Geeta Mehta, PhD
University of Michigan
Shear stress modulates invasiveness, tumorigenicity, and immune responses in ovarian stem cells
The ovarian cancer environment in the abdominal cavity is quite complex, as cancer cells exist among cancer progenitor cells and immune cells in the ascites fluid. The physical stress from fluid movement and interactions with other cells likely influence the growth and drug response of ovarian cancer cells. Dr. Mehta has developed a much needed bioreactor model that mimics the cellular complexity and mechanical stresses experienced by ovarian tumor cells. Dr. Mehta will use this model to study how cancer progenitor cells interact with other cancer cells in the tumor environment and control the response of immune cells in order to evade chemotherapy and promote metastasis. She will also study how fluid flow dynamics impact both response to chemotherapy and metastasis of ovarian tumors. This work will provide an important model to efficiently and effectively test new drugs and immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of ovarian cancer.