Andrew Madans

Email: abm65@cornell.edu

Research Focus

My research involves studying the role of mechanical loading as a regulator of metastatic tumor progression and bone cell behavior using a 3D in vitro model system. In advanced forms of breast cancer, patients can develop incurable skeletal metastasis. This metastasis is osteolytic, resulting in bone loss and fracture. The mechanical environment of bone directs the balance between bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. Metastatic tumor cells release factors that promote bone resorption over bone formation and the resulting bone degradation also results in release of pro-tumorgenic factors that contribute to tumor progression. In contrast, mechanical loading promotes bone formation over bone resorption, possibly providing an anti-tumorgenic therapy. Characterizing bone cell differentiation on in vitro scaffolds and their response to mechanical loading in the presence of tumor-secreted factors will be beneficial in understanding this potential treatment option.

I am a Masters of Engineering student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. I graduated from Cornell in May 2011 with a major in Biological Engineering and a minor in Business.


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