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Talk Summary:
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Radiation-induced fibrosis remains a significant late toxicity affecting cancer survivors, yet the earliest molecular events that govern tissue healing versus progression to fibrosis remain poorly understood. This presentation will highlight the use of human tissue explants derived from surgical specimens as a New Approach Methodology (NAM) to characterize acute responses to external beam radiotherapy and compare these responses with corresponding murine radiation injury models. The discussion will focus on the potential of these systems to identify predictive biomarkers and inform the development of therapies that redirect pathological wound-healing responses.

Presenter Biography:
Margie N. Sutton, PhD is an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center whose research focuses on leveraging molecular imaging technologies to uncover actionable biological insights that inform therapeutic discovery and development. Her work integrates advanced imaging approaches with translational biology to better understand disease mechanisms and identify novel therapeutic opportunities. Dr. Sutton earned dual undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Biology, completing an honors thesis under the mentorship of Dr. Doug Frantz. She then pursued graduate training at the MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where she obtained a PhD in Cancer Biology and Clinical and Translational Sciences under the guidance of Dr. Robert Bast. Her doctoral research investigated the role of the DIRAS family of tumor suppressors in ovarian cancer and their contributions to tumor progression and disease biology. Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Sutton joined the laboratory of Dr. David Piwnica-Worms as an NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow, where she developed and applied molecular imaging strategies, including split-luciferase complementation approaches, to study the biology of B7-H3 dimerization and its functional impact on tumorigenesis. This work further established her interest in using innovative imaging tools to reveal dynamic biological processes that can be therapeutically targeted. Today, Dr. Sutton’s research continues to build upon this foundation by applying molecular imaging and translational models to understand chronic disease pathogenesis and advance the development of new therapeutic interventions, including approaches aimed at addressing treatment-related tissue injury and fibrosis.

Author
Margie N. Sutton
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center