Sanaz Memarzadeh
At the G.O. Discovery Lab directed by Sanaz Memarzadeh, we are on a mission to help patients with gynecologic cancers. Our research is focused on two understudied and aggressive epithelial gynecologic cancers that affect thousands of women each year: ovarian and endometrial carcinomas. Making discoveries that will improve treatment of these diseases and potentially save lives is the ultimate goal of our work. In the G.O. Discovery Laboratory, we are taking a multifaceted approach, collaborating with other leading scientists to solve complex challenges. See below how we are working to make discoveries that may improve the lives of patients diagnosed with gynecologic cancers. • Explore unique cell types in ovarian and endometrial cancers causing relapse of disease and chemo resistance. • High throughput drug screening and testing drug combinations using disease in a dish model to overcome ovarian cancer platinum resistance. • Targeting therapy resistant ovarian cancers with cell-based immunotherapies using novel off the shelf immune cells such as iNKT and super charge NK cells. • Development of physiologically relevant in vivo disease models with patient derived xenografts as a powerful platform for testing novel therapeutics. • Defining the cellular lineage and therapeutic targets in ovarian and uterine carcinosarcomas
Websites:
BSCRC
Posts on X @golabnow
UCLA Health
G.O. Discovery Lab
Publications:
Li YR, Ochoa CJ, Lyu Z, Zhu Y, Chen Y, DiBernardo G, Ruegg L, Memarzadeh S, Yang L. Protocol to profile tumor and microenvironment from ovarian cancer patient samples and evaluate cell-based therapy using in vitro killing assays. STAR Protoc. 2025 Apr 05; 6(2):103742. view on PubMed
Huerta-Yepez S, Chen PC, Kaur K, Jain Y, Singh T, Esedebe F, Liao YJ, DiBernardo G, Moatamed NA, Mei A, Malarkannan S, Graeber TG, Memarzadeh S, Jewett A. Supercharged NK cells, unlike primary activated NK cells, effectively target ovarian cancer cells irrespective of MHC-class I expression. BMJ Oncol. 2025; 4(1):e000618. view on PubMed
Ruegg L, James-Allan LB, DiBernardo G, Ochoa C, Li YR, Yang L, Memarzadeh S. An Efficient Method for Extracting Human Fallopian Tube Epithelia for Single-cell Analyses. J Vis Exp. 2025 Mar 28; (217). view on PubMed
Jewett A, Memarzadeh S, Kaur K. Commentary: Ovarian Cancer: Path to Effective Treatments. Crit Rev Immunol. 2025; 45(1):93-99. view on PubMed
Varuzhanyan G, Chen CC, Freeland J, He T, Tran W, Song K, Wang L, Cheng D, Xu S, Dibernardo GA, Esedebe FN, Bhatia V, Han M, Abt ER, Park JW, Memarzadeh S, Shackelford DB, Lee JK, Graeber TG, Shirihai OS, Witte ON. PGC-1α drives small cell neuroendocrine cancer progression toward an ASCL1-expressing subtype with increased mitochondrial capacity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024 Dec 03; 121(49):e2416882121. view on PubMed
Varuzhanyan G, Chen CC, Freeland J, He T, Tran W, Song K, Wang L, Cheng D, Xu S, Dibernardo GA, Esedebe FN, Bhatia V, Han M, Abt ER, Park JW, Memarzadeh S, Shackelford D, Lee JK, Graeber T, Shirihai O, Witte O. PGC-1α drives small cell neuroendocrine cancer progression towards an ASCL1-expressing subtype with increased mitochondrial capacity. bioRxiv. 2024 Jul 25. view on PubMed
Kaur K, Sanghu J, Memarzadeh S, Jewett A. Exploring the Potential of Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapy in Targeting High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinomas. Vaccines (Basel). 2024 Jun 18; 12(6). view on PubMed
Unterrainer LM, Memarzadeh S, Moatamed NA, Benz MR, Czernin J, Calais J. [68Ga]Ga-FAPI-46 PET in a Borderline Ovarian Tumor. J Nucl Med. 2024 May 01; 65(5):820-821. view on PubMed
Lai TS, Francoeur A, Manrriquez E, Venkat P, Chang A, Douek M, Bahrami S, Raman SS, Memarzadeh S. Percutaneous interstitial brachytherapy ablation for targeting oligometastatic gynecologic cancers. Brachytherapy. 2024 May-Jun; 23(3):266-273. view on PubMed
Moatamed NA, Vahdatshariatpanahi S, Gjertson DW, Sachs CR, Kang Y, Ostrzega N, Huang J, Memarzadeh S. Androgen receptor and its correlation with estrogen and progesterone receptors, aimed for identification of cases for future anti-androgen therapy in endometrial cancers. PLoS One. 2023; 18(9):e0291361. view on PubMed
Li YR, Ochoa CJ, Zhu Y, Kramer A, Wilson M, Fang Y, Chen Y, Singh T, Di Bernardo G, Zhu E, Lee D, Moatamed NA, Bando J, Zhou JJ, Memarzadeh S, Yang L. Profiling ovarian cancer tumor and microenvironment during disease progression for cell-based immunotherapy design. iScience. 2023 Oct 20; 26(10):107952. view on PubMed
Marsh LA, Kim TH, Zhang M, Kubalanza K, Treece CL, Chase D, Memarzadeh S, Salani R, Karlan B, Rao J, Konecny GE. Pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in ovarian cancer and its association with outcome: A surrogate marker of survival. Gynecol Oncol. 2023 Oct; 177:173-179. view on PubMed
Gilbert L, Oaknin A, Matulonis UA, Mantia-Smaldone GM, Lim PC, Castro CM, Provencher D, Memarzadeh S, Method M, Wang J, Moore KN, O'Malley DM. Safety and efficacy of mirvetuximab soravtansine, a folate receptor alpha (FRα)-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in combination with bevacizumab in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2023 03; 170:241-247. view on PubMed
Samiei A, Gjertson DW, Memarzadeh S, Konecny GE, Moatamed NA. Expression of immune checkpoint regulators, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1/PD-1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), and indolaimine-2, 3-deoxygenase (IDO) in uterine mesenchymal tumors. Diagn Pathol. 2022 Sep 14; 17(1):70. view on PubMed
Chovatiya N, Kaur K, Huerta-Yepez S, Chen PC, Neal A, DiBernardo G, Gumrukcu S, Memarzadeh S, Jewett A. Inability of ovarian cancers to upregulate their MHC-class I surface expression marks their aggressiveness and increased susceptibility to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2022 Dec; 71(12):2929-2941. view on PubMed
Li S, Zeng W, Ni X, Zhou Y, Stackpole ML, Noor ZS, Yuan Z, Neal A, Memarzadeh S, Garon EB, Dubinett SM, Li W, Zhou XJ. cfTrack: A Method of Exome-Wide Mutation Analysis of Cell-free DNA to Simultaneously Monitor the Full Spectrum of Cancer Treatment Outcomes Including MRD, Recurrence, and Evolution. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 05 02; 28(9):1841-1853. view on PubMed
Singh T, Neal A, Dibernardo G, Raheseparian N, Moatamed NA, Memarzadeh S. Efficacy of birinapant in combination with carboplatin in targeting platinum‑resistant epithelial ovarian cancers. Int J Oncol. 2022 Mar; 60(3). view on PubMed
Neal A, Lai T, Singh T, Rahseparian N, Grogan T, Elashoff D, Scott P, Pellegrini M, Memarzadeh S. Combining ReACp53 with Carboplatin to Target High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancers. Cancers (Basel). 2021 Nov 24; 13(23). view on PubMed
Szlachta-McGinn A, Chmielowski B, Kang Y, Raman S, Memarzadeh S. Management of Clitoral Melanoma Presenting as an Exophytic Clitoral Mass: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Curr Oncol. 2021 10 21; 28(6):4264-4272. view on PubMed
Chow L, Tsui BQ, Bahrami S, Masamed R, Memarzadeh S, Raman SS, Patel MK. Gynecologic tumor board: a radiologist's guide to vulvar and vaginal malignancies. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2021 12; 46(12):5669-5686. view on PubMed
Liou SS, Memarzadeh S, Dry SM, Graham RP, Moatamed NA. A rare case of vulvar extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma: mimics and diagnostic clues. Autops Case Rep. 2021; 11:e2021322. view on PubMed
Wang YC, Wang X, Yu J, Ma F, Li Z, Zhou Y, Zeng S, Ma X, Li YR, Neal A, Huang J, To A, Clarke N, Memarzadeh S, Pellegrini M, Yang L. Targeting monoamine oxidase A-regulated tumor-associated macrophage polarization for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Commun. 2021 06 10; 12(1):3530. view on PubMed
Yuan F, Wei SH, Konecny GE, Memarzadeh S, Suh RD, Sayre J, Lu DS, Raman SS. Image-Guided Percutaneous Thermal Ablation of Oligometastatic Ovarian and Non-Ovarian Gynecologic Tumors. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2021 05; 32(5):729-738. view on PubMed
Lai TS, Manrriquez E, Neal A, Memarzadeh S. Matched sequential tumor molecular profiling in solid malignancies may impact clinical practice. Cancer Genet. 2021 04; 252-253:73-79. view on PubMed
Singh T, Neal AS, Moatamed NA, Memarzadeh S. Exploring the Potential of Drug Response Assays for Precision Medicine in Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 30; 22(1). view on PubMed
Kang Y, Kim TH, Gjertson DW, Cohen JG, Memarzadeh S, Moatamed NA. The uterine pathological features associated with sentinel lymph node metastasis in endometrial carcinomas. PLoS One. 2020; 15(11):e0242772. view on PubMed
Sonni I, Lee-Felker S, Memarzadeh S, Quinn MM, Mona CE, Lückerath K, Czernin J, Calais J. 68Ga-FAPi-46 diffuse bilateral breast uptake in a patient with cervical cancer after hormonal stimulation. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2021 03; 48(3):924-926. view on PubMed
Dilday EA, Lewis MS, Vahidi K, Memarzadeh S. An asymptomatic anterior vaginal wall endometrioma, a rare manifestation of endometriosis: A case report. Case Rep Womens Health. 2020 Jul; 27:e00210. view on PubMed
Neal AS, Nunez M, Lai T, Tosevska A, Morselli M, Amneus M, Zakhour M, Moatamed NA, Pellegrini M, Memarzadeh S. Expression of Stromal Progesterone Receptor and Differential Methylation Patterns in the Endometrium May Correlate with Response to Progesterone Therapy in Endometrial Complex Atypical Hyperplasia. Reprod Sci. 2020 09; 27(9):1778-1790. view on PubMed
Phan N, Hong JJ, Tofig B, Mapua M, Elashoff D, Moatamed NA, Huang J, Memarzadeh S, Damoiseaux R, Soragni A. A simple high-throughput approach identifies actionable drug sensitivities in patient-derived tumor organoids. Commun Biol. 2019; 2:78. view on PubMed
Smith DJ, Lin LJ, Moon H, Pham AT, Wang X, Liu S, Ji S, Rezek V, Shimizu S, Ruiz M, Lam J, Janzen DM, Memarzadeh S, Kohn DB, Zack JA, Kitchen SG, An DS, Yang L. Propagating Humanized BLT Mice for the Study of Human Immunology and Immunotherapy. Stem Cells Dev. 2016 12 15; 25(24):1863-1873. view on PubMed
Soragni A, Janzen DM, Johnson LM, Lindgren AG, Thai-Quynh Nguyen A, Tiourin E, Soriaga AB, Lu J, Jiang L, Faull KF, Pellegrini M, Memarzadeh S, Eisenberg DS. A Designed Inhibitor of p53 Aggregation Rescues p53 Tumor Suppression in Ovarian Carcinomas. Cancer Cell. 2016 Jan 11; 29(1):90-103. view on PubMed
Tiourin E, Velasco VS, Rosales MA, Sullivan PS, Janzen DM, Memarzadeh S. Tubal Ligation Induces Quiescence in the Epithelia of the Fallopian Tube Fimbria. Reprod Sci. 2015 Oct; 22(10):1262-71. view on PubMed
Janzen DM, Paik DY, Rosales MA, Yep B, Cheng D, Witte ON, Kayadibi H, Ryan CM, Jung ME, Faull K, Memarzadeh S. Low levels of circulating estrogen sensitize PTEN-null endometrial tumors to PARP inhibition in vivo. Mol Cancer Ther. 2013 Dec; 12(12):2917-28. view on PubMed
Janzen DM, Rosales MA, Paik DY, Lee DS, Smith DA, Witte ON, Iruela-Arispe ML, Memarzadeh S. Progesterone receptor signaling in the microenvironment of endometrial cancer influences its response to hormonal therapy. Cancer Res. 2013 Aug 01; 73(15):4697-710. view on PubMed
Janzen DM, Cheng D, Schafenacker AM, Paik DY, Goldstein AS, Witte ON, Jaroszewicz A, Pellegrini M, Memarzadeh S. Estrogen and progesterone together expand murine endometrial epithelial progenitor cells. Stem Cells. 2013 Apr; 31(4):808-22. view on PubMed
Paik DY, Janzen DM, Schafenacker AM, Velasco VS, Shung MS, Cheng D, Huang J, Witte ON, Memarzadeh S. Stem-like epithelial cells are concentrated in the distal end of the fallopian tube: a site for injury and serous cancer initiation. Stem Cells. 2012 Nov; 30(11):2487-97. view on PubMed
Cai H, Memarzadeh S, Stoyanova T, Beharry Z, Kraft AS, Witte ON. Collaboration of Kras and androgen receptor signaling stimulates EZH2 expression and tumor-propagating cells in prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 2012 Sep 15; 72(18):4672-81. view on PubMed
Memarzadeh S, Cai H, Janzen DM, Xin L, Lukacs R, Riedinger M, Zong Y, DeGendt K, Verhoeven G, Huang J, Witte ON. Role of autonomous androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer initiation is dichotomous and depends on the oncogenic signal. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 May 10; 108(19):7962-7. view on PubMed
Cai H, Smith DA, Memarzadeh S, Lowell CA, Cooper JA, Witte ON. Differential transformation capacity of Src family kinases during the initiation of prostate cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Apr 19; 108(16):6579-84. view on PubMed
Lukacs RU, Memarzadeh S, Wu H, Witte ON. Bmi-1 is a crucial regulator of prostate stem cell self-renewal and malignant transformation. Cell Stem Cell. 2010 Dec 03; 7(6):682-93. view on PubMed
Memarzadeh S, Zong Y, Janzen DM, Goldstein AS, Cheng D, Kurita T, Schafenacker AM, Huang J, Witte ON. Cell-autonomous activation of the PI3-kinase pathway initiates endometrial cancer from adult uterine epithelium. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Oct 05; 107(40):17298-303. view on PubMed
Lawson DA, Zong Y, Memarzadeh S, Xin L, Huang J, Witte ON. Basal epithelial stem cells are efficient targets for prostate cancer initiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Feb 09; 107(6):2610-5. view on PubMed
Nosov V, Park S, Rao J, Memarzadeh S. Non-Peutz-Jeghers syndrome associated ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules: a case report. Fertil Steril. 2009 Oct; 92(4):1497.e5-1497.e8. view on PubMed
Memarzadeh S, Xin L, Mulholland DJ, Mansukhani A, Wu H, Teitell MA, Witte ON. Enhanced paracrine FGF10 expression promotes formation of multifocal prostate adenocarcinoma and an increase in epithelial androgen receptor. Cancer Cell. 2007 Dec; 12(6):572-85. view on PubMed
Memarzadeh S, Natarajan S, Dandade DP, Ostrzega N, Saber PA, Busuttil A, Lentz SE, Berek JS. Lymphovascular and perineural invasion in the parametria: a prognostic factor for early-stage cervical cancer. Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Sep; 102(3):612-9. view on PubMed
Ide H, Seligson DB, Memarzadeh S, Xin L, Horvath S, Dubey P, Flick MB, Kacinski BM, Palotie A, Witte ON. Expression of colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor during prostate development and prostate cancer progression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Oct 29; 99(22):14404-9. view on PubMed
Memarzadeh S, Kozak KR, Chang L, Natarajan S, Shintaku P, Reddy ST, Farias-Eisner R, Memarzedeh S. Urokinase plasminogen activator receptor: Prognostic biomarker for endometrial cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Aug 06; 99(16):10647-52. view on PubMed
