Lilly Y.W. Bourguignon, PhD
Career Scientist, Medical Service, SFVAMC
Professor of Medicine, UCSF
Email: lilly.bourguignon@ucsf.edu
Cancer Cell Biology
Dr. Bourguignon is a cell biologist who has used a variety of biochemical, immunological and molecular biological techniques to elucidate the role of the protein CD44 in regulating the progression of human solid tumors, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Her research studies also evaluate CD44 and various signaling molecules as markers for the propensity of solid tumors to spread; such markers would aid in assessing prognosis and diagnosis. Furthermore, she has developed several novel strategies to inhibit CD44-mediated signaling events and solid tumor progression. Her research could establish CD44 and associated signaling molecules as important tumor markers for early detection and evaluation of cancer, and could potentially allow the development of new drugs. Most importantly, the new information obtained from Dr. Bourguignon's cancer research program will have important clinical utility for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of veteran patients, and therefore is highly relevant to the mission of SFVAMC.
Bourguignon LYW. 2008. Hyaluronan-mediated CD44 activation of RhoGTPase signaling and cytoskeleton function promotes tumor progression. Sem Cancer Biol 18:251-259.
Bourguignon LYW, Xia W, Wong G. 2009. Hylauronan-mediated CD44 interaction with p300 and SIRT1 regulates ?-catenin signaling and NF?B-specific transcription activity leading to MDR1 and Bcl-xL gene expression and chemoresistance in breast tumor cells. J Biol Chem 284:2657-2671.
Education
BS, Plant Pathology, National Taiwan University
MA, Developmental Biology, State University of New York at Stony Brook
PhD, Developmental Biology, State University of New York at Stony Brook Executive MBA, University of Miami
Awards & Honors
State University of New York at Stony Brook Graduate Fellowship, 1969-1973
NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship, 1975-1977
Established Investigatorship - American Heart Association, 1984-1989
First Provost Scholarly Activity Award, 1997
