Research Interests:

Inflammation in breast cancer

The primary focus of the research in my lab is on the role of inflammator processes in mediating the initiating stages of breast cancer. Results from my post-doctoral studies using an in vivo mouse model of preneoplastic breast cancer development demonstrated that macrophages are involved in mediating both epithelial proliferation and angiogenesis induced by FGFR1 activation in the mammary epithelium. The overall goals of this project include evaluating the roles of macrophages and other mediators of inflammation in mediating the various aspects of breast cancer progression, including epithelial proliferation, angiogenesis, and host responses, in mouse models of mammary tumorigenesis.

Selected Recent Publications:

• Schwertfeger, K.L., Xian, W., Cohen, D.A., and Rosen, M.J. 2006. A critical role for the inflammatory response in a mouse model of preneoplastic progression. Cancer Research 66(11), 5675-5685.

• Schwertfeger, K.L., Rosen, J.M., and Cohen, D.A. 2006. Mammary gland macrophages: Pleiotroppic functions in mammary development. Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia. 11(3-4), 229-238.

Last updated: February 19, 2007