Constance E. Brinckerhoff, PhD
Title(s)
Emeritus Professor of Medicine
Department(s)
Medicine
Education
Smith College, BA
SUNY - Buffalo, PHD
SUNY - Buffalo, MA
Programs
Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Programs
NIH Biosketch
Brinckerhoff_C_BIO_2009-01-30.pdf
Contact Information
Dartmouth Medical School
HB 7936
Lebanon NH 03756
Phone: 603-653-9957
Fax: 603-653-9952
Email: brinckerhoff@dartmouth.edu
Professional Interests
Research focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix at neutral pH, facilitate the invasive and metastatic behavior of tumor cells. In most normal cells, constitutive expression of MMPs is low, but increases in response to cytokines and growth factors. In some tumors (e.g., breast cancer and melanoma), however, MMP expression is constutively high, and the high expression enhances their invasiveness. This lab is using a novel invasion assay to monitor the invasion of tumor cells through the extracellular matrix and to document the efficacy of novel agents that suppress MMPs to also suppress invasion and metastasis.
Grant Information
AR-26599-28. Regulation of Collagenase Gene Expression
CA-77267-07. Invasive Behavior of Tumor cells Producing Collagenase-1
Epitope spreading toward wild-type melanocyte-lineage antigens rescues suboptimal immune checkpoint blockade responses. A TLR7 agonist strengthens T and NK cell function during BRAF-targeted therapy in a preclinical melanoma model. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) in melanoma: There's smoke, but is there fire? The mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway plays a critical role in regulating immunological properties of BRAF mutant cutaneous melanoma cells. What are the therapeutic implications of increased collagen expression in melanoma cells treated with vemurafenib? The BRAF(V600E) inhibitor, PLX4032, increases type I collagen synthesis in melanoma cells. CXCR3 signaling in BRAFWT melanoma increases IL-8 expression and tumorigenicity. BRAF inhibition alleviates immune suppression in murine autochthonous melanoma. Multiple murine BRaf(V600E) melanoma cell lines with sensitivity to PLX4032. Differential mechanisms of tumor progression in clones from a single heterogeneous human melanoma. |
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