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Important informations

Laboratory

The Gynecology Oncology Research Laboratory

The Gynecologic Oncology Research Laboratory (GORL) was created in 2003 and is located at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research of the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec.

Our lab’s overreaching mission is to create a bridge from bedside to laboratory bench, and back from bench to bedside. The purpose of the GORL is to determine important gaps in knowledge and to use basic science and clinical knowledge to address unmet needs. Our objectives include understanding underlying mechanisms of these cancers, identifying their vulnerabilities and their response/resistance to treatment as well discovering promising effective and less toxic novel molecular targeted therapies.

The types of research carried out touch upon the following main themes:

  • Targeting DNA repair pathways in gynecological cancers
  • Epigenetic modulation and impact on the tumor microenvironment
  • Development and validation of predictive/prognostic biomarkers
  • Development of a preclinical model platform for accurate prediction of therapeutic efficacy of targeted therapies in clinical trials

The Jewish General Hospital Gynecologic Cancer Biobank is the result of 20 years of collaborations between patients, clinicians, scientists, and our laboratory. We have a large biorepository (tissue, blood, ascites) of patient samples throughout the course of their treatments.

Our Gynecologic Oncology Biobank is a rich source of biospecimen samples that have helped our research team make important and novel discoveries in the field of gynecologic cancers. This is made possible by the generous donations of patients and their families as well as our generous funding supporters:

  • Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • Israel Cancer Research Fund
  • Gloria Girls Gloria Shapiro Foundation
  • Susan and Jonathan Wener Fund
  • Canadian Foundation for Women’s Health
  • Francine Grzywacz Memorial Fund
  • Friends for Life Foundation
  • Garber Fund
  • Israel Cancer Association
  • JGH Foundation
  • Levy Family Fund
  • Réseau de recherche sur le cancer
  • Georgette Duchaine Memorial Fund
  • Visman Fund of Tel Aviv University
  • Weekend to End Women’s Cancers

Meet the Team

Walter Gotlieb 1

Research

The types of research carried out touch upon the following main themes:

  • Targeting DNA repair pathways in gynecological cancers: Alteration in the expression of repair genes is a common feature of many gynecological cancers. DNA repair alterations can lead to tumor initiation and may be due to genetic mutations, transcriptional regulation, and epigenetic modifications. These alterations may also present vulnerabilities to these cancer cells that can be exploited. Thanks to the support of our patient-partners, our team studies patient biospecimens to determine changes in DNA repair proteins in the development of ovarian and endometrial cancer.
  • Epigenetic modulation and impact on the tumor microenvironment: The tumor microenvironment (TME) have become an important area of research. We now understand that there are immunosuppressive factors that promote tumorigenesis and tumor-immune cell interactions and immune phenotypic changes that influence response/resistance to treatment.
  • Development and validation of predictive/prognostic biomarkers: Part of our mission is to personalize patients’ treatment and to provide the right treatment, at the right time, to the right patient. Identifying biomarkers to predict response to a given treatment can potentially avoid undertreating or overtreating patients. Using a surrogate marker for DNA repair pathways deficiencies are currently a promising avenue for gynecologic cancers. Furthermore, non-invasive tests, such as circulating tumor DNA, is a new field of interest in our laboratory.
  • Development of a preclinical model platform: This theme addresses two important areas: 1) to understand the basic biology and etiology of gynecologic cancer initiation and progression, and 2) to establish clinically relevant preclinical models to a) improve precision medicine and b) to develop a platform for accurate prediction of therapeutic efficacy of targeted therapies in clinical trials.

Current ongoing projects include:

  • Investigating rare gynecological cancers through high-throughput sequencing of tumors supported by the Terry Fox – Marathon of Hope Initiative and the development of a national Rare Cancer Registry through the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada and Ovarian Cancer Canada
  • Investigating the role of Interleukin-10 in Ovarian Cancer
  • Development of a new DNA repair protein biomarker (PARG) in ovarian cancer to determine response to treatment.
  • Determining the role of PARP inhibitors and Homologous recombination deficiency status in endometrial cancers
  • Identification of New Molecular Subgroups of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: impact on prognosis and therapy.
  • Investigate the value of robotic surgery for patients with gynecologic cancers.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia. Quo neque error repudiandae fuga? Ipsa laudantium molestias eos sapiente officiis modi at sunt excepturi expedita sint? Sed quibusdam recusandae alias error harum maxime adipisci amet laborum. Perspiciatis minima nesciunt dolorem! Officiis iure rerum voluptates a cumque velit quibusdam sed amet tempora. Sit laborum ab, eius fugit doloribus tenetur fugiat, temporibus enim commodi iusto libero magni deleniti quod quam consequuntur! 

Team

Dr. Walter Gotlieb

Walter Gotlieb, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

After graduating with a BSc in Biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Koren Mann obtained a PhD in Pathology/Immunology from Boston University School of Medicine. Following that, she completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Oncology at McGill, where she investigated the use of arsenic as a potential chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Today, she is the Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, an Associate Member of the Department of Medicine, and a Senior Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.

Dr. Melica N. Brodeur

Melica Brodeur, MD, MSc

Principal Investigator

After graduating with a BSc in Biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Koren Mann obtained a PhD in Pathology/Immunology from Boston University School of Medicine. Following that, she completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Oncology at McGill, where she investigated the use of arsenic as a potential chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Today, she is the Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, an Associate Member of the Department of Medicine, and a Senior Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.

Walter Gotlieb 2

Suzie Lau, MD, MSc

Co-Investigator

After graduating with a BSc in Biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Koren Mann obtained a PhD in Pathology/Immunology from Boston University School of Medicine. Following that, she completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Oncology at McGill, where she investigated the use of arsenic as a potential chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Today, she is the Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, an Associate Member of the Department of Medicine, and a Senior Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.

Walter Gotlieb 2

Shannon Salvador, MD, MSc

Co-Investigator

After graduating with a BSc in Biology from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Koren Mann obtained a PhD in Pathology/Immunology from Boston University School of Medicine. Following that, she completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Oncology at McGill, where she investigated the use of arsenic as a potential chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Today, she is the Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, an Associate Member of the Department of Medicine, and a Senior Investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research.

Research Associates

Walter Gotlieb 2

Amber Yasmeen, PhD

Team Arsenic

Cynthia is the Mann lab manager. She offers support to the students with their projects, experiments and troubleshooting. She maintains a productive and positive lab environment. One of her projects involves the creation of arsenic 3 methyltransferase (As3MT) flox mice. These mice are an important tool in dissecting the role of tissue-specific As3MT in arsenic toxicity, as well as potentially identifying alternative As3MT functions.
Walter Gotlieb 2

Maroua Mbarik, PhD

Team Copper

Mitra is a research associate in the Mann Lab. After finishing her BSc in Physiology at McGill, she began her career at the Lady Davis Institute. Her project explores the role of copper, a metal commonly found in drinking water, in the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Clinical Research Assistant

Walter Gotlieb 2

Angela Tatar, MSc

Team OPE

Braeden is a PhD candidate in the Department of Pharmacology. He completed an Honours Bachelor of Science at Queen’s University with a specialization in Drug Development and Human Toxicology. His project focuses on elucidating the consequences of organophosphate esters exposure on macrophage function.

Clinical Fellows

Walter Gotlieb 2

Gabriel Levin, MD

Team Arsenic

Nivetha is a PhD candidate in the Department of Experimental Medicine. She completed her BSc in Biochemistry at Concordia University. Her project focuses on how a co-exposure to metals, such as arsenic and cadmium, affects the progression of atherosclerosis.

Walter Gotlieb 2

David Knigin, MD, PhD

Team Lymphoma

Madelyn is a PhD student in the department of Experimental Medicine. She uses mouse modelling to study Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. In particular, she has found that mutations in the transcription factor STAT6 are enriched at disease relapse, and I study how this contributes to remodeling of the tumour microenvironment.

Walter Gotlieb 2

Rowa Bakadlag

Team Tungsten

Rowa is a PhD candidate in the department of Experimental Medicine. She completed her BSc in Microbiology and Immunology in Saudi Arabia, then completed two MScs in Genetics and Parasitology at McGill University. Her work investigates tungsten toxicity focusing on SLC2A2 as a transporter and the effects on mature B lymphocytes.

MSc Students

Walter Gotlieb 2

Yoav Brezinov, MD

Team Vaping

Vincenza is an MSc. Student in the Department of Pharmacology. She completed her BSc. in Pharmacology at McGill University. Her project aims to elucidate the role of e-cigarette use on the murine cardiopulmonary system. Specifically, she is focusing on metal deposition in the lungs, and the progression of atherosclerosis due to these exposures.

Walter Gotlieb 2

Paul-Adrien Guigue

Team Arsenic

Nazli Zengin is an MSc. student in the Department of Pharmacology. She has a background in pharmacology and environment. Her work currently focuses on elucidating how sex and diet modulate arsenic toxicity and its immunological and cardiovascular consequences.

Walter Gotlieb 2

Andrew Little

Team Arsenic

Andrew is an MSc. student in the Department of Pharmacology who graduated from the B.Sc. program in Biochemistry at McGill in 2021. He works on a proteomics project centred around Arsenic 3-Methyltransferase and the question about whether it serves an additional function.

Walter Gotlieb 2

Raymond Tu

Team Tungsten

Raymond is an MSc. Student in the Department of Pharmacology who completed his BSc. in Environmental Health Sciences from the UNC Chapel Hill as a as a Morehead-Cain Scholar. He received the McCall MacBain Scholarship in 2021. His project studies the mechanism of tungsten on mTORC1, a major regulator of cell growth and proliferation.

Walter Gotlieb 2

Nikola Kukolj

Team Arsenic

Nikola is an incoming MSc Student who completed his undergraduate degree in
Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University. He is currently working on an NSERC
summer project that assesses the functional characterization of macrophages exposed to arsenic using murine bone marrow-derived macrophages.

Undergraduate Students

Walter Gotlieb 2

Roni Juran

Team Vaping

Roni is a second-year BSc student in Chemistry at McGill. As an undergraduate student, she works on various projects across the lab, but is currently focused elucidating the correlation between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and vaping.

Publications

  • Abitbol J, Kucukyazici B, Brin S, Lau S, Salvador S, Ramanakumar AV, et al. Impact of robotic surgery on patient flow and resource use intensity in ovarian cancer. J Robot Surg. 4 août 2022;
  • Gomolin A, Gotlieb W, Lau S, Salvador S, Racovitan F, Abitbol J. Mandate to evaluate robotic surgery implementation: a 12-year retrospective analysis of impact and future implications. J Robot Surg. août 2022;16(4):783‑8.
  • Matanes E, Eisenberg N, Mitric C, Yasmeen A, Ismail S, Raban O, et al. Surgical and oncological outcomes of sentinel lymph node sampling in elderly patients with intermediate to high-risk endometrial carcinoma. Int J Gynecol Cancer Off J Int Gynecol Cancer Soc. 4 juill 2022;32(7):875‑81.
  • Matanes E, Cantor T, AlShehri E, Salvador S, Lau S, Gotlieb W. Surgical technique for sentinel lymph node sampling in endometrial cancer using the articulated HOOK monopolar instrument. Int J Gynecol Cancer Off J Int Gynecol Cancer Soc. 4 juill 2022;32(7):951‑2.
  • Matanes E, Amajoud Z, Salvador S, Lau S, Gotlieb W. Four protective maneuvers in minimal invasive surgery of endometrial cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer Off J Int Gynecol Cancer Soc. 4 juill 2022;32(7):953‑4.
  • Matanes E, López-Ozuna VM, Octeau D, Baloch T, Racovitan F, Dhillon AK, et al. Inhibition of Poly ADP-Ribose Glycohydrolase Sensitizes Ovarian Cancer Cells to Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase Inhibitors and Platinum Agents. Front Oncol. 2021;11:745981.
  • Kessous R, Wissing MD, Laskov I, Abitbol J, Bitharas J, Agnihotram VR, et al. Multiple lines of chemotherapy for patients with high-grade ovarian cancer: Predictors for response and effect on survival. Int J Cancer. 1 mai 2021;148(9):2304‑12.
  • Kessous R, Matanes E, Laskov I, Wainstock T, Abitbol J, Yasmeen A, et al. Carboplatin plus paclitaxel weekly dose-dense chemotherapy for high-grade ovarian cancer: A re-evaluation. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. mars 2021;100(3):453‑8.
  • López-Ozuna VM, Kogan L, Hachim MY, Matanes E, Hachim IY, Mitric C, et al. Identification of Predictive Biomarkers for Lymph Node Involvement in Obese Women With Endometrial Cancer. Front Oncol. 2021;11:695404.
  • Kessous R, Wissing MD, Piedimonte S, Abitbol J, Kogan L, Laskov I, et al. CA-125 reduction during neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with success of cytoreductive surgery and outcome of patients with advanced high-grade ovarian cancer. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. juill 2020;99(7):933‑40.
  • Piedimonte S, Kessous R, Laskov I, Abitbol J, Kogan L, Yasmeen A, et al. Similar Overall Survival Using Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy or Primary Debulking Surgery in Patients Aged Over 75 Years with High-Grade Ovarian Cancer. J Obstet Gynaecol Can JOGC J Obstet Gynecol Can JOGC. nov 2020;42(11):1339‑45.
  • Kogan L, Matanes E, Wissing M, Mitric C, How J, Amajoud Z, et al. The added value of sentinel node mapping in endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol. juill 2020;158(1):84‑91.
  • Baloch T, López-Ozuna VM, Wang Q, Matanis E, Kessous R, Kogan L, et al. Sequential therapeutic targeting of ovarian Cancer harboring dysfunctional BRCA1. BMC Cancer. 10 janv 2019;19(1):44.
  • Octeau D, Kessous R, Klein K, Kogan L, Pelmus M, Ferenczy A, et al. Outcome-Related Differences in Gene Expression Profiles of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancers Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Mol Cancer Res MCR. déc 2019;17(12):2422‑31.
  • Kessous R, Octeau D, Klein K, Tonin PN, Greenwood CMT, Pelmus M, et al. Distinct homologous recombination gene expression profiles after neoadjuvant chemotherapy associated with clinical outcome in patients with ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. mars 2018;148(3):553‑8.
  • Kessous R, Laskov I, Abitbol J, Bitharas J, Yasmeen A, Salvador S, et al. Clinical outcome of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. mars 2017;144(3):474‑9.
  • Philip CA, Laskov I, Beauchamp MC, Marques M, Amin O, Bitharas J, et al. Inhibition of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway sensitizes endometrial cancer cell lines to PARP inhibitors. BMC Cancer. 8 sept 2017;17(1):638.
  • Laskov I, Abou-Nader P, Amin O, Philip CA, Beauchamp MC, Yasmeen A, et al. Metformin Increases E-cadherin in Tumors of Diabetic Patients With Endometrial Cancer and Suppresses Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Endometrial Cancer Cell Lines. Int J Gynecol Cancer Off J Int Gynecol Cancer Soc. sept 2016;26(7):1213‑21.
  • Laskov I, Drudi L, Beauchamp MC, Yasmeen A, Ferenczy A, Pollak M, et al. Anti-diabetic doses of metformin decrease proliferation markers in tumors of patients with endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol. sept 2014;134(3):607‑14.
  • He G, Holcroft CA, Beauchamp MC, Yasmeen A, Ferenczy A, Kendall-Dupont J, et al. Combination of serum biomarkers to differentiate malignant from benign ovarian tumours. J Obstet Gynaecol Can JOGC J Obstet Gynecol Can JOGC. juin 2012;34(6):567‑74.
  • Beauchamp MC, Yasmeen A, Knafo A, Gotlieb WH. Targeting insulin and insulin-like growth factor pathways in epithelial ovarian cancer. J Oncol. 2010;2010:257058.
  • Beauchamp MC, Knafo A, Yasmeen A, Carboni JM, Gottardis MM, Pollak MN, et al. BMS-536924 sensitizes human epithelial ovarian cancer cells to the PARP inhibitor, 3-aminobenzamide. Gynecol Oncol. nov 2009;115(2):193‑8.

Collaborations

Dr. Wilson Miller, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Sonia del Rincon, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Carolyn Baglole, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Jun Ding, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Susan Gaskin, Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Bernard Robaire, Department of Pharmacology McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Brandon Pearson, Columbia University, New York

Dr. John Wise, University of Louisville, Kentucky

News/Milestones

Dr. Wilson Miller, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Sonia del Rincon, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Carolyn Baglole, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Jun Ding, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Susan Gaskin, Dep’t of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Bernard Robaire, Dep’t of Pharmacology McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Brandon Pearson, Columbia University, New York

Dr. John Wise, University of Louisville, Kentucky

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia. Quo neque error repudiandae fuga? Ipsa laudantium molestias eos sapiente officiis modi at sunt excepturi expedita sint? Sed quibusdam recusandae alias error harum maxime adipisci amet laborum. Perspiciatis minima nesciunt dolorem! Officiis iure rerum voluptates a cumque velit quibusdam sed amet tempora. Sit laborum ab, eius fugit doloribus tenetur fugiat, temporibus enim commodi iusto libero magni deleniti quod quam consequuntur! 

  1. How iMALDI can improve clinical diagnostics. Popp, R., Basik, M., Spatz, A., Batist, G., Zahedi, R.P., Borchers, C.H., 2018. Analyst Clin. Chem. 64, 1271–1272. 143, 2197–2203.
  2. Immuno-MALDI-TOF-MS in the Clinic. Zahedi, R.P., Parker, C.E., Borchers, C.H., 2018.

Awards

Walter Gotlieb:

Melica Brodeur:

Braeden Giles:

  • Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development Fellowship, 2023
  • 3 Minute Thesis – Pharmacology McGill, 2023

Andrew Little:

  • Master’s Training Scholarship – CIHR, 2022

Nikola Kukolj:

  • Undergraduate Student Research Awards – NSERC, 2023

Links

Titre

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia.

Titre

Events

Dr. Wilson Miller, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Sonia del Rincon, Lady Davis Institute, Montreal

Dr. Carolyn Baglole, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Jun Ding, RI-MUHC, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Susan Gaskin, Dep’t of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Bernard Robaire, Dep’t of Pharmacology McGill University, Montreal

Dr. Brandon Pearson, Columbia University, New York

Dr. John Wise, University of Louisville, Kentucky

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Maxime mollitia, molestiae quas vel sint commodi repudiandae consequuntur voluptatum laborum numquam blanditiis harum quisquam eius sed odit fugiat iusto fuga praesentium optio, eaque rerum! Provident similique accusantium nemo autem. Veritatis obcaecati tenetur iure eius earum ut molestias architecto voluptate aliquam nihil, eveniet aliquid culpa officia aut! Impedit sit sunt quaerat, odit, tenetur error, harum nesciunt ipsum debitis quas aliquid. Reprehenderit, quia. Quo neque error repudiandae fuga? Ipsa laudantium molestias eos sapiente officiis modi at sunt excepturi expedita sint? Sed quibusdam recusandae alias error harum maxime adipisci amet laborum. Perspiciatis minima nesciunt dolorem! Officiis iure rerum voluptates a cumque velit quibusdam sed amet tempora. Sit laborum ab, eius fugit doloribus tenetur fugiat, temporibus enim commodi iusto libero magni deleniti quod quam consequuntur! 

  1. How iMALDI can improve clinical diagnostics. Popp, R., Basik, M., Spatz, A., Batist, G., Zahedi, R.P., Borchers, C.H., 2018. Analyst Clin. Chem. 64, 1271–1272. 143, 2197–2203.
  2. Immuno-MALDI-TOF-MS in the Clinic. Zahedi, R.P., Parker, C.E., Borchers, C.H., 2018.

Support

To help us attain our mission to improve the lives of those affected by gynecologic cancers, we are grateful to the funding support we receive from funding agencies and private donors. With your support, we strive to make clinical meaningful discoveries in the lab to improve patient care.

Special thanks to:

Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Gloria Girls Gloria Shapiro Foundation

Canadian Foundation for Women’s Health

Francine Grzywacz Memorial Fund

Friends for Life Foundation

Garber Fund

Israel Cancer Association

Israel Cancer Research Fund

JGH Foundation

Levy Family Fund

Reseau de recherche sur le cancer

Susan and Jonathan Wener Fund

Visman Fund of Tel Aviv University

Weekend to End Women’s Cancers

Contact

Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital

3755 Côte Ste-Catherine Road
Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2

Maroua Mbarik, PhD