Holmen Lab

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Defining Critical Targets in Cancer Cells

Our lab is focused on defining critical targets in cancer cells that can become the focus for therapeutic intervention. Because of the high cost of developing new therapies, it is essential to first identify which genetic alterations can be productively targeted. We are concentrating our initial efforts on using a genetic approach in tumors that are refractory to conventional therapies including metastatic melanoma and glioblastoma. We plan to further validate these targets using pharmacological inhibitors of clinical importance.

News & Blog

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May 01, 2018

Persistence Pays Off in Discovery That Could Lead to Improved Treatment and Survivability of Patients with Brain Tumors

Huntsman Cancer Institute,

Gliomas are the most common type of central nervous system cancer but how these tumors develop is not fully understood. Sheri Holmen, PhD a researcher at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and professor of surgery at the University of Utah just published the results of her research on gliomas in Cell Reports. The work is focused on a mutated gene that is a critical piece of the puzzle for glioma development, according to Holmen’s work.... Read More

Dec 02, 2016

New progress against melanoma with trial therapies

Huntsman Cancer Institute,

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, when melanoma is caught early, there’s a 5-year survival rate of about 97%. Once the cancer spreads to other organs, the survival rate drops to 15–20%.... Read More