Olivia Lara

Dr. Olivia Lara

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

9Years (2018-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
1 April 2020 in Cell Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SLSanghoon Lee
Sanghoon Lee
LZLi Zhao
Li Zhao
CRChristine Rojas
Christine Rojas
NBNicholas W. Bateman
Nicholas W. Bateman
HYHui Yao
Hui Yao
ASAK Sood
AK Sood
The diversity and heterogeneity within high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC), which is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, is not well understood. Here, we perform comprehensive multi-platform omics analyses, including integrated analysis, and immune monitoring on primary and metastatic sites from highly clinically annotated HGSC samples based on a laparoscopic triage algorithm from patients who underwent complete gross resection (R0) or received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with excellent or poor response. We identify significant distinct molecular abnormalities and cellular changes and immune cell repertoire alterations between the groups, including a higher rate of NF1 copy number loss, and reduced chromothripsis-like patterns, higher levels of strong-binding neoantigens, and a higher number of infiltrated T cells in the R0 versus the NACT groups.

30 July 2020 in Cancer
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
OLOlivia Lara
Olivia Lara
RORoisin E. O’cEarbhaill
Roisin E. O’cEarbhaill
MSMaria J. Smith
Maria J. Smith
MSMegan E. Sutter
Megan E. Sutter
AKAnne Knisely
Anne Knisely
BPBhavana Pothuri
Bhavana Pothuri

23 August 2024 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EÇElif Çakan
Elif Çakan
OLOlivia Lara
Olivia Lara
ASAnna Szymanowska
Anna Szymanowska
EBEmine Bayraktar
Emine Bayraktar
ACArturo Chavez-Reyes
Arturo Chavez-Reyes
Cristian Rodriguez-AguayoCristian Rodriguez-Aguayo
Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo
Advancements in our comprehension of tumor biology and chemoresistance have spurred the development of treatments that precisely target specific molecules within the body. Despite the expanding landscape of therapeutic options, there persists a demand for innovative approaches to address unmet clinical needs. RNA therapeutics have emerged as a promising frontier in this realm, offering novel avenues for intervention such as RNA interference and the utilization of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). ASOs represent a versatile class of therapeutics capable of selectively targeting messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and silencing disease-associated proteins, thereby disrupting pathogenic processes at the molecular level. Recent advancements in chemical modification and carrier molecule design have significantly enhanced the stability, biodistribution, and intracellular uptake of ASOs, thereby bolstering their therapeutic potential. While ASO therapy holds promise across various disease domains, including oncology, coronary angioplasty, neurological disorders, viral, and parasitic diseases, our review manuscript focuses specifically on the application of ASOs in targeted cancer therapies. Through a comprehensive examination of the latest research findings and clinical developments, we delve into the intricacies of ASO-based approaches to cancer treatment, shedding light on their mechanisms of action, therapeutic efficacy, and prospects.

15 November 2019 in Cancer
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
OLOlivia Lara
Olivia Lara
YWYing Wang
Ying Wang
AAAmma Asare
Amma Asare
TXTao Xu
Tao Xu
HCHua‐Sheng Chiu
Hua‐Sheng Chiu
ASAK Sood
AK Sood
Background: Racial disparities in cancer outcomes are increasingly recognized, but comprehensive analyses, including molecular studies, are limited. The objective of the current study was to perform a pan‐cancer clinical and epigenetic molecular analysis of outcomes in African American (AA) and European American (EA) patients.Methods: Cross‐platform analyses using cancer databases (the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program database and the National Cancer Data Base) and a molecular database (The Cancer Genome Ancestry Atlas) were performed to evaluate clinical and epigenetic molecular differences between AA and EA patients based on genetic ancestry.Results: In the primary pan‐cancer survival analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2,045,839 patients; 87.5% EA and 12.5% AA), AA patients had higher mortality rates for 28 of 42 cancer types analyzed (hazard ratio, >1.0). AAs continued to have higher mortality in 13 cancer types after adjustment for socioeconomic variables using the National Cancer Database (5,150,023 patients; 11.6% AA and 88.4% EA). Then, molecular features of 5,283 tumors were analyzed in patients who had genetic ancestry data available (87.2% EA and 12.8% AA). Genes were identified with altered DNA methylation along with increased microRNA expression levels unique to AA patients that are associated with cancer drug resistance. Increased miRNAs (miR‐15a, miR‐17, miR‐130‐3p, miR‐181a) were noted in common among AAs with breast, kidney, thyroid, or prostate carcinomas.Conclusions: The current results identified epigenetic features in AA patients who have cancer that may contribute to higher mortality rates compared with EA patients who have cancer. Therefore, a focus on molecular signatures unique to AAs may identify actionable molecular abnormalities.

18 May 2018 in Oncotarget
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KGKshipra M. Gharpure
Kshipra M. Gharpure
OLOlivia Lara
Olivia Lara
YWYunfei Wen
Yunfei Wen
SPSunila Pradeep
Sunila Pradeep
CLChris LaFargue
Chris LaFargue
ASAK Sood
AK Sood
ADH1B promotes mesothelial clearance and ovarian cancer infiltration ADH1B promotes mesothelial clearance and ovarian cancer infiltration

26 November 2019 in Scientific Reports
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
OLOlivia Lara
Olivia Lara
SKSanthoshi Krishnan
Santhoshi Krishnan
ZWZhihui Wang
Zhihui Wang
SCSara Corvigno
Sara Corvigno
YZYanPing Zhong
YanPing Zhong
ASAK Sood
AK Sood
The prognostic and therapeutic value of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in various cancer types is of major interest. Characterization of the TME often relies on a small representative tissue sample. However, the adequacy of such a sample for assessing components of the TME is not yet known. Here, we used immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and 7-color multiplex staining to evaluate CD8 (cluster of differentiation 8), CD68, PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1), CD34, FAP (fibroblast activation protein), and cytokeratin in 220 tissue cores from 26 high-grade serous ovarian cancer samples. Comparisons were drawn between a larger tumor specimen and smaller core biopsies based on number and location (central tumor vs. peripheral tumor) of biopsies. Our analysis found that the correlation between marker-specific cell subsets in larger tumor versus smaller core was stronger with two core biopsies and was not further strengthened with additional biopsies. Moreover, this correlation was consistently strong regardless of whether the biopsy was taken at the center or at the periphery of the original tumor sample. These findings could have a substantial impact on longitudinal assessment for detection of biomarkers in clinical trials.