Shariska Harrington, MD

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, and deaths from this disease are rising. Some types of endometrial cancer are very aggressive. These cancers grow quickly, spread, and are harder to treat.Our research studies a gene called MECOM. This gene is found more often in some aggressive endometrial cancers. It may help these cancers grow and survive treatment. Studies show that tumors with changes in MECOM are more likely to come back after treatment and are linked to worse outcomes. This means MECOM may play a role in differences in cancer outcomes. Scientists still do not fully understand how MECOM helps cancer cells grow and survive.In this project, we will study how MECOM affects cancer cells and whether cancer cells need it to survive. We will study patient tumors and test new treatment ideas. Our goal is to find better treatment options for people with aggressive endometrial cancer. We hope this work will lead to better treatments and better outcomes for all patients affected by this disease.