Katie DeCicco-Skinner Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs CAS | BIO | Biology
- Degrees
- Postdoc, National Cancer Institute, NIH
PhD, Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
BS, Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University - Favorite Spot on Campus
- Looking at the quad from the top of Hall of Science
- Bio
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Broadly speaking our laboratory studies molecular changes that contribute to cancer development as well as the role of the tumor microenvironment in the initiation and progression of cancer. We have two active areas of research in our laboratory.
(1) The first area of research investigates one specific signaling pathway defect and how it predisposes to squamous cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. The tumor progression locus 2 (Tpl2) gene is involved in a variety of cellular functions including inflammatory processes and immune function. We have recently identified a novel tumor suppressor role of Tpl2 in chemically-induced skin cancer. Tpl2-/-mice have higher incidences of cutaneous papillomas than wildtype mice and these papillomas convert to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma more readily than in wildtype mice. Currently, we are working to understand the stromal-epithelial interactions that drive skin cancer development and progression in Tpl2-/- mice.
(2) Multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the United States. Epidemiological studies have identified obesity as a risk factor for multiple myeloma. Obesity increases both the risk of developing multiple myeloma and decreases overall patient survival. However, the molecular underpinnings by which adipocytes (fat cells) contribute to multiple myeloma growth and progression is relatively unknown. Our laboratory is working to understand the hormonal, lipid, and signaling factor dysregulation in obese adipocytes that contribute to MM growth and progression.
- See Also
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call 玉米视频 Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities
Grants and Sponsored Research
A. Grants and Contracts Received at 玉米视频
玉米视频 University Mellon Grant, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023, 2025
Faculty Research Support Grant, 2011, 2015, 2017
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B. External Proposals Funded
NIH R15 grant (2R15CA152907-02
- 2015-2019
- Title = The role of Tpl2 in carcinogenesis-related inflammation
DC NASA Space Grant
- 2019
- Title = Identifying the mechanisms behind multiple myeloma drug resistance
NASA grant (13-14RadStep2-0012)
- 2015-2017
- Title = Neurobehavioral and CNS-Related Physiological Changes
- DeCicco-Skinner = collaborator. PI = Catherine Davis, Johns Hopkins University
NIH R15 grant (1UA5CA152907-01A1)
- 2011-2014
- Title = The role of Tpl2 in carcinogenesis-related inflammation
NIH R21 grant (1R21NS080585-01)
- 2012-2014
- Title = Neural estrogen synthesis by astrocytic aromatization, and neuroinflammation
- Role = Collaborator (Saldanha = PI)
NSBRI grant (11-11_NSBRI_2-0035)
- 2012-2015
- Title = Detection & Prevention of Neurobehavioral Vulnerability to Space Radiation
- DeCicco-Skinner = collaborator. PI = Bob Hienz, Johns Hopkins
DC NASA Space听Grant
- 2012
- Title = Radiation-induced brain changes: An immersive interdisciplinary undergraduate research experience
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Media Appearances
鈥淎s the omicron semester starts, online or in person, colleges are tense鈥.听 Interview for Washington Post. January 16, 2022.
鈥淩ole of genetics in squamous cell carcinoma鈥. Interview at Doctor Radio. SiriusXM, January 17, 2019.
Unraveling the genetic causes of skin cancer鈥. Science Daily. January 14, 2019.
鈥淕enetic Tests Coming To A Drugstore Near You鈥, WAMA 88.5, 2010
Selected Publications
A.听 REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES 鈥 denotes 玉米视频 student
McGraw, A鈥; Hillmer, G鈥; Medehincu, SM鈥; Hikichi, Y; Gagliardi, S; Narayan, K; Tibebe, H鈥; Marquez, D.; Bose, LM.; Keeting, A.; Izumi, C.; Peese, K.; Joshi, S.; Krystal, M.; DeCicco-Skinner, KL.; Freed, EO., Sardo, L.; Izumi, T. (2024) Exploring HIV-1 Maturation: A New Frontier in Antiviral Development. Viruses, 16: 1423.
McGraw, A.鈥; Hillmer, G.鈥; Choi, J.鈥; Narayan, K. 鈥; Mehedincu, S.M.鈥; Marquez, D.鈥; Tibebe, H.鈥; DeCicco-Skinner, K.; Izumi, T. (2024) Evaluating HIV-1 Infectivity and听Virion Maturation across Varied Producer Cells with a Novel FRET-Based Detection and Quantification Assay. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 25 (12): 6396.
Ver贸nica Alonso-P茅rez, Vanessa Hern谩ndez, Marco A. Calzado, Alba Vicente-Bl谩zquez, Consuelo Gajate, Rafael Soler-Torronteras, Kathleen DeCicco-Skinner, Angels Sierra and Faustino Mollinedo. (2024) Suppression of metastatic organ colonization and antiangiogenic activity of the orally bioavailable membrane-raft-targeted alkylphospholipid edelfosine. Biomedicine and pharmacotherapy. 171:116149
Ochiai M鈥, Fierstein S鈥, XsSali F鈥, DeVito N鈥, Purkey LR鈥, May R鈥, Correa-Medina A鈥, Kelley M鈥, Page TD鈥, DeCicco-Skinner K. (2023) Unlocking drug resistance in Multiple Myeloma: Adipocytes as modulators of treatment response.听Cancers; 15(17):4347.
Kelley, M鈥,听Fierstein S鈥,听Purkey, L鈥听and DeCicco-Skinner, KL. (2022). Endothelial Tube Formation Assay: An听in vitro听model for angiogenesis, Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer Nature, ISBN 978-1-0716-2216-2.
Kelley MB鈥, Geddes TJ鈥, Ochiai M鈥, Lampl NM鈥, Kothmann WW, Fierstein SR鈥, Kent V鈥, Kathleen DeCicco-Skinner (2022) Loss of听Tpl2听activates compensatory signaling and resistance to EGFR/MET dual inhibition in v-RAS transduced keratinocytes. PLoS ONE 17(3): e0266017.
Rowe, C鈥, Debridge-Perry, M鈥, Bonan, N鈥, Cohen, A., Bentley, M, DeCicco-Skinner, KL, Davidson, T, Connaughton, V. (2022). Time-dependent effects of prolonged hyperglycemia in zebrafish brain and retina. Frontiers in Ophthalmology. 2: 947571.
Mandy Ng鈥, Kathleen DeCicco-Skinner, Victoria P Connaughton. (2020) Using zebrafish to assess the effect of chronic, early developmental exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. 76, 103356.
Nicole F. Bonan鈥, David Kowalski鈥, Kaitie Kudlac鈥, Kira Flaherty鈥, J. Curtis Gwilliam鈥, Lauren G. Falkenberg鈥, Erik Maradiaga鈥, Kathleen L. DeCicco-Skinner. (2019) Inhibition of HGF/MET signaling decreases overall tumor burden and blocks malignant conversion in Tpl2-related skin cancer. Oncogenesis. 8(1),1-12.
Tanvir, Z鈥, Nelson, RF, DeCicco-Skinner, K, Connaughton, VP. (2018) One month of hyperglycemia alters spectral responses of the zebrafish photopic ERG. Disease Models & Mechanisms. 11, dmm035220.
Bullwinkle, EM鈥, Parker, MD鈥, Bonan, NF鈥, Falkenberg, LG鈥, Davison, SP, DeCicco-Skinner, KL. (2016) Adipocytes contribute to the growth and progression of multiple myeloma: Unraveling obesity related differences in adipocyte signaling. Cancer Letters. 380(1), 114-121.听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听听
Davis, CM, DeCicco-Skinner, KL, Hienz, RD. (2015) Deficits in Sustained Attention and Changes in Dopaminergic Protein Levels Following Exposure to Proton Radiation are related to Basal Dopaminergic Function. PLoS One.听 10(12):e0144556.
Wetzell, BB鈥, Muller, MM鈥, Flax, SM, King, HE, DeCicco-Skinner, KL, Riley, AL. (2015) Effect of Preexposure on Methylphenidate-Induced Taste Avoidance and Related BDNF/TrkB Activity in the Rat. Psychopharmacology.听 232, 2837-2847.
Davis CM, DeCicco-Skinner KL, Roma PG, and Hienz RD. (2014) Changes in Neurobehavioral Performance and Dopaminergic Function Associated with Exposure to Space Radiation. Radiation Research.听 181, 258鈥271.
Wetzell, BB鈥, Muller, MM鈥, Cobuzzi, JL鈥, Hurwitz, ZE鈥, DeCicco-Skinner, KL, Riley, AL. (2014). Effect of age on methylphenidate-induced conditioned taste avoidance and related BDNF/TrkB signaling in the insular cortex of the rat. Psychopharmacology. 231(8):1493-501.
DeCicco-Skinner KL, Henry GH鈥, Cataisson C, Tabib T鈥, Gwilliam JC鈥, Watson N鈥, Bullwinkle, EM鈥, Falkenberg, L鈥, O鈥橬eill R鈥, Moran, A, Wiest JS. (2014) Endothelial cell tube formation assay for the study of in vitro angiogenesis. J. Vis. Exp. (91), e51312.
DeCicco-Skinner KL, Jung SA鈥, Tabib T鈥, Gwilliam JC鈥, Alexander H鈥, Goodheart SE鈥, Merchant AS, Shan M, Garber C, Wiest JS. (2013) Tpl2 knockout keratinocytes have increased biomarkers for invasion and metastasis. Carcinogenesis. 34(12):2789-98.
DeCicco-Skinner KL, Nolan SJ鈥, Deshpande MM, Trovato EL鈥, Dempsey TA鈥, Wiest JS. (2013) Altered Prostanoid Signaling Contributes to Increased Skin Tumorigenesis in Tpl2 Knockout Mice. PLoS ONE 8(2):e56212.
Kohut SJ, DeCicco-Skinner KL, Johari S鈥, Hurwitz ZE鈥, Baumann MH, Riley AL.听 (2011) Differential modulation of cocaine's discriminative cue by repeated and variable stress exposure: Relation to monoamine transporter levels. Neuropharmacology. 2012 Aug;63(2):330-7.
DeCicco-Skinner KL, Trovato EL鈥, Simmons JK鈥, Lepage PK, Wiest J. (2011) Loss of Tumor Progression Locus 2 (TPL2) enhances tumorigenesis and inflammation in two-stage skin carcinogenesis.听 Oncogene 30(4):389-97.
Jacobs S, Lie DC, DeCicco KL, Shi Y, De Luca LM, Gage FH, Evans RM. (2006) Retinoic acid is required early during adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 103: 3902-7.
DeCicco KL, Tanaka T, Andreola F, De Luca LM (2004) The effect of thalidomide on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines: Possible mediation through PPAR-g.听 Carcinogenesis.25:1805-12
DeCicco KL, 听Youngdahl JD, Ross AC (2001) All-trans-retinoic acid and polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid in combination potentiate specific antibody production and cell-mediated immunity in Lewis rats. Immunology. 104(3): 341-8.
DeCicco KL and AC Ross (2000) All-trans-retinoic acid and polyriboinosinic: polyribocytidylic acid cooperate to elevate anti-tetanus immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M responses in vitamin A-deficient Lewis rats and Balb/c mice. Proc. Nutr. Society 59: 1-11.
DeCicco KL, Zolfaghari R, Li N-Q, Ross AC (2000) Retinoic acid and Polyriboinosinic: Polyribocytidylic acid act synergistically to enhance the antibody response to tetanus toxoid during vitamin A deficiency: Possible involvement of Interleukin-2 receptor b, Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-1, and Interferon Regulatory Factor-1. J. Infectious Disease. 182 Suppl 1: S29-S36.
Dawson HD, Li N-Q, DeCicco KL, Nibert JA, and Ross AC. (1999) Chronic marginal vitamin A status reduces natural killer cell function in aging Lewis rats. J. Nutrition. 129: 1510 Refereed.
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