Anderson Lab

Dr. Deborah Anderson

Director of Research and Senior Research Scientist
Saskatchewan Cancer Agency
Professor, Division of Oncology
Associate Member, Department of Biochemistry

Location:
Cancer Cluster
Room 4D30.2 Health Science Building
107 Wiggins Road
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5
Phone: 306-966-7038
E-mail: deborah.anderson@saskcancer.ca

Research Interests

Previous work in the Anderson lab was focused on studying cell signaling downstream from receptor tyrosine kinases and the mechanisms cells use to turn off these signals.  Her lab has also worked to understand how the regulation of the tumour suppressor protein, PTEN, a lipid phosphatase that counteracts cell survival and proliferative signals generated by PI3K, contributes to cancer.

Current work in the Anderson lab is focused on studying the function of the metastasis suppressor protein CREB3L1. This transcription factor is frequency lost in advanced breast cancers, particularly of the triple negative subtype, and contributes to their metastatic properties. CREB3L1 represses the expression of many genes that promote cancer progression and metastasis. Dr. Anderson's teams are working to identify key genes that contribute to breast cancer metastasis and drugs that can then be used to target them as new treatments.

Recently, the Anderson lab has discovered that most lung squamous cell carcinomas (>92%) also have significantly reduced expression of CREB3L1. To better understand the function of CREB3L1 in these lung cancers, the team will also identify genes and cell processes controlled by CREB3L1 in lung squamous cell carcinoma to identify new targets for treatment.