Laura Kresty

2017 Presentation Title – Cranberry Proanthocyanidins Reverse Microbial Dysbiosis and Inhibit Bile Acid Metabolism in Association with Esophageal Cancer Prevention

Laura Kresty, Ph.D., M.S. is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin Division of Hematology and Oncology, specializing in Cancer Prevention. Dr. Kresty received her PhD in Public Health from The Ohio State University in 2000 with a major in Cancer Chemoprevention and Epidemiology and minor in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Dr. Kresty remained at The Ohio State University to complete a NCI-Sponsored Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Molecular Oncology, followed by a faculty appointment in Internal Medicine.

In 2008 Dr. Kresty joined the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine and Sylvester Cancer where she continued her research focused on the inhibition of esophageal adenocarcinoma and cancers of the head and neck. Dr. Kresty also served as Director for the Doctorate in Epidemiology Program and was a Cancer Biology Steering Committee Member at the University of Miami.

In January 2013, Dr. Kresty joined the Medical College of Wisconsin where she continues research investigating risk factors, molecular mechanisms and preventive strategies for targeting cancers of the esophagus and head and neck. Dr. Kresty serves as an Associate Editor for Molecular Carcinogenesis, is a peer reviewer for multiple additional journals in her field, has over 50 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters and has delivered 45 invited talks throughout the world.

In addition, she is a Standing Member of NCI’s Chemo/Dietary Prevention Study Section and frequently serves on other NIH/NCI review and special emphasis panels. Her ongoing research focus is on evaluating the cancer inhibitory potential of various dietary constituents, including cranberry proanthocyanidins (C-PACs).

Her research team has reported for the first time that C-PAC activates autophagic cell machinery leading to cell death, the specific type of C-PAC- induced cell death depends on sensitivity to bile acids, C-PAC-induced death is Beclin-1 independent and importantly Beclin-1 inactivation is linked to esophageal adenocarcinoma stage and grade. Dr. Kresty is also interested in energy excess as it relates to escalating esophageal adenocarcinoma risk and collaborating on investigations focused on novel imaging technologies to detect early epithelial and sub-epithelial esophageal changes for more rapid evaluation of chemopreventive agents.