UTMThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · Biomedical Engineering
Bone Metastasis Research Laboratory
Li Ma · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Li Ma's research lab focuses on improving the treatment of bone metastasis in cancer patients, particularly in breast cancer. They investigate a protein called ACBP, which influences how cancer cells metabolize fats and survive in bone tissue. By understanding ACBP's role in tumor biology, the lab aims to develop new therapeutic strategies that target bone metastasis more effectively than current treatments, which mainly alleviate symptoms but do not address the underlying cancer.
bone metastasisbreast cancerlipid metabolismACBPCRISPRfatty acid oxidation
Research Aims
5AIM 01Identify the role of ACBP in regulating lipid metabolism in breast cancer cells.
AIM 02Test the hypothesis that ACBP enhances bone metastasis via fatty acid oxidation.
AIM 03Investigate ACBP's influence on intercellular communication between cancer cells and bone marrow adipocytes.
AIM 04Explore the impact of ACBP on the tumor microenvironment in bone metastasis.
AIM 05Evaluate targeted therapies that inhibit ACBP or fatty acid oxidation to reduce bone metastasis.
Skills the Lab Values
CRISPR activationin vivo genetic screeningcell cultureexperimental designmolecular cloningfatty acid metabolism assaysflow cytometryanimal modelsbiochemical assaysimmunohistochemistry
Output against the department
Publications425top 21% of dept.125th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations27ktop 12% of dept.71st of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
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