https://www.sharoncantor.com/current-lab-members daily 0.75 2025-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652562673856-1VH3ZIABNT1IX2U3BZKE/Lab+apple+picking.jpg Current Lab Members https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/4d05045b-7072-4316-a7ac-b0a678bb576c/sharon3.jpg Current Lab Members - Sharon cantor, PH.D. Cantor Laboratory Leader https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/bb5755b8-d390-40c6-8c83-de5815a0ff81/jenna+whalen+1.jpg Current Lab Members - Jenna Whalen, ph.d. Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA NIH Fellow https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/2b21d5f3-51ca-4741-88a9-e872be7163cf/tokio_S.jpg Current Lab Members - Tokio Sano, ph.d. Tokio Sano, Ph.D. Postdoc Genome Integrity Program https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/fc03d598-8393-4edc-b2eb-50ca255c2a48/060524Edmonds03.JPG Current Lab Members - Joey Edmonds Joey Edmonds Graduate Student https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/c25ab873-dd0b-46e9-8dda-b849141d18ba/min+peng+2.jpg Current Lab Members - MIN peng Senior Research Technician https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/f5789eca-a5e1-4833-a9e3-6b9a9fb276d7/2fb30298-a879-4e34-b513-8d4e8c93c360.jpg Current Lab Members - Hitha Gopalan Nair, Ph.D. Hitha Gopalan Nair, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/e7ec0f03-3c6e-405a-99ee-30acb4b40fc8/Nate+MacGilvary+-22_Edit.jpg Current Lab Members - NATE macgilvary NATE MACGILVARY https://www.sharoncantor.com/cantor-lab-events daily 0.75 2025-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652558361207-MWJR8RENP3DZBKTZJRYS/unsplash-image--qycBqByWIY.jpg Cantor Lab Events https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1766087176448-G7GKTTVIBRTOJI9HDAAB/LP_2025_1.jpeg Cantor Lab Events - Lab Holiday Party 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1766087186221-523KYSMKQYCJINQ9JONE/LP_2025_4.jpeg Cantor Lab Events https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1766087176360-UHR92K6WRYZK608C56P4/LP_2025_2.jpeg Cantor Lab Events - Gingerbread house time! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1766087181164-LNLH4ELO3F8Q27ENZX2Q/LP_2025_3.jpeg Cantor Lab Events - Making Gingerbread houses! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1766120694049-6J9QT33X75OG8KSG0I97/LP_2025_5.jpeg Cantor Lab Events https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/58a6f5b7-067e-451d-bb19-673ac99717ce/IMG_4826.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Congratulations Joey for winning the Cancer Biology Retreat poster competition! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/0f11aaea-b183-485d-bad6-33d2c753cc8b/IMG_4822.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/219d7b0a-8dff-4978-a83d-6edb89c2b270/IMG_6972.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Congrats to Min and Silvia on their Molecular Cell paper!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/f842d93b-8ebd-4cbc-9cad-77c34b6c8302/IMG_6970.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Team celebrating Min and Silvia’s paper, go WooSox! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/dc086451-7dc6-456b-a1f0-e5b98b5d8899/IMG_6974.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Great job passing your QE, Joey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/4d8e5572-7cce-407f-98ca-c52753312ff3/IMG_6951.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Congrats to our new PhD candidate, Joey! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/010df65c-5be2-400f-87fc-924771694503/labdinner.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/02cec94f-ffb2-4b91-a8d9-a9c228e66d2f/IMG_3067.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Cantor Lab 2024 - Silvia’s Defense Celebration! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/9e674acd-14db-489f-8231-89e945c51942/IMG_3065.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Congratulations on your successful defense Silvia!! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/2a2c7aa4-611e-438a-8ee8-41ccdcdd5f70/IMG_3068.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1fb19d2c-896a-4803-8620-f510d11697e9/20240726_135323.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Wishing Jillian all the best for Dental School! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/11e69ef2-32f9-49c2-8a88-0861277c82e0/IMG_2478.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Twenty years at UMASS celebration for Sharon and Min https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/5f6854eb-c463-4273-9c03-b76a1df2a2cb/IMG_2476.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Cantor Lab 2023 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/2797a283-9d49-4d68-ae12-f3d1badb6274/Unknown-1.jpeg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Big fun at Woosox’s stadium with current and some past lab members. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/19887a79-a7cb-4409-b3c9-38d62e223719/2.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/02e6dbf1-a520-4397-8632-38841d0ca407/1.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/38c1461b-2108-4e4a-b39c-ca2ef5ae52a4/IMG_4211.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/7be64cf3-b4d9-4e26-beb9-05a3c4d5dc1c/IMG_4186.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/e6cff474-50ef-438d-bedc-aafd02cb0d5f/IMG_4201.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/667b66c0-f313-4caf-a6a1-6815b7ddab7f/cantor1.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/3218dfa8-ee37-41fb-b8b4-a64b3432fdb3/cantor2.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/2988a988-7106-4a9b-bf65-108f5981a6bc/gallery2.jpeg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/5e9b3f71-5a8a-404a-8bf2-18c63f6fb736/gallery5.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/6799ff66-00c1-4adc-8763-0659f9dbae2b/gallery8.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/705e6ed3-63ae-4c2e-95f7-65186d4fb8d5/gallery-13.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1d3156ee-3bdc-4fdb-8c9a-a41512fe2d8b/galpic1.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/ef5f7d0c-c784-45e2-99be-1915128c0146/galpic2.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/da8d95f6-a48d-4322-94d0-5548d0a4463c/groupshot.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/fb15ba1f-7391-4544-a3d2-cf85aa2f43db/gsbs_grad.jpeg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/adb1cdb2-c83e-43eb-a7b2-5171d6af2331/icecream.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/521dba13-cb04-4cef-a1b2-88ba735a1a5d/img_7546.jpg Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/abef5175-fa2e-4930-ae80-6d5e7bad546a/picture2.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/cb349224-adf5-4dd7-931a-047c92eaae1d/picture3.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/698b9834-ad6d-427c-8bf3-708515064f57/picture4.png Cantor Lab Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.sharoncantor.com/research daily 0.75 2025-09-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/cc72fc25-e9a3-4b61-910c-038019378536/Screenshot+2025-09-28+at+11.36.08%E2%80%AFPM.png Research - Make it stand out Figure Legend: The current dogma proposes that chemotherapy directly or indirectly generates DSBs that are sensitizing to BRCA mutant cells that have a DNA repair defect. We propose an alternative framework in which “BRCAness” relates to a lagging strand gap vulnerability due to a defect in gap suppression/repair. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/2baf5c15-47b1-45cd-b3bb-b1b924153896/Screenshot+2025-09-28+at+11.36.18%E2%80%AFPM.png Research - Make it stand out Figure Legend: Replication gaps as the true vulnerability in BRCA deficient cancer. The molecular basis for the sensitivity of cells with mutations in BRCA proteins to drugs such as PARP inhibitors (PARPi) is thought to stem from the conversion of single-strand DNA breaks to double-strand breaks during DNA replication (current dogma). This concept is supported by the role of the BRCA proteins in fixing DNA double stranded breaks (DSBs) Rather than pausing or stopping at a road block, disparate DNA lesions/roadblocks could similarly trigger re-priming leaving gaps in the wake of replication that we propose is the sensitizing lesion (Alternative Framework). This concept is supported by the role of the BRCA proteins in preventing and fixing single stranded DNA breaks/gaps. If gaps are the true vulnerability, gap making drugs should selectively kill BRCA deficient cancer cells, lets start testing! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/5a566384-836c-4a5f-a211-f5b77245d175/project3cantorlab.JPG Research - Make it stand out Figure Legend: FANCJ binds directly to the mismatch repair (MMR) protein, MLH1 and this interaction really matters for DNA replication. So far, our data indicate that the interaction helps peel the upstream MSH2-complexes off of DNA and this allows replication to go again. As evidence, we find depletion of MSH2 restores replication restart to cells lacking the FANCJ-MLH1 interaction. Does MSH2 physically blocks replication, or does it block a replication factor? We hope to find out! Could colon cancer due to MMR mutations have replisome changes that provide new opportunities for targeting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652562310742-3Y1HXUBK3Y5DVCOY43ZD/unsplash-image-pwcKF7L4-no.jpg Research - Make it stand out Figure Legend: Suppressing the gaps to improve FA patient health. If gaps are the fundamental problem in FA, not failed repair of interstrand crosslinks as often proposed, drugs suppressing gaps could be improve FA patient health https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/412381d8-2790-4c78-be57-8f56c1dedc84/cantor5.png Research - Make it stand out Figure Legend: What is the elusive factor (s) that makes some cancers curable? https://www.sharoncantor.com/publications daily 0.75 2025-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1651367088775-LL7ELS4L4KZQR3RA2ZCC/unsplash-image--qycBqByWIY.jpg Publications https://www.sharoncantor.com/project-achilles daily 0.75 2022-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/8f45ae57-3dde-4ac4-9dac-f62a471c1975/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-12-22%2Bat%2B6.13.56%2BPM.png Project Achilles - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.sharoncantor.com/home daily 1.0 2024-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652743263117-4CVXJ3U4IJF834I75D3J/cantor%2Blab%2Bgraphic%2B3.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/00b01a58-bf32-4664-9c22-243d86805bf4/Woodpecker_300dpi.tif.jpg Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/a4491048-21c8-4768-93da-3a5555aa2962/cantorapplepicking2.PNG Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.sharoncantor.com/contact daily 0.75 2022-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652559946548-YU0ANORCUC3ZD5344EBA/lazare+2.jpg Contact https://www.sharoncantor.com/sharon-cantor daily 0.75 2025-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1651361281815-BNC1ZW9GYBKV6RYLTUT2/unsplash-image--qycBqByWIY.jpg Sharon Cantor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/5407301b-efad-43d9-8135-fa21edb6991e/sharoncantor.jpg Sharon Cantor https://www.sharoncantor.com/join-us daily 0.75 2025-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652562803342-4JNJ99E6KAO5ZIXHFD0X/Lab+apple+picking.jpg Join Us! https://www.sharoncantor.com/alumni daily 0.75 2025-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652558279131-HZXMAOLS03AUUT5GF6UD/unsplash-image--qycBqByWIY.jpg Alumni https://www.sharoncantor.com/magic-transcription-factor-encode-analysis daily 0.75 2022-05-01 https://www.sharoncantor.com/project2 daily 0.75 2022-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/871e00c2-1222-4ae6-95c4-f9f935482509/project2cantorlabs.png Project2 - Make it stand out Figure Legend: Replication gaps as the true vulnerability in BRCA deficient cancer. The molecular basis for the sensitivity of cells with mutations in BRCA proteins to drugs such as PARP inhibitors (PARPi) is thought to stem from the conversion of single-strand DNA breaks to double-strand breaks during DNA replication (current dogma). This concept is supported by the role of the BRCA proteins in fixing DNA double stranded breaks (DSBs) Rather than pausing or stopping at a road block, disparate DNA lesions/roadblocks could similarly trigger re-priming leaving gaps in the wake of replication that we propose is the sensitizing lesion (Alternative Framework). This concept is supported by the role of the BRCA proteins in preventing and fixing single stranded DNA breaks/gaps. If gaps are the true vulnerability, gap making drugs should selectively kill BRCA deficient cancer cells, lets start testing! https://www.sharoncantor.com/project5 daily 0.75 2022-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/da54d4c7-8b1a-42e1-9c62-38dc86a05866/project5cantorlabs.jpg Project5 - Make it stand out Figure Legend: What is the elusive factor (s) that makes some cancers curable? https://www.sharoncantor.com/project3 daily 0.75 2022-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/076c55da-06d3-494a-8bdf-a54486851cb2/project3cantorlab.JPG Project3 - Make it stand out Figure 3 Legend: FANCJ binds directly to the mismatch repair (MMR) protein, MLH1 and this interaction really matters for DNA replication. So far, our data indicate that the interaction helps peel the upstream MSH2-complexes off of DNA and this allows replication to go again. As evidence, we find depletion of MSH2 restores replication restart to cells lacking the FANCJ-MLH1 interaction. Does MSH2 physically blocks replication, or does it block a replication factor? We hope to find out! Could colon cancer due to MMR mutations have replisome changes that provide new opportunities for targeting. https://www.sharoncantor.com/project4 daily 0.75 2022-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652562216588-PEIIK0U24PTZPFU636CT/unsplash-image-pwcKF7L4-no.jpg Project4 - Make it stand out Figure 4 legend: Suppressing the gaps to improve FA patient health. If gaps are the fundamental problem in FA, not failed repair of interstrand crosslinks as often proposed, drugs suppressing gaps could be improve FA patient health https://www.sharoncantor.com/project-1 daily 0.75 2022-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/0a71874f-8548-4051-97fb-9fa974218728/project1cantorlab.jpg Project 1 Figure Legend: The current dogma proposes that chemotherapy directly or indirectly generates DSBs that are sensitizing to BRCA mutant cells that have a DNA repair defect. We propose an alternative framework in which “BRCAness” relates to a lagging strand gap vulnerability due a defect in gap suppression/repair. https://www.sharoncantor.com/project6 daily 0.75 2022-05-14 https://www.sharoncantor.com/lab-news daily 0.75 2026-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652743263117-4CVXJ3U4IJF834I75D3J/cantor%2Blab%2Bgraphic%2B3.jpg Lab News https://www.sharoncantor.com/lab-commentary daily 0.75 2025-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/626d5d80704a882172fd060f/1652743263117-4CVXJ3U4IJF834I75D3J/cantor%2Blab%2Bgraphic%2B3.jpg Lab Commentary https://www.sharoncantor.com/home-alt-bedford daily 0.75 2025-05-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500612440-PGQSIY8KL9F7T5VIXQLO/chambers-2.jpg Home Alt A better world Starts with a choice Contact Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500503574-5BAPXZO9U06UV61P49UO/chambers1.jpg Home Alt Sustainability Starts with you Join Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390500933384-LII4SRIPHFYOUFX0UCXC/chambers-4.jpg Home Alt A better world Starts with a choice Join Us https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/52a74d9ae4b0253945d2aee9/1390504287124-HQ8GNX1JCE22V047MSQ9/chambers-8.jpg Home Alt Preserve Nature Join Us