Katie Parkins
Katie Parkins is a PhD student in the Department of Medical Biophysics, under the supervision of Drs. Paula Foster and John Ronald. The mechanisms that influence metastatic growth rates are poorly understood. One mechanism of interest known as concomitant tumor resistance (CTR) can be defined as the inhibition of metastatic growth by existing tumor mass. Conversely, the presence of a primary tumor has also been shown to increase metastatic outgrowth, termed concomitant tumor enhancement (CTE). The vast majority of studies evaluating CTR/CTE in preclinical models have relied on endpoint histological evaluation of tumor burden. The objective of Katie’s work is to apply non-invasive cellular and molecular imaging techniques to determine the impact of a primary breast tumour on metastatic growth over time. Understanding the mechanism(s) by which a physiological inhibition or enhancement of metastatic outgrowth can occur may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for metastatic breast cancer patients.
