Katie Rose Ryan, PhD

Full Member

Research Program:

Cancer Biology

Faculty Rank:

Assistant Professor

Campus:

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

College:

College of Medicine

Department:

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Cancer Research Interest

Research Keywords: Metastasis, Cell-adhesion
Research Interest Statement: Rho family GTPases act as ‘molecular switches’ and are master regulators of many aspects of cellular behaviour. Cellular processes regulated by Rho GTPases are commonly dysregulated in cancer with studies focusing on what roles these proteins play in tumorigenesis. Rnd3 is a Rho GTPase that has been implicated in the regulation of proliferation, cell adhesion, apoptosis, and cell migration. Our long-term goal is to define Rnd3 mechanisms that promote an aggressive metastatic cancer phenotype. We will utilize in vitro and in vivo melanoma systems for our studies. Nearly 10,000 Americans die from melanoma annually with most deaths being associated with the metastatic form of the disease. My labs goals are to: 1. Determine the impact of Rnd3 on migration and invasion in keratinocytes and melanoma. 2. Define Rnd3 signalling in keratinocytes and melanoma cells. 3. Development of a specific Rnd3 or downstream target inhibitor.

NIGMS – 1P20GM152281
“Molecular Mechanism of Rnd3 Regulation in Lung Cancer”
Principal Investigator
3/5/2024 – 12/31/2028

Acharya B, Saha D, Garcia Garcia N, [et al., including Ryan KR]. Discovery of 9H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole derivatives as dual RET/TRKA inhibitors. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry. 2024 106:117749. PMID: 38744018. PMCID: PMC11144469.
Shelton WJ, Zandpazandi S, Nix JS, [et al., including Ryan KR]. Long-read sequencing for brain tumors. Frontiers in oncology. 2024 14:1395985. PMID: 38915364. PMCID: PMC11194609.
Saha D, Ryan KR, Lakkaniga NR, [et al.]. Targeting Rearranged during Transfection in Cancer: A Perspective on Small-Molecule Inhibitors and Their Clinical Development. Journal of medicinal chemistry. 2021. PMID: 34402300. PMCID: PMC9697126.
Frett B, Saha D, Ryan KR, [et al.]. Pyrazoloadenine Inhibitors of the RET Lung Cancer Oncoprotein Discovered by a Fragment Optimization Approach. ChemMedChem. 2021. PMID: 33559353. PMCID: PMC9969764.
Ryan KR, Giles F, Morgan GJ. Targeting both BET and CBP/EP300 proteins with the novel dual inhibitors NEO2734 and NEO1132 leads to anti-tumor activity in multiple myeloma. European journal of haematology. 2021 106(1):90-99. PMID: 32997383.
Schinke C, Boyle EM, Ashby C, [et al., including Ryan K]. Genomic analysis of primary plasma cell leukemia reveals complex structural alterations and high-risk mutational patterns. Blood cancer journal. 2020 10(6):70. PMID: 32555163. PMCID: PMC7303180.