Rate My Professor Matthew Sikora

Sikora's research investigates estrogen receptor function, endocrine therapy response and resistance, and molecular mechanisms unique to ILC, including WNT4 signaling, DNA repair pathways such as MDC1, and cellular metabolism. He pioneered studies distinguishing ER-regulated transcription and de novo endocrine resistance in ILC models, developed long-term estrogen-deprived resistant cell lines, and identified WNT4 as an estrogen-controlled, non-canonical ligand driving growth and resistance. Additional work explores pharmacogenomics of tamoxifen response via CYP2D6 and partial estrogen agonists like 3betaAdiol in resistance. Key publications include 'WNT4 mediates estrogen receptor signaling and endocrine resistance in invasive lobular carcinoma cell lines' (Breast Cancer Res, 2016), 'Invasive lobular carcinoma cell lines are characterized by unique estrogen-mediated gene expression patterns and altered tamoxifen response' (Cancer Res, 2014), 'Altered MDC1 Interactions and Dysfunctional DNA Repair in Lobular Breast Cancer Confers Sensitivity to PARP Inhibition' (Cancer Res, 2026), and 'WNT4 Regulates Cellular Metabolism via Intracellular Activity at the Mitochondria in Breast and Gynecologic Cancers' (Cancer Res Commun, 2024). His honors include the Endocrine Society Early Investigator Award (2018), NCI K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (2015), AACR-Susan G. Komen Scholar-in-Training Awards (2016, 2014), and Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Postdoctoral Fellowship (2012). Sikora co-founded the Nuclear Receptor IMPACT peer mentoring group to support early-career scientists studying nuclear receptors.