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Mauricio Reginato

Mauricio Reginato, PhD

Professor and Chair; Director, Graduate Program in Cancer Biology


Department: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School
  • PhD - Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania
  • BS 鈥 Biology, Penn State University

Awards & Honors

  • Edith Mitchell Mentoring Award, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium (2025)
  • Outstanding Mentor of the Year Award for the STAR Undergraduate Scholars, 91制片厂 (2023)
  • Julian Marsh Faculty Scholar Award, 91制片厂 (2021)
  • Elias Abrutyn Mentoring Award, 91制片厂 (2018)
  • Faculty Mentoring Award, MS Research Intensive Programs, Graduate Student Association, 91制片厂 (2016)
  • Young Investigator Award, 91制片厂 (2010)
  • Professional Enrichment and Growth Award, 91制片厂 (2010)

Memberships / Professional Affiliations

  • American Association of Cancer Research
  • American Society of Cell Biology
  • American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Dr. Reginato is a professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and director of the Graduate Program in Cancer Biology at 91制片厂. Dr. Reginato also serves as program leader of the Translational Cellular Oncology Program at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Research Consortium with 91制片厂.

Research Overview

Research Interests

Molecular mechanisms regulating breast cancer growth and metastasis and understanding interplay between signaling and metabolic pathways to identify novel cancer therapies.

Research

Our lab is interested in understanding altered signaling pathways that lead to cancer initiation and progression and metastasis. Identifying and understanding these pathways will lead to development of novel therapies. Our lab is interested in understanding how signaling pathways regulate metabolic reprograming in cancer cells.

We are particularly interested in breast cancer. Every year approximately 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed, and 40,000 women are expected to die from this disease in the U.S. alone. Our labs long-term goal is to identify novel therapeutic targets for treatment of breast cancer. We are trying to understand alterations in cellular signaling pathways between normal and cancer cells and exploit these differences for possible therapeutic gain.

Our lab has two major areas of interest:

1. Our lab is interested in understanding how oncogenes alter metabolic reprogramming in cancer cell. Tumor cells take up ten times more glucose then normal cells and switch to glycolysis to meet energy needs. Our lab was the first to show that a nutrient-sensing pathway that regulates sugar-based protein modification, called O-GlcNAcylation, is highly elevated in cancer. Our lab has shown that reducing O-GlcNAcylation in breast and prostate cancer cells inhibits growth, invasion and metastasis thus targeting the enzyme that regulates O-GlcNAcylation, O-GlcNAc transferase, may provide novel way of to treat cancers. We are currently investigating how O-GlcNAcylation regulates oncogenic signaling pathways using in vitro and in vivo breast cancer models. In addition, we are analyzing how cancer cells alter the O-GlcNAcome.

Targeting OGT levels in breast cancer cells blocks growth and invasion in 3D organoid culture.

3D Organoids: MDA-MB-231

Targeting OGT levels in breast cancer cells blocks growth and invasion in 3D organoid culture. Human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) expressing control or OGT RNAi were cultured in three-dimensional (3D) culture. Organoids were imaged after eight days in culture by light (top) or confocal microscopy with indicated antibodies (bottom) (from Caldwell, et al., Oncogene 2010)

2. Breast cancer brain metastases remains incurable as more than 80% of patients will die within a year which is usually due to intracranial disease progression. Our lab is also interested in understanding how breast cancer cells adapt to the brain environment to survive and grow. We have developed novel ex vivo cancer slice model to quickly identify pathways and drugs that block cancer growth in the brain.

Breast Cancer Cells in the Brain Parenchyma

Ex vivo Brain Tumor Slice Model

Breast Cancer Cells in the Brain Parenchyma. Ex vivo mouse brain slices containing human breast cancer cells (green/blue) within brain parenchyma surrounded by activated astrocytes (red). Lab is using this model system to test new therapies for targeting breast cancer brain metastatic growth. Image provided by Lorela Ciraku & M. Reginato.

In the Media

“Researchers Identify Novel Vulnerability in Breast Cancer Brain Metastases and Points to New Therapeutic Strategy”
Drexel News (April 2026)

“Advancing Cancer Research Through Innovation: Dr. Emily Esquea’s Journey From Lab To Real-world Impact - Stories Of Impact Series”
Stories of Impact, Drexel Applied Innovation (July 2024)


Inside Precision Medicine (July 22, 2024)

“Drexel Team Identifies Drug-like Molecules That Show Early Success in Targeting Breast Cancer Brain Metastases”
Drexel News Blog (July 12, 2024)

“Awards Ceremony Celebrates Graduate School Class of 2024”
(May 14, 2024)

“Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Research Consortium: Committed to Changing the Cancer Landscape in Philadelphia”
Pulse (Spring 2024)


EXEL - 91制片厂 Research Magazine (2023)

Additional articles...

STAR Scholar Scales Real-World Learning Curve in Cancer Research
Drexel News (February 23, 2023)

2023 PA Breast Cancer Coalition Awards Dr. Reginato $100,000 Grant
College of Medicine Newsroom (May 2, 2023) -

2021 Faculty Awards
Congratulations to Dr. Reginato, recipient of the 2021 Julian Marsh Faculty Scholar Award.

2018 Faculty Awards
Congratulations to Dr. Reginato, recipient of the 2018 Elias Abrutyn Mentoring Award. See all 2018 faculty awardees.

2017 CURE Grant Awardees
(March 20, 2017)

"Teaming Up to Fight Brain Tumors"
College of Medicine Alumni Magazine (Fall/Winter 2016)

"Professors Receive Grants Through Statewide Refunds for Breast Cancer Research Campaign"
College of Medicine Newsroom (March 4, 2015)


CBS Philly (March 3, 2015)


Reading Eagle (January 27, 2015)

"Study Finds Novel Molecular Mechanism for Breast Cancer Cell Metabolism and Survival"
College of Medicine Newsroom (May 23, 2014)

"Third Annual Medical Student Research Day"
College of Medicine Newsroom (March 21, 2014)


EXEL - 91制片厂 Research Magazine (2014)


News-Medical.Net (April 15, 2010)

Publications

Selected Publications

See all of Dr. Reginato's publications in .


Young RG, Esquea EM, Ciraku L, Merzy J, Ahmed NN, Talarico AN, Karuppiah M, Medori SM, Warade RP, Gocal W, Dick A, Simone NL, Reginato MJ 
Cancer Research, 2026 Apr 22


Ahmed NN, Young RG, Merzy J, Reginato MJ 
Glycobiology, 2026 Apr 9


Young RG, Ahmed NN, Reginato MJ
Trends in Cell Biology, 2025 May;35(5):361-363


Le Minh G, Merzy J, Esquea EM, Ahmed NN, Young RG, Sharp RJ, Dhameliya TT, Agana B, Lee MH, Bethard JR, Comte-Walters S, Ball LE, Reginato MJ
Cells, 2025 Mar 8;14(6):398


Esquea EM, Ciraku L, Young RG, Merzy J, Talarico AN, Ahmed NN, Karuppiah M, Ramesh A, Chatoff A, Crispim CV, Rashad AA, Cocklin S, Snyder NW, Beld J, Simone NL, Reginato MJ, Dick A
Frontiers in Pharmacolology, 2024 May 16;15:1394685


Esquea EM, Young RG, and Reginato MJ
Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2023 Dec 13:S1043-2760 (23)00247-3


Le Minh, G, Esquea EM, Young RG, Huang, J, and Reginato MJ
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2023 Oct 12, 105344


Le Minh G, Esquea EM, Dhameliya TT, Merzy J, Lee MH, Ball LE, Reginato MJ
Frontiers in Oncolology. 2023 Apr 19;13:1141834


Le Minh G, Reginato MJ
Advanced Cancer Research. 2023;157:195-228


Ciraku, L., Bacigalupa, Z. A., Ju, J., Moeller, R. A., Le Minh, G., Lee, R. H., Smith, M. D., Ferrer, C. M., Trefely, S., Izzo, L. T., Doan, M. T., Gocal, W. A., D'Agostino, L., Shi, W., Jackson, J. G., Katsetos, C. D., Wellen, K. E., Snyder, N. W., and Reginato, M. J.
Oncogene 2022 Apr;41(14):2122-2136

Additional publications...


Ciraku, L., Esquea, Reginato, M. J.
Cellular Signaling 2022 Nov 17;90


Ciraku, L., Moeller, R., Esquea, Gocal, W., Hartsough, E., Simone, N., Jackson, J., Reginato, M. J.
Journal Visualized Experiments 2021 Sep 22; (175)


Le Minh, G. and Reginato, M. J.
Comprehensive Pharmacology. 2021 Elsevier, Elizabeth Yeh (ed.)


Akella NM, Le Minh G, Ciraku L, Mukherjee A, Bacigalupa ZA, Mukhopadhyay D, Sodi VL, Reginato MJ
Molecular Cancer Research 2020 Apr;18(4):585-598


Delaney L, Ciraku L, Oeffinger B, Wessner C, Liu J, Li J, Nam K, Forsberg F, Leeper D, O'Kane P, Wheatley M, Reginato MJ, Eisenbrey J
Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine 2019 Dec;38(12):3221-3228.


Akella NM, Ciraku L, and Reginato MJ
BMC Biology 2019 Jul 4;17(1):52


Bacigalupa ZA, Bhadiadra C, and Reginato MJ
Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes 2018 Jun;50(3):189-198


Sodi VL, Bacigalupa ZA, Ferrer CM, Lee J, Gocal W, Mukherjee D, Wellen KE, Ivan M, and Reginato MJ
Oncogene. 2018 Feb 15;37(7):924-934


Beatty A, Fink LS, Singh T, Strigun A, Peter E, Ferrer CM, Nicolas E, Cai KQ, Moran TP, Reginato MJ, Rennefahrt U, Peterson JR
Molecular Caner Therapeutics 2018 Jan;17(1):264-275


Segovia-Mendoza M, Díaz L, Prado-Garcia H, Reginato MJ, Larrea F and García-Becerra R
Am J Cancer Research. Jul 1 2017;7(7):1486-1500.


Li C, Li N, Liu X, Zhang EY, Sun Y, Masuda K, Li J, Sun J, Morrison T, Li X, Chen Y, Wang J, Karim NA, Zhang Y, Blenis J, Reginato MJ, Henske EP, Yu JJ.
J. of Clinical Investigation Insight; 1(19): e86629, Nov 17, 2016


Ferrer CM, Lu TY, Bacigalupa ZA, Katsetos CD, Sinclair DA, and Reginato, MJ
Oncogene, Jun 27 2016 [Epub ahead of print]


Ferrer CM, Sodi VL and Reginato MJ
Journal of Molecular Biology, Jun 22 2016 [Epub ahead of print](add link)


Karakashev SV, and Reginato MJ
Cancer Management and Research, 12;7:253-64 Aug 2015


Ferrer CM, and Reginato MJ
Molecular & Cellular Oncology, Oct 29; 2(1) 2014


Katsetos CD, Reginato MJ, Baas PW, D’Agostino L, Legido A, Tuszyn Ski JA, Draberova E, and Draber P
Seminars in Pediatric Neurology; 22(1):49-72, March 2015


Sodi VL, Khaku S, Schwab LP, Vocadlo DJ, Seagroves TN and Reginato MJ
Molecular Cancer Research, 13(5):923-33, May 2015
Publication listed in


Tchafa AM, Ta M,  Reginato MJ and Shieh AC
Molecular Cancer Research, 13(4):755-64, Apr 2015


Karakashev SV, and Reginato MJ
Oncotarget, 6(4):1967-80, Feb 10, 2015

Book Chapter:
Ferrer CM, and Reginato MJ
Cancer Genomics and Proteomics: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1176 pp 73-88, Springer, Narendra Wajapeyee (Ed.), 2014


Ferrer CM, Lynch TP, Sodi V, Falcone JN, Schwab L, Peacock D, Vocadlo DJ, Seagroves TN, and Reginato MJ 
Molecular Cell; (54(5); 820-831, June 5, 2014


Ferrer, CM, and Reginato, MJ
Cancer Discovery; March 4(3); 275–7, March 2014


Martin-Perez, R, Palacios, C, Yerbes, R, Cano-Gonzales, A, Iglesias-Serret, D, Gil, J, Reginato, MJ and López-Rivas A  
Cancer Research; 74(6): 1766-77, March 15, 2014


Kambach DM, Sodi VL, Lelkes PI, Azizkhan-Clifford J, and Reginato MJ 
Oncogene Jan 30; 33(5):589-98 (2014)


Ferdin J, Wu X, Nishida N Nicoloso MS, Shah NM, Devlin C, Ling H, Shimizu M, Kumar K, Cortez MA, Ferracin M, Bi Y, Yang D, Czerniack BA, Zhang W, Schmittgen TD, Voorhoeve MP, Reginato MJ, Negrini M, Davuluri RV, Kunej T, Iva, M, and Calin GA
Cell Death Differ Sep 13 2013 [Epub ahead of print]


Whelan KA, Schwab L, Karakashev S, Franchetti L, Johannes GJ, Seagrove, TN, and  Reginato MJ
J. Biol Chem May 31; 288(22):15865-77 (2013)


Botta GP, Reichert M, Reginato MJ, Heeg S, Rustgi AK and Lelkes PI
Neoplasia Apr 15 (4): 359-72 (2013)


Yerbes R, López-Rivas A, Reginato MJ, and Palacios C
Cell Death Differ; 19:1908-16, Dec 2012


Lynch TP, Ferrer C, Jackson SR, Shahriari KS, Vosseller K, and Reginato MJ 
J. Biol. Chem. Mar 30; 287: 11070-81 (2012)


Botta, GP, Reginato, MJ, Rustgi, AK, and Lelkes, PI
Mol. Cancer Research, Feb; 10: 183-96. (2012)


Whelan, KA and Reginato, MJ
Cell Cycle Jul 15: 10, 2287-94 (2011)


Yerbes, R, Palacios, C, Reginato, MJ, and Lopez-Rivas, A
Biochim Biophys Acta Jan: 1813, 168-78 (2011)


Lynch, TP and Reginato, MJ
Cell Cycle June 1: 10, 1712-13 (2011)


Whelan, KA, Caldwell, SA, Shahriari, KS, Jackson, SR, Jones, L, Johannes, G and Reginato, MJ
Mol. Biol. Cell. Nov 15: 21, 3829-37 (2010)


Caldwell, SA, Jackson, SR, Shahriari, KS, Lynch, TP, Sethi, G, Walker, S, Vosseller, K, and Reginato, MJ
Oncogene May 13: 29, 2831-42 (2010)


Haenssen, KK, Caldwell, SA, Shahriari, K, Jackson, R, Whelan, K, Klein-Szanto, A, and Reginato, MJ
J. of Cell Science  April 15: 123, 1373-82 (2010)


Sodunke, TR, Turner, KK, Caldwell, SA, McBride, KW, Reginato, MJ and Noh, N
Biomaterials 28, 4006-16 (2007)


Reginato, MJ, and Muthuswamy, SK
J Mammary Gland Biology & Neoplasia 11, 205-11 (2006)

Presentations

鈥淥n a sugar high: O-GlcNAc regulation of cancer鈥
Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa. (Nov. 2023)

鈥淣utrient sensor O-GlcNAcylation: Linking signaling and metabolism in cancer & beyond鈥
ASBMB Symposium: O-GlcNAc regulation of cellular physiology and pathophysiology, Athens, Ga. (Jul. 2022)

鈥淩ole of O-GlcNAcome in breast cancer鈥
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Retreat, Philadelphia, Pa. (Feb. 2022)

鈥淥-GlcNAcylation: Linking metabolism & signaling in cancers鈥
Keynote Speaker, Cancer Symposium, 6th Latin American Congress of Glycobiology, Mexico City, Mexico (Oct. 2021)

鈥淣utrient sensor O-GlcNAcylation: Linking signaling and acetate metabolism in brain tumors鈥
NIH Symposium: The Glycobiology of Cancer (Sep. 2021)

鈥淪ignaling and metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer鈥
Community of Scholars Meeting, 91制片厂, Philadelphia Pa. (Mar. 2021)

鈥淥-GlcNAcylation: Linking metabolism & signaling in cancers鈥
Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center, Translational Cellular Oncology Program Meeting, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia Pa. (Nov. 2020)

鈥淩ole of O-GlcNAcome on breast cancer initiating cells鈥
NCI - The Alliance of Glycobiologists for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Rockville Md. (Feb. 2020)


Contact Information


Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
245 North 15th Street
Mail Stop 497
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215.762.3554
Fax: 215.762.4452