Carchman Lab Research

Research in Dr. Evie Carchman’s laboratory focuses on anal cancer prevention and treatment. Anal cancer is a rare cancer in humans, but its incidence and mortality has steadily increased over the last decade in the U.S. Over 95% of anal cancers are etiologically associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), with HPV type 16 (HPV16) being the most common genotype found in anal cancers. Through the use of genetically engineered mice (GEM), mouse model of HPV-associated anal carcinogenesis in addition to an infectious mouse model, Dr. Carchman’s lab examines the pathways important in anal carcinogenesis (such as autophagy) and modulates key intracellular pathways to prevent the development and improve the treatment of anal cancer. Dr. Carchman’s laboratory also utilizes patient derived xenografts (PDX), in which human anal cancers are directly grafted and passaged in immune-deficient mice. PDX models are used to test new therapeutic approaches for treating human anal cancer. Dr. Carchman’s lab also is utilizing spheroid cultures wherein they can examine the use of this experimental model to predict treatment response in vivo. Given recent discoveries in the laboratory one of the agents we have examined in the mouse model is being translated into a Phase I clinical trial in patients.