Dr. Karantza is examining the role of autophagy in tumor cell survival and responsiveness to chemotherapy.  Autophagy is a process of “cellular self-digestion” that is used by both normal cells and tumor cells as a survival mechanism in times of metabolic stress, such as nutrient and oxygen deprivation.  She will use the Continuation Grant to pursue novel studies examining the role of autophagy in pregnancy-associated breast cancer.  She also plans to conduct a clinical trial combining autophagy inhibition with other existing therapies for treatment of certain types of pancreatic cancer, for which there is a need for more effective treatment options.

Dr. Karantza works under the mentorship of Robert S. DiPaola, MD, at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

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Project Title: "Autophagy as a therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment"

Institution: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Sponsor(s) / Mentor(s): Robert S. DiPaola, MD

Cancer Type: Breast

Research Area: Experimental Therapeutics