Pierre-Yves Desprez, Ph.D.
Investigator
The Desprez laboratory is focused on helix-loop-helix transcriptional regulators, and their role in controlling normal and cancerous epithelial cell phenotypes. Id proteins—negative regulators of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors—have been identified as a critical regulator of proliferation and migration/invasion. Dr. Desprez and his colleagues found that Id genes and proteins not only correlate with but also determine the level of aggressiveness of human breast and prostate cancer cells, and that Id-1 regulates multiple tumor-promoting pathways in brain cancer (glioblastoma). In collaboration with CPMC scientist Dr. Sean McAllister, recent investigations by Dr. Desprez have determined that cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid with a low toxicity profile, inhibits human cancer cell proliferation and invasion through differential modulation of specific pathways, and down-regulates Id-1 gene expression. CBD also up-regulates the pro-differentiation factor Id-2 in breast cancer cells.