Marcia Haigis

Marcia Haigis has elucidated the role of mitochondrial sirtuins, particularly SIRT3, in cancer metabolism, demonstrating that SIRT3 functions as a mitochondrial tumor suppressor by deacetylating and activating metabolic enzymes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, ROS detoxification, and the TCA cycle. Her research showed that SIRT3 loss leads to increased mitochondrial ROS, HIF-1alpha stabilization, and metabolic shift toward glycolysis that promotes tumorigenesis. She established that SIRT3 expression is reduced in breast, ovarian, and hepatocellular cancers. Her work on mitochondrial protein acetylation has identified new metabolic vulnerabilities in tumors with sirtuin deficiency.