Serhiy Souchelnytskyi: Cancer Proteomics and Systems Biology for Personalized Medicine

Cancer can be cured. When people die of cancer, this is because of late detection and/or of not optimal treatment. Optimal treatment requires assessment of individual features of each cancer patient. Clinicians try the best they can, but there is a large gap in knowledge of how to make medicine personal. Even larger gaps are in applications of this knowledge in clinics.

In our group, we try to bridge these gaps. We develop markers and tools that allow individualized treatment. Applications of these tools in clinic have been promising, as we could help clinicians to make a right decision in selection of treatment. See section What has been achieved? for what we develop and may offer to patients, clinicians and industry.

Welcome to contact me.

Regards

Serhiy Souchelnytskyi

Research activities in brief

We focus on human breast cancer. The goal is to understand molecular mechanisms governing breast cancer, develop novel anti-cancer drugs, markers for diagnostics and early detection, and develop tools for individualized treatment of patients.

To achieve these goals, we use proteomics, molecular and cellular biology, systems biology and clinical studies.

Carcinogenic transformation is a complex process of acquiring by normal cells abilities to uncontrolled and unlimited proliferation, escaping death-inducing signals, and developing capacities to spread in the body. We apply proteomics to unveil molecular mechanisms of carcinogenic transformation of human breast epithelial cells. We exploit these mechanisms to develop novel anti-cancer treatments.

We develop and apply systems biology tools, in order to unveil systemic properties of carcinogenic transformation. We want to understand how multiple signals integrate in cells, and how we can use this knowledge for improvement of cancer treatment. Combinatorial use of different drugs in treatment of cancer is an example of multiple signals. Which drugs and in which combination to use for a specific patient? This question is to be answered by Cancer Systems Biology, including CellProDe tool under development in our group.

Transforming growth factor-beta signaling in breast cancer is the area of our particular interest.

We search for markers for early detection and for improved diagnostics and management of breast cancer.

We are open for collaborations, as to battle cancer, clinicians and scientists from different fields have to unite their efforts.

We also are looking for cooperation with public organizations to raise awareness of cancer problems.

Do not hesitate to contact us, if you have suggestions.

For a full scale graphical presentation of our research, follow the link below the image.

• Serhiy Souchelnytskyi's group (Pdf file, 560 Kb)