Dr. Javed joined the ITA in September 2022. She received her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of British Columbia (BC) and her masters in Biochemistry from the University of Northern BC, Canada. Sumreen is a trained pharmacist from Pakistan. She specializes in cancer immunotherapy and breast cancer metastasis.
During her Ph.D., her dissertation was selected for an oral presentation at the Canadian Cancer Research Conference (2019), one of the most esteemed national gatherings of oncologists in Canada. Sumreen has also received numerous institutional and national awards from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Muslim Awards for Excellence, UBC, and UNBC.
Currently, She is working with Dr. Mohammad Jalali (“MJ”) to develop system dynamics models to investigate the barriers to access and disparities in immunotherapy delivery to cancer patients.
Selected Publications
Javed, Sumreen; Soukhtehzari, Sepideh; Fernandes, Nazarine; Williams, Karla C
Longitudinal bioluminescence imaging to monitor breast tumor growth and treatment response using the chick chorioallantoic membrane model Journal Article
In: Sci Rep, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 17192, 2022, ISSN: 2045-2322.
@article{pmid36229503,
title = {Longitudinal bioluminescence imaging to monitor breast tumor growth and treatment response using the chick chorioallantoic membrane model},
author = {Sumreen Javed and Sepideh Soukhtehzari and Nazarine Fernandes and Karla C Williams},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-20854-9},
issn = {2045-2322},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-10-01},
journal = {Sci Rep},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {17192},
abstract = {The development of successful treatment regimens for breast cancer requires strong pre-clinical data generated in physiologically relevant pre-clinical models. Here we report the development of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model to study tumor growth and angiogenesis using breast cancer cell lines. MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 tumor cell lines were engrafted onto the chick embryo CAM to study tumor growth and treatment response. Tumor growth was evaluated through bioluminescence imaging and a significant increase in tumor size and vascularization was found over a 9-day period. We then evaluated the impact of anti-angiogenic drugs, axitinib and bevacizumab, on tumor growth and angiogenesis. Drug treatment significantly reduced tumor vascularization and size. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the chick embryo CAM is a clinically relevant model to monitor therapeutic response in breast cancer and can be used as a platform for drug screening to evaluate not only gross changes in tumor burden but physiological processes such as angiogenesis.},
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The development of successful treatment regimens for breast cancer requires strong pre-clinical data generated in physiologically relevant pre-clinical models. Here we report the development of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model to study tumor growth and angiogenesis using breast cancer cell lines. MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 tumor cell lines were engrafted onto the chick embryo CAM to study tumor growth and treatment response. Tumor growth was evaluated through bioluminescence imaging and a significant increase in tumor size and vascularization was found over a 9-day period. We then evaluated the impact of anti-angiogenic drugs, axitinib and bevacizumab, on tumor growth and angiogenesis. Drug treatment significantly reduced tumor vascularization and size. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the chick embryo CAM is a clinically relevant model to monitor therapeutic response in breast cancer and can be used as a platform for drug screening to evaluate not only gross changes in tumor burden but physiological processes such as angiogenesis.
Javed, Sumreen; Li, Wai Ming; Zeb, Mehreen; Yaqoob, Almas; Tackaberry, Linda E; Massicotte, Hugues B; Egger, Keith N; Cheung, Peter C K; Payne, Geoffrey W; Lee, Chow H
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Wild Mushroom, in RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells and Mouse Microcirculation Journal Article
In: Molecules, vol. 24, no. 19, 2019, ISSN: 1420-3049.
@article{pmid31569655,
title = {Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Wild Mushroom, in RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells and Mouse Microcirculation},
author = {Sumreen Javed and Wai Ming Li and Mehreen Zeb and Almas Yaqoob and Linda E Tackaberry and Hugues B Massicotte and Keith N Egger and Peter C K Cheung and Geoffrey W Payne and Chow H Lee},
doi = {10.3390/molecules24193509},
issn = {1420-3049},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-09-01},
journal = {Molecules},
volume = {24},
number = {19},
abstract = {The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of a previously un-studied wild mushroom, , collected from the forests of north-central British Columbia. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage model was used to study the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The crude alkaline extract demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory activity, and was further purified using a "bio-activity-guided-purification" approach. The size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography yielded a water-soluble anti-inflammatory polysaccharide (AIPetinc). AIPetinc has an average molecular weight of 5 kDa, and is a heteroglucan composed of mainly glucose (88.6%) with a small amount of galactose (4.0%), mannose (4.4%), fucose (0.7%), and xylose (2.3%). In in vivo settings, AIPetinc restored the histamine-induced inflammatory event in mouse gluteus maximus muscle, thus confirming its anti-inflammatory activity in an animal model. This study constitutes the first report on the bioactivity of , and highlights the potential medicinal benefits of fungi from the wild forests of northern British Columbia. Furthermore, it also reiterates the need to explore natural resources for alternative treatment to modern world diseases.},
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The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of a previously un-studied wild mushroom, , collected from the forests of north-central British Columbia. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage model was used to study the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. The crude alkaline extract demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory activity, and was further purified using a "bio-activity-guided-purification" approach. The size-exclusion and ion-exchange chromatography yielded a water-soluble anti-inflammatory polysaccharide (AIPetinc). AIPetinc has an average molecular weight of 5 kDa, and is a heteroglucan composed of mainly glucose (88.6%) with a small amount of galactose (4.0%), mannose (4.4%), fucose (0.7%), and xylose (2.3%). In in vivo settings, AIPetinc restored the histamine-induced inflammatory event in mouse gluteus maximus muscle, thus confirming its anti-inflammatory activity in an animal model. This study constitutes the first report on the bioactivity of , and highlights the potential medicinal benefits of fungi from the wild forests of northern British Columbia. Furthermore, it also reiterates the need to explore natural resources for alternative treatment to modern world diseases.
Javed, Sumreen; Mitchell, Kevin; Sidsworth, Danielle; Sellers, Stephanie L; Reutens-Hernandez, Jennifer; Massicotte, Hugues B; Egger, Keith N; Lee, Chow H; Payne, Geoffrey W
Inonotus obliquus attenuates histamine-induced microvascular inflammation Journal Article
In: PLoS One, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. e0220776, 2019, ISSN: 1932-6203.
@article{pmid31437163,
title = {Inonotus obliquus attenuates histamine-induced microvascular inflammation},
author = {Sumreen Javed and Kevin Mitchell and Danielle Sidsworth and Stephanie L Sellers and Jennifer Reutens-Hernandez and Hugues B Massicotte and Keith N Egger and Chow H Lee and Geoffrey W Payne},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0220776},
issn = {1932-6203},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {PLoS One},
volume = {14},
number = {8},
pages = {e0220776},
abstract = {Cell-to-cell communication is a key element of microvascular blood flow control, including rapidly carrying signals through the vascular endothelium in response to local stimuli. This cell-to-cell communication is negatively impacted during inflammation through the disruption of junctional integrity. Such disruption is associated with promoting the onset of cardiovascular diseases as a result of altered microvascular blood flow regulation. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms how inflammation drives microvascular dysfunction and compounds that mitigate such inflammation and dysfunction are of great interest for development. As such we aimed to investigate extracts of mushrooms as potential novel compounds. Using intravital microscopy, the medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus was observed, to attenuate histamine-induced inflammation conducted vasodilation in second-order arterioles in the gluteus maximus muscle of C57BL/6 mice. Mast cell activation by C48/80 similarly disrupted endothelial junctions and conducted vasodilation but only histamine was blocked by the histamine antagonist, pyrilamine not C48/80 suggesting the importance of mast cell activation. Data presented here supports that histamine induced inflammation is a major disruptor of junctional integrity, and highlights the important anti-inflammatory properties of Inonotus obliquus focusing future assessment of mast cells as putative target for Inonotus obliquus.},
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pubstate = {published},
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Cell-to-cell communication is a key element of microvascular blood flow control, including rapidly carrying signals through the vascular endothelium in response to local stimuli. This cell-to-cell communication is negatively impacted during inflammation through the disruption of junctional integrity. Such disruption is associated with promoting the onset of cardiovascular diseases as a result of altered microvascular blood flow regulation. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms how inflammation drives microvascular dysfunction and compounds that mitigate such inflammation and dysfunction are of great interest for development. As such we aimed to investigate extracts of mushrooms as potential novel compounds. Using intravital microscopy, the medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus was observed, to attenuate histamine-induced inflammation conducted vasodilation in second-order arterioles in the gluteus maximus muscle of C57BL/6 mice. Mast cell activation by C48/80 similarly disrupted endothelial junctions and conducted vasodilation but only histamine was blocked by the histamine antagonist, pyrilamine not C48/80 suggesting the importance of mast cell activation. Data presented here supports that histamine induced inflammation is a major disruptor of junctional integrity, and highlights the important anti-inflammatory properties of Inonotus obliquus focusing future assessment of mast cells as putative target for Inonotus obliquus.
Williams, Karla C; Cepeda, Mario A; Javed, Sumreen; Searle, Karlee; Parkins, Katie M; Makela, Ashley V; Hamilton, Amanda M; Soukhtehzari, Sepideh; Kim, Yohan; Tuck, Alan B; Ronald, John A; Foster, Paula J; Chambers, Ann F; Leong, Hon S
Invadopodia are chemosensing protrusions that guide cancer cell extravasation to promote brain tropism in metastasis Journal Article
In: Oncogene, vol. 38, no. 19, pp. 3598–3615, 2019, ISSN: 1476-5594.
@article{pmid30651600,
title = {Invadopodia are chemosensing protrusions that guide cancer cell extravasation to promote brain tropism in metastasis},
author = {Karla C Williams and Mario A Cepeda and Sumreen Javed and Karlee Searle and Katie M Parkins and Ashley V Makela and Amanda M Hamilton and Sepideh Soukhtehzari and Yohan Kim and Alan B Tuck and John A Ronald and Paula J Foster and Ann F Chambers and Hon S Leong},
doi = {10.1038/s41388-018-0667-4},
issn = {1476-5594},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-01-01},
journal = {Oncogene},
volume = {38},
number = {19},
pages = {3598--3615},
abstract = {Invadopodia are cell protrusions that mediate cancer cell extravasation but the microenvironmental cues and signaling factors that induce invadopodia formation during extravasation remain unclear. Using intravital imaging and loss of function experiments, we determined invadopodia contain receptors involved in chemotaxis, namely GABA receptor and EGFR. These chemotaxis capabilities are mediated in part by PAK1 which controls invadopodia responsiveness to ligands such as GABA and EGF via assembly, stability, and turnover of invadopodia in vivo. PAK1 knockdown rendered cells unresponsive to chemotactic stimuli present in the stroma, resulting in dramatically lower rates of cancer cell extravasation and metastatic colony formation compared to stimulated cancer cells. In an experimental mouse model of brain metastasis, inhibition of PAK1 significantly reduced overall tumor burden and reduced the average size of brain metastases. In summary, invadopodia contain chemotaxis receptors that can respond to microenvironmental cues to guide cancer cell extravasation, and when PAK1 is depleted, brain tropism of metastatic breast cancer cells is significantly reduced, blocking secondary colony growth at sites otherwise permissive for metastatic outgrowth.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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Invadopodia are cell protrusions that mediate cancer cell extravasation but the microenvironmental cues and signaling factors that induce invadopodia formation during extravasation remain unclear. Using intravital imaging and loss of function experiments, we determined invadopodia contain receptors involved in chemotaxis, namely GABA receptor and EGFR. These chemotaxis capabilities are mediated in part by PAK1 which controls invadopodia responsiveness to ligands such as GABA and EGF via assembly, stability, and turnover of invadopodia in vivo. PAK1 knockdown rendered cells unresponsive to chemotactic stimuli present in the stroma, resulting in dramatically lower rates of cancer cell extravasation and metastatic colony formation compared to stimulated cancer cells. In an experimental mouse model of brain metastasis, inhibition of PAK1 significantly reduced overall tumor burden and reduced the average size of brain metastases. In summary, invadopodia contain chemotaxis receptors that can respond to microenvironmental cues to guide cancer cell extravasation, and when PAK1 is depleted, brain tropism of metastatic breast cancer cells is significantly reduced, blocking secondary colony growth at sites otherwise permissive for metastatic outgrowth.
Smith, Aaron; Javed, Sumreen; Barad, Ankush; Myhre, Vicky; Li, Wai Ming; Reimer, Kerry; Massicotte, Hugues B; Tackaberry, Linda E; Payne, Geoffrey W; Egger, Keith N; Lee, Chow H
Growth-Inhibitory and Immunomodulatory Activities of Wild Mushrooms from North-Central British Columbia (Canada) Journal Article
In: Int J Med Mushrooms, vol. 19, no. 6, pp. 485–497, 2017, ISSN: 1940-4344.
@article{pmid29199559,
title = {Growth-Inhibitory and Immunomodulatory Activities of Wild Mushrooms from North-Central British Columbia (Canada)},
author = {Aaron Smith and Sumreen Javed and Ankush Barad and Vicky Myhre and Wai Ming Li and Kerry Reimer and Hugues B Massicotte and Linda E Tackaberry and Geoffrey W Payne and Keith N Egger and Chow H Lee},
doi = {10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.v19.i6.10},
issn = {1940-4344},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {Int J Med Mushrooms},
volume = {19},
number = {6},
pages = {485--497},
abstract = {Wild mushrooms, especially from North America, have not been systematically explored for their medicinal properties. Here we report screening for the growth-inhibitory and immunomodulatory activities of 12 species collected from multiple locations in north-central British Columbia, Canada. Mushrooms were characterized using morphology and DNA sequencing, followed by chemical extraction into 4 fractions using 80% ethanol, 50% methanol, water, and 5% sodium hydroxide. Growth-inhibitory, immunostimulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of 5 mushrooms (Leucocybe connata, Trichaptum abietinum, Hydnellum sp., Gyromitra esculenta, and Hericium coralloides) are reported here, to our knowledge for the first time. Growth-inhibitory effects were assessed using the cytotoxic MTT assay. Immunostimulatory activity was assessed by tumor necrosis factor-α production in Raw 264.7 macrophages, whereas anti-inflammatory activity was assessed based on the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-α production. The ethanol and aqueous extracts of Hydnellum sp. were potent growth inhibitors, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.6 mg/mL. All 5 fungi displayed strong immunostimulatory activity, whereas only L. connata and T. abietinum showed strong anti-inflammatory activity. For the 7 other fungi investigated, which included well-known medicinal species such as Inonotus obliquus, Phellinus igniarius, and Ganoderma applanatum, the remarkable similarities in the biological activities reported here, and by others for specimens collected elsewhere, suggest that mushrooms can produce similar metabolites regardless of their habitat or ecosystem. This is to our knowledge the first study to explore wild mushrooms from British Columbia for biological activities that are relevant to cancer, and the results provide an initial framework for the selection of mushroom species with the potential for discovery of novel anticancer compounds.},
keywords = {},
pubstate = {published},
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Wild mushrooms, especially from North America, have not been systematically explored for their medicinal properties. Here we report screening for the growth-inhibitory and immunomodulatory activities of 12 species collected from multiple locations in north-central British Columbia, Canada. Mushrooms were characterized using morphology and DNA sequencing, followed by chemical extraction into 4 fractions using 80% ethanol, 50% methanol, water, and 5% sodium hydroxide. Growth-inhibitory, immunostimulatory, and anti-inflammatory activities of 5 mushrooms (Leucocybe connata, Trichaptum abietinum, Hydnellum sp., Gyromitra esculenta, and Hericium coralloides) are reported here, to our knowledge for the first time. Growth-inhibitory effects were assessed using the cytotoxic MTT assay. Immunostimulatory activity was assessed by tumor necrosis factor-α production in Raw 264.7 macrophages, whereas anti-inflammatory activity was assessed based on the inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-α production. The ethanol and aqueous extracts of Hydnellum sp. were potent growth inhibitors, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.6 mg/mL. All 5 fungi displayed strong immunostimulatory activity, whereas only L. connata and T. abietinum showed strong anti-inflammatory activity. For the 7 other fungi investigated, which included well-known medicinal species such as Inonotus obliquus, Phellinus igniarius, and Ganoderma applanatum, the remarkable similarities in the biological activities reported here, and by others for specimens collected elsewhere, suggest that mushrooms can produce similar metabolites regardless of their habitat or ecosystem. This is to our knowledge the first study to explore wild mushrooms from British Columbia for biological activities that are relevant to cancer, and the results provide an initial framework for the selection of mushroom species with the potential for discovery of novel anticancer compounds.