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Education

Ph.D.  Molecular Biology, University of Crete, 1997
B.S.  Biology, University of Athens, 1993

Postdoctoral Fellowship
Cancer genetics, Harvard University, 2000-2003
Tumor Biology, Tulane University, 1998-2000

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Research Interests

Context specificity and carcinogenesis
Our laboratory is interested on how context specificity affects the kinetic profile, the morphology and the properties of malignant tumors. We are particularly intrigued by the fact that the same type of cancer cells can develop into tumors of distinct properties, metastatic activity and sensitivity to therapy depending on the microenvironment. Based on this notion we believe that appropriate manipulation of tumor stroma may provide the basis for the development of novel cancer therapeutics.

ER stress
Over the last few years we have developed an increasing interest in the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in various conditions and especially in diabetes. We are especially interested to understand how ER stress progresses from its adaptive (pro-survival) activity into its pro-apoptotic function. We believe that interference with the efficiency by which ER stress becomes pro-apoptotic may have significant therapeutic implications. Furthermore, it illuminates basic aspects of β cell biology with implications in a variety of pathological conditions.

Research Topics

Publications

Kiaris, H., Chatzistamou, I., Trimis, G., Frangou-Plemmenou, M., Pafiti-Kondi, A., & Kalofoutis, A. (2005, March 1). Evidence for nonautonomous effect of p53 tumor suppressor in carcinogenesis. Cancer Research, 65(5), 1627-1630.

Lafkas, D., Trimis, G., Papavassiliou, A. G., & Kiaris, H. (2008). p53 mutations in stromal fibroblasts sensitize tumors against chemotherapy. International Journal of Cancer, 123(4), 967-971.

Mihailidou, C., Chatzistamou, I., Papavassiliou, A., & Kiaris, H. (2015). Regulation of p21 during diabetes-associated stress of the endoplasmic reticulum. Endocrine-Related Cancer, 22(2), 217-228.

Porter, D. C., Farmaki, E., Altilia, S., Schools, G. P., West, D. K., Chen, M., et al. (2012). Cyclin-dependant kinase 8 mediates damage-induced tumor-promoting paracrine activities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (109), 13799-13804.

Trimis, G., Chatzistamou, I., Politi, K., Kiaris, H., & Papavassiliou, A. G. (2008). Expression of p21waf1/Cip1 in stromal fibroblasts of primary breast tumors. Human Molecular Genetics(17), 3596-3600.

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