The Impacts of Plasticity

Dr. Lynne-Marie Postovit’s research program is dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell plasticity, the ability of a cell to alter its phenotype in response to microenvironmental cues, and resistance to therapy. Plasticity is a major, yet relatively understudied, obstacle for the treatment of cancer. As the Canada Research Chair in Translational Cancer Research, Dr. Postovit seeks to understand the mechanism by which cancer cells acquire and sustain plasticity. She will harness advanced 3D tissue culture techniques combined with technologies such as gene editing, cell sorting, proteomics, genomics, and high-resolution microscopy to translate these discoveries into new therapeutic modalities and biomarkers.

Her research is driven by two interconnected themes. First, she investigates the epigenomic mutations that drive cancer cell plasticity, exploring how these alterations contribute to therapy resistance and metastasis. Second, Dr. Postovit focuses on developing targeted therapies and predictive biomarkers specifically for ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers. She works in partnership with chemists to synthesize novel compounds and clinical colleagues to translate discoveries into clinical trials. Her research has the potential to transform cancer treatment paradigms. By unraveling the mechanisms of cellular plasticity, her program aims to develop new therapies that improve outcomes for patients with advanced malignancies. Dr. Postovit’s work addresses a crucial gap in cancer research, opening new avenues for personalized medicine and therapeutic intervention.