Our Science – Varticovski Website

Lyuba Varticovski, M.D.

Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis Associate Scientist National Cancer Institute Building 37, Room 3060 37 Convent Drive Bethesda, MD 20892 Phone:   301-496-0498 Fax:   301-496-0497 E-Mail:   varticol@mail.nih.gov Link: Other Homepage

Biography

Dr. Lyuba Varticovski was born in Siberia, Russia, where she completed undergraduate and first-year medical school. She received her M.D. degree from the University of Valle, Cali, Colombia. After a two-year research fellowship with Max Wintrobe and James Kushner at the University of Utah and training in internal medicine at Albany Medical College, NY, Dr. Varticovski completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the New England Medical Center in Boston, MA. She joined the laboratory of Lewis C. Cantley in 1985 where she shared in the discovery and biochemistry of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinASE). She subsequently studied the role of PI 3-kinase in protein-tyrosine kinase-mediated signal transduction in cell growth and vesicular trafficking while participating in clinical oncology at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, Boston, MA and at Tufts Medical School where she rose to the rank of Associate Professor. Dr. Varticovski is board-certified in internal medicine and hematology and board-eligible in oncology. She is a member of the American Society for Hematology and American Association for Cancer Research. In 2003, she joined NCI as a Staff Clinician and an Adjunct Scientist in the Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis (LHC) at CCR. Dr. Varticovski directed the Preclinical Models Strategy Team and the Molecular Targeting Unit at CCR from 2003-8. She also participated in clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center for patients with drug-resistant tumors. Dr. Varticovski was appointted as Associate Scientist and Director of Lung Cancer Stem Cell Core in May of 2008.

Research

Lung Cancer Stem Cell Core
Pulmonary tumors are a heterogeneous group of tumors that include non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The SCLC includes large cell neuroendocrine lung cancer (LCNEC), as well as typical and atypical carcinoid tumors (TC and AC). These tumors vary dramatically in their malignant behavior. Their classification, based on histologic examination, is often difficult. Using cDNA microarray analysis, we identified two novel biomarkers, one indicative of good prognosis and the other correlated with poor survival. These markers are secreted proteins that can be detected in serum. We are developing a screening assay for these biomarkers. Use of specific biomarkers should facilitate diagnosis and further our understanding of the biology of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors. We are developing a strategy for isolation and characterization of cancer stem cells in SCLC. This project was recognized by an NIH Bed-to-Bedside Award in 2007. The NSCLC stem cell Project is supported by NCI OD.

CCR Preclinical Models Strategy Team
We developed a strategy of using transgenic mouse models for testing novel molecular-targeted drugs. Orthotopically implanted tumors obtained from tumor-bearing transgenic mice are tested for their response to conventional and molecular-targeted therapies. This strategy provides a systematic approach to test tumor progression, prevention, and metastasis in response to therapy as well as validation of molecular pathways. We compare tumors transplanted into syngeneic mice with those transplanted into NOD/SCID mice to determine the contribution of immune responses to therapy.

This page was last updated on 12/30/2008.