Clinical Focus

• Gastroenterology

Professional Education

Internet Links

• Lowe Laboratory

Current Research Interests

My laboratory is focused on the biology of the pancreas and esophagus and their associated diseases. Using animal models and materials from human subjects, we have used DNA microarrays to characterize the gene expression profile of acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and esophageal cancer. The resultant data has led to a focus on the development of diagnostic assays and the identification of novel genes that participate in disease pathogenesis. We currently utilize a variety of cellular and molecular approaches in cell lines and animal models to explore the role of specific genes in disease.

The gene, AGR2, is currently a major focus of the laboratory. AGR2 is highly expressed in many adenocarcinomas, including those derived from the esophagus, pancreas, breast, prostate, and lung. We recently established that AGR2 promotes tumor growth. Current efforts are focused on determining AGR2’s mechanism of action in normal tissues and cancers, which we believe will lead to opportunities for the development of new therapies.

Clinical Trials

• Novel Serum Markers for Monitoring Response to Anti-Cancer Therapy Recruiting

Publications

• AGR2 Function Requires a Unique Endoplasmic Reticulum Localization Motif. Gupta A, Dong A, Lowe AW. J Biol Chem. 2011
• The human adenocarcinoma-associated gene, AGR2, induces expression of amphiregulin through Hippo pathway co-activator YAP1 activation. Dong A, Gupta A, Pai RK, Tun M, Lowe AW. J Biol Chem. 2011; 286 (20): 18301-10
• Uptake through glycoprotein 2 of FimH(+) bacteria by M cells initiates mucosal immune response. Hase K, Kawano K, Nochi T, Pontes GS, Fukuda S, Ebisawa M, Kadokura K, Tobe T, Fujimura Y, Kawano S, Yabashi A, Waguri S, Nakato G, Kimura S, Murakami T, Iimura M, Hamura K, Fukuoka S, Lowe AW, Itoh K, Kiyono H, Ohno H. Nature. 2009; 462 (7270): 226-30
• The adenocarcinoma-associated antigen, AGR2, promotes tumor growth, cell migration, and cellular transformation. Wang Z, Hao Y, Lowe AW. Cancer Res. 2008; 68 (2): 492-7
• Gene expression patterns in pancreatic tumors, cells and tissues. Lowe AW, Olsen M, Hao Y, Lee SP, Taek Lee K, Chen X, van de Rijn M, Brown PO. PLoS One. 2007; 2 (3): e323