Pankaj Chaudhary, PhD

My research focuses on various aspects of carcinogenesis, particularly the molecular mechanisms underlying triple-negative breast cancer growth and metastasis. A major focus of our work has been on investigating the molecular basis of Annexin A2 function in promoting triple-negative breast cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. Increased expression of Annexin A2 is commonly observed in triple-negative breast cancer. Our findings demonstrated that Annexin A2 overexpression is associated with racial variation and is a potential prognostic candidate for triple-negative breast cancer in African-American women. In addition, we identified Annexin A2 as a potential metastatic target protein in modulation triple-negative breast cancer tumor microenvironments. Currently, our laboratory is validating these findings and determining if Annexin A2 contributes to the disproportionate occurrence of triple-negative breast cancer and clinical outcome in African-American women. The long-term goal of our research is to develop improved therapeutic options for aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.