Agata Rybicka
Papers
1
Total Citations
25
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1
About
Agata Rybicka is a cancer biologist whose work illuminates how the tumor microenvironment drives drug resistance and epithelial plasticity. Her research focuses on the non-genetic mechanisms by which cancer cells evade therapy, particularly through microenvironment-induced expression of receptor tyrosine kinases. In her highly cited 2018 study (25 citations), Rybicka provided compelling evidence that specific microenvironments impose non-sporadic expression of AXL and cKIT receptors, challenging the prevailing model that drug-tolerant cells arise only through rare, stochastic epigenetic events. This work demonstrated that the tumor milieu can actively and predictably induce these receptors, directly linking them to epithelial plasticity and acquired drug resistance. By revealing that drug tolerance can be a coordinated, environment-driven response rather than a random occurrence, Rybicka’s findings have significant implications for designing therapies that target both cancer cells and their supportive niches. Her research continues to advance our understanding of how the microenvironment shapes cancer evolution and treatment failure.
Research Focus
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