Paula Vertino PhD
Overview
Dr. Vertino is a cancer research scientist internationally recognized for her work in the field of cancer epigenetics. She has a longstanding record of extramural research support from the NCI, the American Cancer Society, NASA and the Georgia Cancer Coalition.
She served as leader of the Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics Program of the Winship Cancer Institute while at Emory. She previously served as the Director of Graduate Studies for the Cancer Biology Graduate Program and was the co-director for research for the Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Program. She also served as a regular member on the Cancer Etiology study section at the NIH, and is a former member of the editorial board of Cancer Research.
While at Emory, Dr. Vertino was actively engaged in graduate and postgraduate education as well as trained and mentored numerous graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and medical residents in her laboratory.
Dr. Vertino received her BS in biochemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she was a Phi Beta Kappa inductee. She pursued graduate work at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, receiving her PhD from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1990. After postdoctoral training in cancer genetics at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Dr. Vertino joined the faculty of Emory University in 1996.
Dr. Vertino received several local honors and awards, including induction into the 'Millipub Club' and the 'Emory 1%', recognizing Emory faculty that have authored articles cited more than 1000 times, and with NIH grants scoring in the top 1% at peer review. She was invited to the board of Faculty of 1000.
Dr. Vertino's research interests are focused on the areas of cancer epigenetics and novel mechanisms of gene silencing in cancer. Her work has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society and Georgia Cancer Coalition.
Dr. Vertino has published extensively on cancer epigenetics and novel mechanisms of gene silencing in cancer. She received several awards including an Avon Breast Cancer Scholar Award for her work on the TMS1 gene and its role in breast carcinogenesis.
Academic Appointment
- Professor (with tenure), Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine
Education
Degrees
- PhD from Roswell Park Cancer Institute Graduate Division
- BS from State University of New York at Stony Brook
Research
Focus
- The major interests of my laboratory center around the epigenetic mechanisms that drive human tumorigenesis. Current studies are aimed at understanding the molecular basis for aberrant gene silencing through the study of DNA methylation, DNA/histone methyltransferases and chromatin structure.
Publications
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TGF-1-mediated intercellular signaling fuels cooperative cellular invasion.
Cell Rep Volume: 44 Page(s): 115315
02/25/2025 Authors: Khatib TO; Pedro BA; Bombin S; Matsuk VY; Robinson IE; Webster SF; Marcus LJ; Summerbell ER; Tharp GK; Knippler CM -
Systemic inflammation and changes in physical well-being in patients with breast cancer: a longitudinal study in community oncology settings.
Oncologist Volume: 30
02/06/2025 Authors: Gilmore N; Li Y; Seplaki CL; Sohn M; Yang Y; Li C-S; Loh KP; Lin P-J; Kleckner A; Mohamed M -
The effect of YOCAS yoga on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in older (60+) vs. younger ( 59) cancer survivors: Secondary analysis of a nationwide, multicenter, phase 3 randomized controlled trial.
J Geriatr Oncol Volume: 15 Page(s): 102076
11/01/2024 Authors: Arana-Chicas E; Lin P-J; Gada U; Sun H; Chakrabarti A; Mattick LJ; Rieth K; Chay CH; Ruzich J; Esparaz BT -
Transposon DNA sequences facilitate the tissue-specific gene transfer of circulating tumor DNA between human cells.
Nucleic Acids Res Volume: 52 Page(s): 7539 - 7555
07/22/2024 Authors: Cinar M; Martinez-Medina L; Puvvula PK; Arakelyan A; Vardarajan BN; Anthony N; Nagaraju GP; Park D; Feng L; Sheff F -
Exercise and inflammatory cytokine regulation among older adults with myeloid malignancies.
Exp Gerontol Volume: 187 Page(s): 112364
03/01/2024 Authors: Loh KP; Wang Y; Sanapala C; Gilmore N; Netherby-Winslow C; Mendler JH; Liesveld J; Huselton E; Williams AM; Klepin HD -
Epigenetic and inflammatory markers in older adults with cancer: A Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology narrative review.
J Geriatr Oncol Volume: 15 Page(s): 101655
01/01/2024 Authors: Gilmore N; Loh KP; Liposits G; Arora SP; Vertino P; Janelsins M -
Exercise and epigenetic ages in older adults with myeloid malignancies.
Eur J Med Res Volume: 28 Page(s): 180
05/30/2023 Authors: Loh KP; Sanapala C; Jensen-Battaglia M; Rana A; Sohn MB; Watson E; Gilmore N; Klepin HD; Mendler JH; Liesveld J -
Arid1a mutation suppresses TGF- signaling and induces cholangiocarcinoma.
Cell Rep Volume: 40 Page(s): 111253
08/30/2022 Authors: Guo B; Friedland SC; Alexander W; Myers JA; Wang W; O'Dell MR; Getman M; Whitney-Miller CL; Agostini-Vulaj D; Huber AR -
A single-arm pilot study of a mobile health exercise intervention (GO-EXCAP) in older patients with myeloid neoplasms.
Blood Adv Volume: 6 Page(s): 3850 - 3860
07/12/2022 Authors: Loh KP; Sanapala C; Watson EE; Jensen-Battaglia M; Janelsins MC; Klepin HD; Schnall R; Culakova E; Vertino P; Susiarjo M -
Protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial of a mobile health exercise intervention for older patients with myeloid neoplasms (GO-EXCAP 2).
J Geriatr Oncol Volume: 13 Page(s): 545 - 553
05/01/2022 Authors: Loh KP; Sanapala C; Janelsins M; Klepin HD; Schnall R; Culakova E; Sohn MB; Vertino P; Susiarjo M; Jensen-Battaglia M