Pepper J. Schedin, Ph.D.
- Professor of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine
- Cell and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, School of Medicine
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, School of Medicine
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, School of Medicine
Biography
The focus of the Schedin Lab research program is on understanding how normal breast development contributes to breast cancer risk and patient outcomes. We focus on the unique windows of breast development that occur during puberty, pregnancy and peri-menopause, as these developmental windows associate with high risk for breast cancer development and progression. Because tissue remodeling is the hallmark of these risk windows, our lab focuses on mammary epithelial-stromal interactions and how these interactions are modulated by physiology and life choices. My lab is at the forefront of investigating the normal mammary gland tissue environment and has shown that extracellular matrix proteins and immune cells are highly malleable, remodeling in response to puberty, pregnancy, menopause and even dietary intake. This stromal ‘plasticity’ contributes significantly to breast cancer risk, but also identifies unique developmental windows that can be targeted for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Current areas of research focus include understanding how pregnancy or menopause/diet interactions increase risk for breast cancer progression. From a prevention perspective, the strength in this ‘window of risk’ approach lies in the ability to limit duration of treatment, thus reducing treatment-related side effects associated with current breast cancer chemoprevention strategies. From a treatment perspective, our work identifies novel stromal markers, as well as potential drivers of breast cancers diagnosed in specific ‘developmental windows’ such as pregnancy and menopause, which can be exploited for targeted drug development. For our studies we utilize the rat MNU model, breast cancer xenograft, transgenic, and immunocompetent mouse models, 3D multi-cell co-culture systems, and human breast tissue. Our systems approach has yielded promising results for prevention and treatment of pregnancy-associated breast cancer and obesity-induced postmenopausal breast cancer.
Education and training
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Degrees
- Ph.D., 1988, University of Colorado
Memberships and associations:
- American Association for Cancer Research Women in Cancer Research
- Metastasis Research Society
Areas of interest
- young women's breast cancer,
- breast cancer prevention
- metastasis
- tumor micro-environment
- immune suppression, extracellular matrix, fibrosis, ECM proteomics
- 3D cell culture modeling
Publications
Publications
Postpartum Breast Cancer and Survival in Women with Germline BRCA Pathogenic Variants
JAMA Network OpenUncovering therapeutic targets for macrophage-mediated T cell suppression and PD-L1 therapy sensitization
Cell Reports MedicineIsogenic Mammary Models of Intraductal Carcinoma Reveal Progression to Invasiveness in the Absence of a Non-Obligatory In Situ Stage
CancersA multiplex implantable microdevice assay identifies synergistic combinations of cancer immunotherapies and conventional drugs
Nature biotechnologyAssociations of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory medications with breast cancer risk by the status of COX-2 expression
Breast Cancer ResearchBody Mass Index Is Inversely Associated with Risk of Postmenopausal Interval Breast Cancer
CancersDiet-Driven Inflammation and Insulinemia and Risk of Interval Breast Cancer
Nutrition and CancerIdentifying phenotype-associated subpopulations by integrating bulk and single-cell sequencing data
Nature biotechnologyMammary collagen is under reproductive control with implications for breast cancer
Matrix BiologyMolecular and Clinical Characterization of Postpartum-Associated Breast Cancer in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study Phase I-III, 1993-2013
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and PreventionOverall survival is the lowest among young women with postpartum breast cancer
European Journal of CancerPreventing ovariectomy-induced weight gain decreases tumor burden in rodent models of obesity and postmenopausal breast cancer
Breast Cancer ResearchYoung-Onset Breast Cancer Outcomes by Time since Recent Childbirth in Utah
JAMA Network OpenImmune milieu established by postpartum liver involution promotes breast cancer liver metastasis
CancersPostpartum breast cancer has a distinct molecular profile that predicts poor outcomes
Nature communicationsPregnancy and weaning regulate human maternal liver size and function
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaCharacterization of weaning-induced breast involution in women
npj Breast CancerComparison of Mortality among Participants of Women's Health Initiative Trials with Screening-Detected Breast Cancers vs Interval Breast Cancers
JAMA Network OpenErythrocyte membrane fatty acids and breast cancer risk by tumor tissue expression of immuno-inflammatory markers and fatty acid synthase
Breast Cancer ResearchExclusive Breastfeeding Rates at 6 Weeks Postpartum as a Function of Preconception Body Mass Index Are Not Impacted by Postpartum Obstetrical Practices or Routines
Breastfeeding MedicineExtracellular vesicles from young women’s breast cancer patients drive increased invasion of non-malignant cells via the Focal Adhesion Kinase pathway
Breast Cancer ResearchLoss of myoepithelial calponin-1 characterizes high-risk ductal carcinoma in situ cases, which are further stratified by T cell composition
Molecular CarcinogenesisMucosal Immunity and Liver Metabolism in the Complex Condition of Lactation Insufficiency
Journal of Human LactationS-nitrosylated and non-nitrosylated COX2 have differential expression and distinct subcellular localization in normal and breast cancer tissue
npj Breast Cancer