Maureen Lynch

Email: mel44@cornell.edu

Research Focus

Breast cancer preferentially metastasizes to the skeleton, especially at sites rich in cancellous bone. Once established within cancellous bone, the tumor cells secrete factors that stimulate osteoclasts to resorb bone. Degradation of the bone matrix releases factors that promote further tumor progression resulting in a positive feedback loop, which ultimately damages skeleton integrity and increases risk for fracture. Understanding how the mechanical environment within the skeleton affects metastasis and secondary tumor progression will help elucidate the molecular mechanism underpinning metastatic tumor growth. Specifically, the interplay between mechanical signals, secretion of osteolytic cytokines such as interleukin-8, and overall tumor progression is investigated using an in vivo loading model.

Before joining the Fischbach lab, I earned my PhD in Mechanical Engineering in the van der Meulen lab at Cornell. My work focused on using mechanical loading to stimulate bone formation and increase bone mass, particularly at cancellous sites, which are at high risk for fracture following pathological bone loss. This work focused on the interaction between mechanical forces and other factors such as aging and estrogen status as part of understanding the etiology of, and possible therapy for, osteoporosis.


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