Lyndsay V. Rhodes, Ph.D.
Expert in cellular, molecular and cancer biology Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Gulf Coast University
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Media
Biography
Her research has spanned many areas, including the role of stem cells in tumors, the dysregulation of non-coding RNA, transcriptomics and metabolomics alterations in cancer, animal models of breast cancer, and understanding of cell signaling pathways in cancer progression.
Her current work is focused on identifying anti-cancer effects of naturally occurring compounds and understanding the mechanisms of these effects in breast cancer. The goal of her work is to identify promising lead compounds for development of cancer therapeutics.
Areas of Expertise
Education
Tulane University
Postdoctoral fellowship
Medical Oncology
2014
Tulane University
Ph.D.
Biomedical Sciences
2010
Pfeiffer University
B.S.
Biology
2004
Affiliations
- American Society for Cell Biology : Member
- American Association of Cancer Research : Member
- Textbook and Academic Authors Association : Member
- Non-Profit Steminist Movement : Board Member
Selected Media Appearances
A discussion recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Spectrum News tv
2022-10-23
Lyndsay Rhodes discusses the greatest risk factors of breast cancer in a roundtable discussion.
‘Cancer Biology’ students create a life-saving campaign
FGCU 360 tv
2021-06-08
Lyndsay Rhodes talks about the creation of the FGCU Campus Cancer Campaign.
Naples teen presents research findings at national cancer conference
Naples Daily News
2018-06-20
Lyndsay Rhodes talks about Anabella Maria Galang, and her poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research's 2018 annual meeting.
FGCU students take on cancer in the classroom and beyond
ABC 7
2017-12-01
Lyndsay Rhodes work sharing her research with Southwest Florida students is discussed.
FGCU students working on breast cancer treatment
Naples Daily News
2017-11-27
Lyndsay Rhodes discusses Nicole Mamprejew's research into breast cancer cells at FGCU.
Research Focus
Topics of interest
Rhodes also enjoys discussing women in science and work-life balance from a female perspective.
Patents
DAIDZEIN ANALOGS AS TREATMENT FOR CANCER
U.S. Patent 8,962,679
Filed July 8, 2011, Issued February 24, 2015.
Inventors: Guangdi Wang, Matthew E. Burow, Stephen M. Boue, Bridgette M. Collins-Burow, Lyndsay V Rhodes, Thomas E. Wiese, Quan Jiang
Selected Articles
Single Live Cell Imaging of Multidrug Resistance Using Silver Ultrasmall Nanoparticles as Biosensing Probes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer CellsArticle link copied!
ACS Applied Bio MaterialsAlim E, Stone L, Sharma N, McMahon S, Allen Z, Aceto P, Victor P, Mitchell LF, Raulerson A, Schepke C, Grabowski J, Valera R, Kalia K, Fernandez M, Kouba K, Shannon M, Johnson V, Forestal C, Pongo I, Ospina S, Fontanez N, Rosenberg M, Levin M, Martinez D, Betancourt YP, Rhodes LV, Lee KJ.
2023
Silver ultrasmall nanoparticles (Ag UNPs) (size < 5 nm) were used as biosensing probes to analyze the efflux kinetics contributing to multidrug resistance (MDR) in single live triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells by using dark-field optical microscopy to follow their size-dependent localized surface plasmon resonance. TNBC cells lack expression of estrogen (ER−), progesterone (PR−), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2−) receptors and are more likely to acquire resistance to anticancer drugs due to their ability to transport harmful substances outside the cell. The TNBC cells displayed greater nuclear and cytoplasmic efflux, resulting in less toxicity of Ag UNPs in a concentration-independent manner.
ZEB2 regulates endocrine therapy sensitivity and metastasis in luminal a breast cancer cells through a non-canonical mechanism
Breast Cancer Research and TreatmentHope E. Burks, Margarite D. Matossian, Lyndsay Vanhoy Rhodes, Theresa Phamduy, Steven Elliott, Aaron Buechlein, Douglas B. Rusch, David F. B. Miller, Kenneth P. Nephew, Douglas Chrisey, Bridgette M. Collins-Burow & Matthew E. Burow
2021
Purpose
The transcription factors ZEB1 and ZEB2 mediate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic progression in numerous malignancies including breast cancer. ZEB1 and ZEB2 drive EMT through transcriptional repression of cell–cell junction proteins and members of the tumor suppressive miR200 family. However, in estrogen receptor positive (ER +) breast cancer, the role of ZEB2 as an independent driver of metastasis has not been fully investigated.
Application of a small molecule inhibitor screen approach to identify CXCR4 downstream signaling pathways that promote a mesenchymal and fulvestrant‑resistant phenotype in breast cancer cells
Oncology LettersMatossian MD, Elliott S, Rhodes LV, Martin EC, Hoang VT, Burks HE, Zuercher WJ, Drewry DH, Collins‑Burow BM, Burow ME, Burow ME, et al
2021
Chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and its ligand stromal‑derived factor 1 (SDF‑1) have well‑characterized functions in cancer metastasis; however, the specific mechanisms through which CXCR4 promotes a metastatic and drug‑resistant phenotype remain widely unknown. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the application of a phenotypic screening approach using a small molecule inhibitor library to identify potential CXCR4‑mediated signaling pathways. The present study demonstrated a new application of the Published Kinase Inhibitor Set (PKIS), a library of small molecule inhibitors from diverse chemotype series with varying levels of selectivity, in a phenotypic medium‑throughput screen to identify potential mechanisms to pursue. Crystal violet staining and brightfield microscopy were employed to evaluate relative cell survival and changes to cell morphology in the screens.
Effects of Resveratrol Analogues on Danio rerio Mortality and Embryonic Development
Eastern BiologistJesse Champer, Sarah Cushion, Sierra King, Carlee Rushlow, Bertin Cenatus and Lyndsay V. Rhodes
2019
Phytoestrogens are commonly found in many plant-based food products, such as legumes and beans, and possess structures similar to estrogens that provides them with an affinity for estrogen receptors. As such, these compounds are able to alter the function of many estrogen-influenced systems including breast, bone, cardiovascular, and reproductive tissues. Studies on phytoestrogens have found both harmful and beneficial health impacts in human and animal models. Here, we focus on a class of phytoestrogens known as stilbenes, including resveratrol and pterostilbene, which have gained popularity as dietary supplements. The effects of stilbenes on embryonic development is an intriguing area of study due to their significant potential for disruption of estrogen signaling.
A novel patient-derived xenograft model for claudin-low triple-negative breast cancer
Breast Cancer Research and TreatmentMargarite D Matossian, Hope E Burks, Annie C Bowles et al.
2018
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes are clinically aggressive and cannot be treated with targeted therapeutics commonly used in other breast cancer subtypes. The claudin-low (CL) molecular subtype of TNBC has high rates of metastases, chemoresistance and recurrence. There exists an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets in TNBC; however, existing models utilized in target discovery research are limited. Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models have emerged as superior models for target discovery experiments because they recapitulate features of patient tumors that are limited by cell-line derived xenograft methods.
Argonaute 2 expression correlates with a Luminal B breast cancer subtype and induces estrogen receptor alpha isoform variation
Non-coding RNAAdrienne K Conger, Elizabeth C Martin, Thomas J Yan et al.
2016
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) signaling pathways are frequently disrupted in breast cancer and contribute to disease progression. ERα signaling is multifaceted and many ERα regulators have been identified including transcription factors and growth factor pathways. More recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) are shown to deregulate ERα activity in breast carcinomas, with alterations in both ERα and miRNA expression correlating to cancer progression. In this study, we show that a high expression of Argonaute 2 (AGO2), a translation regulatory protein and mediator of miRNA function, correlates with the luminal B breast cancer subtype. We further demonstrate that a high expression of AGO2 in ERα+ tumors correlates with a poor clinical outcome. MCF-7 breast cancer cells overexpressing AGO2 (MCF7-AGO2) altered ERα downstream signaling and selective ERα variant expression.
