Melissa DeRycke

E-mail: deryc004@umn.edu

Thesis Advisor: Amy Skubitz

Year entered: 2004

Degrees received:
B.S., Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 2001
M.S., Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 2004

Honors and Awards:

• Masonic/Dietz Travel award 2006
  

Thesis research:
My research focuses primarily on the over expression of nectin 4 in ovarian cancer. My project involves validating the gene and protein expression in ovarian cancer cell lines and tissues and determining what advantage this gives to ovarian cancer cells in regards to metastasis, attachment to ECM molecules and mesothelial cells, invasion, spheroid formation, and drug resistance, both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, I would like to determine if using blocking antibodies or siRNA will help prevent metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Publications:

• Melissa S. DeRycke, John D. Andersen, Katherine M. Harrington, Stefan E. Pambuccian, Steve E. Kalloger, Kristin L.M. Boylan, and Amy P.N. Skubitz. Validation of Over Expression of S100A1 in Ovarian Carcinoma. Submitted.