Rama Khokha : Researchers : G-SIN

Research

Dr. Khokha is currently examining how proteolysis (MMP/TIMP/ADAM), specific growth factors (IGF-II, HGF, TNF), and tumor suppressors and oncogenes impact signals in tissue homeostasis and tumorigenesis. She uses genetic mouse models of human cancers and disease to study the cellular and molecular basis of breast, liver, lung, and bone cancers, and also investigate the role of proteolytic systems in tissue homeostasis in models of heart disease, inflammation and tissue regeneration. A central hypothesis for her work is that cellular microenvironment converges at the cell surface to trigger intracellular signaling pathways and influence cell fate.

Fruthermore, Dr. Khokha and her team are interested in transgenic and knockout mice for TIMP and IGF genes to understand their functions in liver, breast and prostate cancer, osteosarcoma, emphysema, breast development and reproduction.

Researcher Information

Senior Scientist, Professor

Ontario Cancer Institute

University Health Network (UHN)

Website

610 University Ave - Princess Margaret Hospital

10th Floor Rm. 330

Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5G 2M9

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Key Publications

	Ebrahem Q, Qi JH, Sugimoto M, Ali M, Sears J, Cutler A, Khokha R, Vasanji A, Anand-Apte B. Increased neovascularization in mice lacking tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Jan 31
	Khokha R, Werb Z. Mammary gland reprogramming: metalloproteinases couple form with function. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2011,3,4.
	Le Gall SM, Maretzky T, Issuree PD, Niu XD, Reiss K, Saftig P, Khokha R, Lundell D, Blobel CP. ADAM17 is regulated by a rapid and reversible mechanism that controls access to its catalytic site. J Cell Sci. 2010,123, 22:3913-22
	Schramek D, Leibbrandt A, Sigl V, Kenner L, Pospisilik JA, Lee HJ, Hanada R, Joshi PA, Aliprantis A, Glimcher L, Pasparakis M, Khokha R, Ormandy CJ, Widschwendter M, Schett G, Penninger JM. Osteoclast differentiation factor RANKL controls development of progestin-driven mammary cancer. Nature. 2010,468,7320:98-102
	Nakajima H, Ito M, Smookler DS, Shibata F, Fukuchi Y, Morikawa Y, Ikeda Y, Arai F, Suda T, Khokha R, Kitamura T. TIMP-3 recruits quiescent hematopoietic stem cells into active cell cycle and expands multipotent progenitor pool. Blood. 2010,116,22:4474-82.