Full Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Year arrived at BSU: 1997
Mailing Address:
Department of Biological Sciences
Boise State University
Boise, ID 83725-1515
Office Location: Science Building, Room 227
Office Number: 208-426-4287
Office Fax: 208-426-1040
E-Mail Address: cjorcyk@boisestate.edu
Academic Degrees
B.S. in Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 1983
Ph.D. in Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 1991
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Intramural Research Training Award, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 1992-1997
Courses
- BIOL 310 Genetics
- BIOL 320 Cell Biology
- BIOL 344/344G Molecular Cell & Genetics Laboratory
- BIOL 441/541 Molecular Biology of Cancer
- BIOL 441SL/541SL Molecular Biology of Cancer Service-Learning
- BIOL 465/565 Advanced Topics in Molecular Biological Techniques
- BIOL 466/566 Molecular Studies of Cancer
- BIOL 595 Readings and Discussion: Cancer Biology
- BMOL 606 Grant/Proposal Writing
- BMOL 616 Responsible Research Conduct
More Information
Lab Research Interests
The Jorcyk Laboratory of Inflammatory Cytokines in Tumor Invasion and Metastasis
Our laboratory’s research interests are in the area of inflammatory cytokines and their role in tumor invasion and metastasis. For approximately 20 years, we have focused on studying how the interleukin-6 (IL-6)-family member oncostatin M (OSM) contributes to breast carcinoma progression. Our lab has conducted some of the field’s first research on OSM and cancer metastasis, particularly to bone and lung. We have been the first to demonstrate that OSM promotes increased numbers of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in mouse models of human breast cancer. Now we are addressing both how OSM interacts with IL-6 and promotes extracellular matrix remodeling in breast cancer metastasis. In addition, we have developed numerous cell lines and mouse tumor models of breast carcinoma.