Research Summary:
The Ovarian Cancer Laboratory at the University of Chicago, founded in 2004, is dedicated to improving our understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer metastasis and exploring the use of novel drugs for its treatment. We have a collaborative environment in the laboratory, where scientists, postdocs, physicians, fellows, and students work together to answer critical questions in ovarian cancer biology. We meet once a week to discuss research results and new ideas or listen to an invited speaker in our field. The laboratory is directed by Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD – a clinically active gynecologic oncologist with a special focus on the surgical treatment of ovarian cancer; and Hilary Kenny, PhD – a Research Associate Professor whose work focuses on elucidating the role of the tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer development and metastasis. Drs. Lengyel and Kenny have worked together successfully since 2005.
Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States and has the highest mortality rate of all gynecologic malignancies. The high fatality of the disease is because it is often diagnosed at a late stage when tumor cells have disseminated within the peritoneal cavity. Unfortunately, despite aggressive treatment, most patients have an incurable recurrence at some point in their cancer journey. For clinical information about ovarian cancer and ovarian mass treatments, please visit the University of Chicago Medicine’s Gynecologic Oncology webpage.
Although the cell of origin for ovarian cancer has not been identified, currently we believe that it is either in the fallopian tube or the ovary. Still, cancer cells can also metastasize to the ovary giving the wrong impression that the tumor originates there. Recently we used proteomic profiling to identify the ovarian cancer cell lines that most accurately represent high-grade serous tumors at the protein level. This analysis revealed a protein signature that allows us to distinguish ovarian cancer tumors arising in the ovarian surface epithelium from fallopian tube epithelial cells and from tumors arising in the fallopian tube. We now recognize that, after malignant transformation, tumor cells are carried by peritoneal fluid and attach to metastatic sites, including the peritoneum and omentum, rarely metastasizing to sites outside the peritoneal cavity. The complex interactions between stromal and cancer cells control this dissemination, so understanding these bi-directional interactions is a major goal of our lab
Main projects in the laboratory:
- Discover the cell of origin of serous ovarian cancer
- Understand the early steps of ovarian cancer metastasis to the peritoneum and omentum and study metabolic changes during metastasis
- Characterize tumor-stroma interactions in ovarian cancer, including the communications between adipocytes, fibroblasts, mesothelial cells, immune, and cancer cells
- Use high throughput screening to identify novel treatments and evaluate the efficacy and mechanisms of new compounds in pre-clinical models to prepare for their translation to human trials
- Utilize advanced transcriptomics and proteomics single-cell methods to gain further insights into ovarian cancer biology and develop tools for ovarian cancer detection and treatment
In our research, we use primary and cultured ovarian cancer cell lines and mouse models of ovarian cancer (xenograft and genetic). Interactions between cancer cells and the microenvironment are investigated in vitro using novel organotypic 3D cultures with primary human omental cells (both normal and cancer-associated). We have also assembled several tissue micro arrays (TMA) with tissue from primary and metastatic ovarian cancers. These tissue samples are linked to a database containing clinico-pathologic information on all ovarian cancer patients operated on at the University of Chicago since 1992. Clinical data are collected prospectively to inform what we do in the clinic and in the laboratory.
Collaborations:
To reach our goals we have formed important collaborations with physicians and scientists. Our collaborators include:
- The Peter Laboratory: Marcus E. Peter, Phd (miRNA and metastasis)
- The Romero Laboratory: Iris Romero, MD, MS (Drug repurposing and the role of metformin in ovarian cancer, Metformin neo-adjuvant clinical trial: NCT02122185).
- The Mann Laboratory (Proteomics and ovarian cancer metastasis)
- National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) (High throughput screening)
- The Moellering Laboratory: Dr. Raymond Moellering (Metabolomics and ovarian cancer)
- Dr. Samuel Volchenboum (Bioinformatics)
- Dr. Ricardo R. Lastra (Gynecologic Pathology)
- Dr. Josephine Kim, Dr. Nita Lee, Dr. John Moroney and Dr. Diane Yamada (Gynecologic Oncology Faculty at U of C)
- Dr. Fran Balkwill (Bart's College London) and Dr. Ugo Cavallaro (Milan): OCRA Collaborative Research Grant
The common goal of everybody working in or with our laboratory is to transfer knowledge from the laboratory to the clinical arena, so we may improve the survival of women suffering from ovarian cancer.
Join the Ovarian Cancer Laboratory:
We have job openings for technicians and postdoctoral scientists. Email us your CV if you're interested in joining our team: lengyeloffice@bsd.uchicago.edu.
1. The Ovarian Cancer Research Laboratory is looking for a Clinical Research Analyst I to join its ovarian cancer research team and support translational research. Some of the duties include consenting patients, processing and banking tissue and blood, protocol writing for clinical samples, database organization and identifying patients for translational research studies. The Clinical Research Analyst will work collaboratively with surgeons, fellows, nurses, principal investigators, and scientists. They will also help perform experiments.
External candidates (non-current University of Chicago employees) should apply using the following link: https://uchicago.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Hyde-Park-Campus/Clinical-Research-Analyst_JR15831
Internal candidates (current University of Chicago employees) should apply using the following link: https://workday.uchicago.edu/
- Login with your CNet ID and password
- Click on the “CAREER” icon
- Next click on the “FIND UCHICAGO JOBS”
- Search for JR15831
2. The Ovarian Cancer Research Laboratory is looking for a Research Analyst to join their team. Specifically, the Research Analyst will be investigating the role of the stroma and its therapeutic targets during ovarian cancer disease progression. This will involve human tissue, in vivo mouse models, and three-dimensional organotypic and primary cell models to perform translational research. The Research Assistant will work collaboratively with the principal investigators, fellows, students, and other research specialists. Under limited direction, the incumbent performs complex lab and/or wet lab research-related duties and tasks.
External candidates (non-current University of Chicago employees) should apply using the following link: https://uchicago.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Hyde-Park-Campus/Research-Analyst_JR15843-1
Internal candidates (current University of Chicago employees) should apply using the following link: https://workday.uchicago.edu/
- Login with your CNet ID and password
- Click on the “CAREER” icon
- Next click on the “FIND UCHICAGO JOBS”
- Search for JR15843
Funding:
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2021-2028 |
R35 Outstanding Investigator Award
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2020 – 2025 |
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2020 – 2023 |
Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance: Collaborative Research Development
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2020 – 2022 |
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2017 – 2022 |
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2018 – 2021 |
Janet Burros Ovarian Cancer Initiative
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2015 – 2021 |
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2010 – 2021 |
Bears Care (NFL Chicago Bears)
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Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD
Arthur L. and Lee G. Herbst Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
