Roles of cell-to-cell signaling in neurodevelopment and cancer development

Speaker: Dr. Vicky Yamamoto, Ph.D.
Affiliation: Cancer Scientist, Dept. of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Hosted by

The Optical Society (OSA) and SPIE Student Chapter

Abstract: Cell signaling plays a critical role in normal development and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Aberrant cell-to-cell signaling can contribute to abnormal development, diseases, and cancer. In the first part of this lecture, the role of Wnt-signaling and its related pathways in neurodevelopment and cancer will be discussed. One of the biggest challenges in cancer treatment is treatment resistance and there is a great need for drugs that can enhance radiation therapy or chemotherapy responsiveness in cancer. In the second part, this presentation will discuss the development and efficacy of Wnt-signaling inhibitors and cancer stem cell targeted therapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Possible utility of biophotonics and radiomics in effective early diagnosis of cancer and identification of cancer biomarkers will be explored.

Biography: Dr. Vicky Yamamoto is a cancer scientist at Keck School of Medicine of USC in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Prior to joining USC, Dr. Yamamoto has worked at Mount St. Mary’s College, The Scripps Research Institute, the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and California Institute of Technology. She received a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from Keck School of Medicine of USC.  She has publications in major journals, including Cell, Developmental Cell, Cell Reports, PlosOne, NeuroImage, and Oral Oncology and has written several book chapters.  Dr. Yamamoto’s current research and expertise are in developmental neurobiology, cell signal transduction, cancer stem cells, molecular targeted therapy, screening and identification of small molecules for cancer treatment, establishment of tissue bank, and clinical trial.  She is also an Executive Director of Society for Brain Mapping & Therapeutics (SBMT).

Date/Time:
Date(s) - Jan 27, 2017
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location:
E-IV Tesla Room #53-125
420 Westwood Plaza - 5th Flr., Los Angeles CA 90095