6 (KLK6) in cancer with the focus on cancer cells invasion and metastasis. KLK6 is a secreted serine protease with the specific function to cleave components of the extracellular matrix and activate latent growth factors involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways. Our recent findings indicate that KLK6 expression in colon cancer cells is determined by the tumor subtype and the genetic mutations developed during the colon cancer progression. KLK6 protein will be useful for imaging purposes and an appropriate target for evaluation as a colon biomarker.