×

Clodia Osipo, PhD

Professor

Cancer Biology; Microbiology & Immunology

Research Interests:

  • Breast cancer
  • Cancer stem cells
  • Notch signaling

Bio

I am an experienced chemist and cancer biologist with over 25 years of training, expertise, and a love for science. My desire to eradicate cancer stem cells comes from personal experiences. My maternal aunt and a very good friend died from complications due to cancer. I feel a very strong commitment to finding a cure for cancer in order for more people to spend time with their families. Currently, the Osipo laboratory is focused on determining mechanisms responsible for drug resistance in breast cancer. The main focus is on the role of Notch signaling in cancer stem cells and how current standard of care increases canonical and non-canonical Notch-dependent cancer cells that are resistant and responsible for tumor recurrence. Collaborations are key to our success and include a team of basic scientists and clinicians including other Notch experts (Dr. Lucio Miele), medical oncologists (Dr. Kathy Albain), breast pathologists (Dr. Ping Tang), estrogen signaling (Dr. Suzanne Fuqua), and biostatisticians (Dr. Susan Hilsenbeck). Together, we strive to eradicate breast cancer.

Education

  • BS in Biology, BA in Chemistry, Mundelein College Chicago
  • PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago
  • Postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Biology, Northwestern University

Research Interests

  • Breast cancer
  • Cancer stem cells
  • Notch signaling

Publications/Research Listings

  • Targeting breast cancer stem cells using naturally occurring phytoestrogens  Nguyen, M; Osipo, C  International Journal of Molecular Sciences  2022 Jun 18;23(12):6813. doi:10.3390/ijms23126813. PMID: 35743256; PMCID: PMC9224163
  • Notch signaling in breast cancer: A role in drug resistance  BeLow, M; Osipo, C  Cells  2020 Sep 29;9(10):2204. doi: 10.3390/cells9102204. PMID:33003540; PMCID: PMC7601482
  • DAXX-inducing phytoestrogens inhibit ER+ tumor initiating cells and delay tumor development  Peiffer, DS; Ma, E; Wyatt, D; Albain, KS; Osipo, C  NPJ Breast Cancer  2020 Aug 14;6:37. doi: 10.1038/s41523-020-00178-5. PMID: 32864429; PMCID: PMC7429502
  • DAXX suppresses tumor-initiating cells in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer following endocrine therapy  Peiffer, DS; Wyatt, D; Zlobin, A; Piracha, A; Ng, J; Dingwall, AK; Albain, KS; Osipo, C  Cancer Research  2019 Oct 1;79(19):4965-4977. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-19-1110. Epub 2019 Aug 6. PMID: 31387918; PMCID: PMC6774875
  • Inhibition of HER2 increases JAGGED1-dependent breast cancer stem cells: Role for membrane JAGGED1  Shah, D; Wyatt, D; Baker, AT; Simms, P; Peiffer, DS; Fernandez, M; Rakha, E; Green, A; Filipovic, A; Miele, L; Osipo, C  Clinical Cancer Research  2018 Sep 15;24(18):4566-4578. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-17-1952. Epub 2018 Jun 12. PMID: 29895705; PMCID: PMC6139046
  • Notch-1-PTEN-ERK1/2 signaling axis promotes HER2+ breast cancer cell proliferation and stem cell survival  Baker, A; Wyatt, D; Bocchetta, M; Li, J; Filipovic, A; Green, A; Peiffer, DS; Fuqua, S; Miele, L; Albain, KS; Osipo, C  Oncogene  2018 Aug;37(33):4489-4504. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0251-y. Epub 2018 May 10. PMID: 29743588; PMCID: PMC9115842
  • Cancer stem cells and HER2 positive breast cancer: The story so far  Shah, D; Osipo, C  Genes & Disease  2016 Jun;3(2):114-123. doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Feb 21. PMID: 30123819; PMCID: PMC6095671
  • PKCα Attenuates Jagged-1-Mediated Notch Signaling in ErbB-2-Positive Breast Cancer to Reverse Trastuzumab Resistance  Pandya, K; Wyatt, D; Gallagher, B; Shah, D; Baker, A; Bloodworth, J; Zlobin, A, Pannuti, A; Green, A; Ellis, IO; Filipovic, A; Sagert, J; Rana, A; Albain, KS; Miele, L; Denning, MF; Osipo, C  Clinical Cancer Research  2016 Jan 1;22(1):175-86. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-15-0179. Epub 2015 Sep 8. PMID: 26350262
  • Notch-EGFR/HER2 Bidirectional Crosstalk in Breast Cancer  Baker, AT; Zlobin, A; Osipo, C  Frontiers in Oncology 2014 Dec 12;4:360. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00360. eCollection 2014. PMID: 25566499
  • Gamma secretase inhibitors of Notch signaling  Olsauskas-Kuprys, R; Zlobin, A; Osipo, C  OncoTargets and Therapy. 2013 Jul 23;6:943-55. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S33766. Print 2013. PMID: 23901284

Additional Publications List