Patricia Masso-Welch, Ph.D.

Research Interests:

Dr. Masso-Welch’s research interests focus on targeting the extracellular matrix environment (vascular, adipose, and fibrocellular) surrounding epithelial tissues to render the epithelium resistant to carcinogenic insult. To accomplish this goal, one chemopreventive compound currently under study is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a dietary fatty acid that is present in dairy products and in the meat of ruminants. CLA was demonstrated to inhibit angiogenesis as well as to disrupt the survival of the pre-existing fenestrated endothelium within adipose and tumor tissues in the mammary gland. In addition to its effects on the vascular endothelium, CLA has also been shown to modify the adipose stroma and fibrocellular extracellular matrix surrounding the ducts and terminal ductal lobular units of the mammary gland. The mechanisms by which this stromal remodeling contributes to the chemopreventive efficacy of CLA are currently being defined, with the ultimate goal of establishing a paradigm for screening other stroma-modifying chemopreventive compounds.

Dr. Masso-Welch is also investigating the mechanism whereby another nontoxic compound, cholesterol-3-sulfate, decreases the survival of breast cancer cells and alters their surrounding tissue environment in a physiologic three-dimensional organ culture environment. These studies involve the use of cholesterol-3-sulfate and other compounds which perturb cholesterol metabolism to alter cell surface signaling.

Selected References:

P.A. Masso-Welch, D. Zangani, C. Ip, M.M. Vaughan, S.F. Shoemaker, S. Oflazoglu McGee, and M.M. Ip. 2004. Isomers of conjugated linoleic acid differ in their effects on angiogenesis and survival of mouse mammary vasculature. J. Nutrition 134(2):299-307.

M.M. Ip, P.A. Masso-Welch, and C. Ip. 2003. Prevention of mammary cancer with conjugated linoleic acid: Role of the stroma and epithelium. J. Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia 8(1):103-118.

P.A. Masso-Welch, D. Zangani, C. Ip, M.M. Vaughan, S. Shoemaker, R. Ramirez, and M.M. Ip., 2002. Inhibition of angiogenesis by the cancer chemopreventive agent conjugated linoleic acid. Cancer Research 62:4383-4389.

P.A. Masso-Welch, J. Winston, S. Edge, H. Asch, K.M. Darcy, M.M. Vaughan, and M.M. Ip. 2001. Altered expression of PKC eta in human breast tumors. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 68:211-223.

P.A. Masso-Welch et al., 2000. A developmental atlas of rat mammary gland histology. J. Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia 5(2):165-185.

© 1998-2004, Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Site maintained by WNY Micro, Inc.

Patricia Masso-Welch, Ph.D.

Research Interests:

Selected References:

© 1998-2004, Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Site maintained by WNY Micro, Inc.

© 1998-2004, Department of Biotechnical and Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Site maintained by WNY Micro, Inc.