The Department of Biology

University of North Carolina at Charlotte


Dr. Didier Dréau

 

 

Assistant Professor

Office: (704) 687-8314

Lab: (704) 687-8315

Woodward 490B

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Degrees

 

* Bachelor in Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Rennes I (France) – 1988.
* Master in Molecular & Cell Biology, University Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand (France) – 1990.
* Ph.D. in Molecular & Cell Biology (Immunology), College of Agriculture of Rennes (France) – 1994.


  Research

* The Research projects ongoing in Dr. Dréau's laboratory focus on understanding the molecular, cellular, tissular and physiological bases of metastases associated with cancers of epithelial origin.

* The cancers of epithelial origin include: the most lethal skin cancer, i.e. melanoma and the most common solid tumor in female i.e., breast cancer. In these cancers as in others, the occurrence of metastases is associated with a high mortality (see the site of the American Cancer Society for details on cancer statistics in the US: http://www.cancer.org )

*The development of metastases is a multi-step process, which, from the tumor standpoint, includes:

  - The development of metastases is a multi-step process, which, from the tumor standpoint, includes:
  - Development of tumor cells with metastatic potentials.
  - Detachment, migration of tumor cells generally through the vascular system (blood, lymph vessels), and   anchoring within the host tissue.
  - Growth of the metastatic mass requiring the concurrent development of vessels, i.e. neo-angiogenesis, which provide oxygen and various nutriments.
  - Preventing responses of the immune system throughout all the steps associated with the development of tumor metastases.

* Dr. Dréau's research centers on the mechanisms of cancer metastasis, and the vascular and immune interactions associated with cancer growth. More specifically, the following aspects of cancer metastasis are studied:

          *Key features of Metastatic Tumors:


 

Graduate Research

 

* If interested in Masters or PhD research please contact Dr. Didier Dréau.

 

 


Lab Members

Jill Eddy, Research Technician

Muthulekha Swamydas, Ph.D.- Post Doc

Ashley Jewell, MS Student

Adam Secrest, MS Student

Stephen Rego, MS Student

Krista Ricci,  Undergraduate

Amber Lathom, Honors Undergraduate

Ashleigh Everhardt,  Undergraduate


Selected Publications

-  Dréau D., Culberson C., Wyatt S., Holder W.D, 2000. Human Papilloma virus in melanoma biopsy specimens and its relation to melanoma progression. Ann. Surg., 231: 664-671. Related Article

- Dréau D., Foster M., Morton D.S., Fowler N., Kinney K., Sonnenfeld G, 2000. Immune alterations in three mouse strains following 2-deoxy-D-glucose administration. Physiol Behav, 70:1-8. Related Article  

- Bosserhoff A.K., Dréau D., Hein R., Landthaler M., Holder W.D., Buettner R., 2001. Melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA), a serological marker of malignant melanoma. Recent Results in Cancer Res., 158:158-168.Related Article

- Dréau D., Foster M., Hogg M., Swiggett J., Holder W.D., White R.L, 2001. Angiogenic and immune parameters during interferon-alpha2b adjuvant treatment in melanoma patients. Oncol Res, 12:241-251. Related Article

- Brar S.S., Grigg C., Wilson K.S., Holder W.D. Jr, Dréau D., Austin C., Foster M., Ghio A.J., Whorton A.R., Stowell G.W., Whittall L.B., Whittle R.R., White D.P., Kennedy T.P., 2004. Disulfiram inhibits activating transcription factor/cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein and human melanoma growth in a metal-dependent manner in vitro, in mice and in a patient with metastatic disease. Mol Cancer Ther. 3:1049-60.

-Carbonell A.M., Matthews B.D., Dréau D., Foster M., Austin C.E., Kercher K.W., Sing R.F., Heniford B.T., 2005.

 


 

Courses Taught

 

*BIOL 3273 Animal Physiology (Fall 2009)

            *Syllabus

            *Syllabus Acknowledgment     

The 3273 course (Fall) is available through Blackboard and 49er .     

If you need help with Blackboard, please contact the Center for Teaching and e-Learning.

 

*BIOL 6000/8000 Special Topics in Cancer: It's Not All About Genes

                                (Spring 2009)   Graduate Level

            *Textbook-  'The biology of Cancer', Weinberg 2007
            *Syllabus

 

*BIOL4600 Senior Seminar (Spring 2009)

            *Syllabus


                                                                            

*BIOL 6273 Adv. Human Physiology

*BIOL 6104 Integrated Physiology

 

 


 

Professional Experience

 

• 1994-1996 Research Fellowship in Infection and Immunology, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.
• 1996-1997 Research Fellowship in Cancer Immunology, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.
• 1998-2002 Research scientist Dept General Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.
• 2002-2002 Director of Immunology & Oncology Research, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.
• 2003-2004 Research scientist Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
• 2004-Present Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

 


 

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The Department of Biology

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

9201 University City Blvd. ~ Woodward Hall 257

 Charlotte, NC 28223

Phone: (704)687-8686 ~ Fax: (704) 687-3128

Email: bioloffice@uncc.edu