Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms of the Ras-Mediated Tumorigenesis in Vivo

(A) Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E) is used to view tissue morphology/cell histology of an adenocarcinoma in the pancreas of a human patient. (B) SIAH is expressed in the proliferating cells. In fact, SIAH decorates all human cancer cells. (C) Our working model of regulated proteolysis in RAS signal transduction pathway in mammalian systems was shown. By blocking SIAH E3 ligase function, Becky hopes to halt the RAS-mediated transformation and tumor growth in human cancer patients.

Rebecca (Becky) L. Schmidt is the first and proud recipient of the Mayo Clinic Pobanz Family Predoctoral Research Fellowship.

A Rochester native and a Mayo baby, Becky attended the Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. She graduated summa cum laude, Valedictorian from the Lawrence University. In 2003, a summer undergraduate research fellowship (SURF) at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville inspired her intense interest in biomedical research and attracted her to the Mayo Graduate School. Becky returned to Mayo as a Ph.D. student in 2004. Becky's thesis project is to decipher the molecular mechanisms of the RAS-mediated tumorigenesis in vivo, and she hopes to identify an effective way to block and abolish human cancer formation in the future. The primary focus of her work is to understand the roles of SIAH E3 ligase-mediated proteolysis in RAS-dependent oncogenesis in human cancer cells and in the mouse models of lung and pancreatic cancers. Becky and her colleagues have shown that RAS-dependent pancreatic and lung tumorigenesis can be blocked by inhibiting SIAH E3 ligase function in vitro and in vivo. Her study has provided useful insights into altered proteolysis in cancer biology and advanced our understanding of RAS-regulated proteolysis in tumor initiation, progression, and oncogenesis. Becky is currently trying to develop anti-SIAH molecules (such as siah siRNA, viral delivery of SIAHproteolysis-resistant to cancer cells, small inhibitor approaches) as anti-cancer reagent for treating lung and pancreatic cancer in mice. Her study has shown promising translational value and should provide new insights and avenues for diagnosis, anti-SIAH-proteolysis-based therapeutic intervention and treatment of human cancer in the clinical setting.

Becky loves to read, think, and teach. She loves to decipher the biggest puzzles/outstanding questions confronting the leading scientists in the fields of cancer biology and innate immunity. Becky is determined to pursue an academic career in the future, and she will continue to explore the wonders of the Universe until she is 120 years old.