Basic Science Researcher

Shanaz Dairkee, PhD

Introduction

Pioneering new cellular models to understand critical events in the progression of breast cancer

To further understand early stages in tumor formation, the Dairkee lab developed new, specialized techniques for studying non-aggressive localized tumors, and generated a unique repository of cryopreserved clinical breast cancer samples maintained in a living, interactive state. Dr. Dairkee and her colleagues created a portfolio of primary breast cancer cell lines encompassing all histologic grades and clinical stages, for more precise definitions and understanding of breast cancer subtypes.

Using these models, Dr. Dairkee is investigating genetic signatures and cell-cell signaling differences associated with cancer aggressiveness, and signatures of paracrine-independent expression of grade-associated genes. She and her team are devising new techniques to employ live tumor cells in patient samples and predict response to breast cancer therapy.

Aside from working directly with tumor cells, research in the Dairkee lab employs non-malignant cells from human donors to understand how environmental chemicals may be implicated in breast carcinogenesis (including the effects of estrogenic mimics in promoting hallmark, cancer-like cellular behaviors).

Training:
Dr. Dairkee received her Ph.D. in Human Genetics and Development from Columbia University and completed postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. She pursued the development of novel research methodologies and tools to study human tumor biology at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory before joining CPMCRI.

Publications

Publications by Shanaz DairkeeOpens new window from PubMed.

Recent Publications

1. Sayeed A, Luciani-Torres G, Meng Z, Bennington JL, Moore DH, Dairkee SH. Aberrant regulation of the BST2 (Tetherin) promoter enhances cell proliferation and apoptosis evasion in high grade breast cancer cells. PLoS One. 2013 Jun 20;8(6):e67191.


2. Dairkee SH, Luciani-Torres MG, Moore DH, Goodson WH 3rd. Bisphenol-A-induced inactivation of the p53 axis underlying deregulation of proliferation kinetics, and cell death in non-malignant human breast epithelial cells. Carcinogenesis. 2013 Mar;34(3):703-12.


3. Powell AA, Talasaz AH, Zhang H, Coram MA, Reddy A, Deng G, Telli ML, Advani RH, Carlson RW, Mollick JA, Sheth S, Kurian AW, Ford JM, Stockdale FE, Quake SR, Pease RF, Mindrinos MN, Bhanot G, Dairkee SH*, Davis RW*, Jeffrey SS*. Single cell profiling of circulating tumor cells: transcriptional heterogeneity and diversity from breast cancer cell lines. PLoS One 2012;7(5):e33788.


4. Dairkee, SH, Luciani-Torres, MG, Moore DH, Goodson WH III. BPA-induced inactivation of the p53 axis underlying deregulation of proliferation kinetics, and cell death in non-malignant human breast epithelial cells. Carcinogenesis 2012.


5. Luciani MG, Seok J, Sayeed A, Champion S, Goodson WH, Jeffrey SS, Xiao W, Mindrinos M, Davis RW, Dairkee SH. Distinctive responsiveness to stromal signaling accompanies histologic grade programming of cancer cells. PLoS One 2011, 6(5):e20016.