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Biography

Headshot of Samera Hamad, PhD
Research Faculty

Samera Hamad, PhD

Assistant Professor of Surgery
Surgical Research

Education and Training

Internship: King's College London, School of Biomedical Sciences, London, UK 
Graduate School: PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, MD 
Postdoctoral Associate:  Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC  

Memberships

  • American Associate for Cancer Research (AACR)
  • Socitey of Toxicology (SOT)
  • Member, Thoracic Tumor Board, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper
  • Member, Camden Cancer Research Center

Research Interests

My lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms that underlying the resistance to different cancer therapies. In current active projects, we determine the molecular pathways that are associated with the evolution of different subtypes of lung cancer including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Most importantly, my group focuses on the molecular signals that trigger the resistance to chemo-, radiation, and immuno- therapies. Additionally, we study the major risk factors that increase tumor growth and support cancer therapeutic resistance and metastases (such as smoking).

Residents and students in my lab use in vitro and in vivo approaches to understand the molecular signals driving resistance to specific therapies. We use genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM), immune-deficient mice, humanized mice in addition to human cell lines and tumors to provide key resources for clinical trials. We collaborate with surgical and medical oncologists to reveal new actionable targets and therapeutics to treat and improve the lives and outcomes of cancer patients.

In collaboration with other groups within Cooper Campus and other national universities we expand these studies to different types of cancers such as head and neck, ovarian, and endometrial cancer.

Current active projects:

  • The Role of NRF2 in the Development of Lung Cancer Subtypes.
  • Identification of Molecular Pathways Associated with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Subtype Switching after Treatment.
  • Chemotherapy Resistance in Ovarian Cancer and The Role of NRF2.

 Selected Publications:

Allison Stewart, Lixia Diao, Yuanxin Xi, Runsheng Wang, Kavya Ramkumar, Alejandra G. Serrano, Leticia Rodriguez, Benjamin Morris, Li Shen, Bingnan Zhang, Yan Yang, Samera Hamad, Robert Cardnell, Alberto Duarte, Moushumi Sahu, Veronica Y. Novegil, Bernard E. Weissman, Michael Frumovitz, Neda Kalhor, Luisa Solis Soto, Pedro da Rocha, Natalie Vokes, Don L. Gibbons1, Jing Wang, John V. Heymach, Bonnie Glisson, Lauren Averett Byers, Carl M. Gay. YAP1 status defines two intrinsic subtypes of LCNEC with distinct molecular features and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 2023 (in revision). doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.12.19.572449

Samera Hamad, Rani Sellers, Nathan Wamsley, Travis Schrank, Ben Major, Bernard Weissman. NRF2 activation in TRP53;P16 deficient mice drives oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Research Communications, 2023, (in revision)

Samera Hamad, Stephanie Montgomery, Jeremy Simon, Brittany Bowman, Kyle Spainhower, Ryan Murphy, Eri4k Knudsen, Suzanne Fenton, Scott Randell, Jeremiah Holt, D. Neil Hayes, Agnieszka Witkiewicz, Trudy Oliver, Ben Major, Bernard Weissman. TP53, CDKN2A/P16, and NFE2L2/NRF2 regulate the incidence of pure- and combined-small cell lung cancer in mice. Oncogene. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-022-02348-0

Tara Walhart, Bryanna Vacca, Austin Hepperla, Samera Hamad, James Petrongelli, Yemin Wang, Erin McKean, Michelle Moksa , Qi Cao, Stephen Yip, Martin Hirst, Bernard Weissman. SMARCB1 Loss in Poorly Differentiated Chordomas Drives Tumor Progression. Am J Pathol. 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2022.12.012.

Vinh Nguyen, Travis Shranck, Samera Hamad, Bernard Weissman. Loss of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling alters NRF2 signaling in human cancers. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res. 2022; 82(12_Suppl): Ab. nr 5724.

Samera Hamad, Marielle Brinkman, Yi-Hsuan Tsai, Namya Mellouk, Kandice Cross, Ilona Jaspers, Pamela Clark, Courteny Granville. Pilot Study to Detect Genes Involved in DNA Damage and Cancer in Humans: Potential Biomarkers of Exposure to E-Cigarette Aerosols. Genes. 2021. doi: 10.3390/genes12030448.