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Munir Tanas, MD

Associate Professor of Pathology

Introduction

Our lab studies the role of the Hippo pathway in sarcomas. Sarcomas are difficult to treat cancers that arise in the bone and soft tissues (muscle, adipose tissue, peripheral nerve, blood vessels, connective tissue). Metastatic sarcoma has a poor prognosis, with a 5 year survival of approximately 15%. Additional therapeutic targets are needed for these cancers; our lab has focused on the Hippo pathway as a novel therapeutic target.

The Hippo pathway (https://tanas.lab.uiowa.edu/research) is composed of a series of serine/threonine kinases that negatively regulate TAZ and YAP. TAZ and YAP are closely related transcriptional co-activators and oncoproteins in many different cancers including sarcomas. We have previously shown that TAZ and YAP are activated in over 50% of sarcomas, making this pathway a central one for sarcomas.

Our current projects in the lab focus on: 1. Mechanisms of oncogene activation 2. Upstream signal transduction mechanisms 3. Epigenetics 4. Tumorigenesis and metastasis 5. Identification of new therapeutic drugs.

Our model systems include: 1. Clinical sarcoma samples including tissue microarrays 2. Sarcoma cell lines 3. Genetic and xenograft sarcoma mouse models.

Current Positions

  • Associate Professor of Pathology

Education

  • BS in Biochemistry, Whitworth College, Spokane, WA
  • MD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • Resident in Anatomic Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • Fellow in Surgical Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
  • Fellow in Bone and Soft Tissue Pathology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
  • Postdoctoral Fellow in Molecular Genetics, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Graduate Program Affiliations

Center, Program and Institute Affiliations

Research Interests

  • Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma
  • WWTR1-CAMTA1

Licenses & Certifications

  • State of Iowa Medical License, Iowa Board of Medicine, Iowa, United States
  • Board Certification in Anatomic Pathology, American Board of Pathology

Selected Publications