Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment

Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment Program Leads in Translational Cancer Research

The Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment Program has a long history as a leader in translational cancer research. Program co-leaders Marina Pasca di Magliano, Ph.D., and Yatrik Shah, Ph.D., have built a program with close ties to many clinical departments to expedite information exchange between the laboratory and the clinic. As such, program members are investigators on multi-investigator program grants from the National Institutes of Health.

Nationally Lauded Experts

Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment team members are nationally lauded experts representing diverse disciplines and perspectives. In addition to their research, the faculty are dedicated to educating and training the next generation of cancer investigators and in making a difference in the lives of patients with cancer. The program includes studies on the following:

• Angiogenesis
• Apoptosis
• Biomarkers
• Cancer stem cells
• Cell adhesion
• Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
• Gene expression
• Immunotherapy
• Invasion

Mark Day, Ph.D., works with students and trainees focusing on the therapeutic targeting of cell surface disintegrin proteases in advanced genitourinary cancers.
• Metastasis
• Oncogenes
• Resistance to therapy and tumor modeling
• Signaling
• Transcription
• Tumor microenvironment
• Tumor suppressor genes

Unified Team Collaborates on Discoveries

The physician-scientists in the Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment Program are brought together through a variety of impactful programmatic efforts, collaborative activities, mentorship and resources. The highly skilled members are unified through the following areas:

• Cell signaling changes occurring within tumor cells and the microenvironment that affect cancer growth
• Stem cell and cancer stem cell biology
• The role of the microenvironment in the development, progression and metastatic dissemination of cancer

Determination of Biological Vulnerabilities

Lonnie Shea, Ph.D. and Jacqueline Jeruss, M.D., Ph.D. collaborate to find new insights into the mechanisms associated with breast cancer cell cycle deregulation, implementation of bioengineered scaffolds to forestall breast cancer metastasis, and the basic and clinical translation of fertility preservation for young patients with cancer.

One of the key aims of the Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment Program is to define the biological behavior and signaling properties of cancer stem cells as they relate to tumor progression and treatment.

By understanding the cellular foundation of a cancer or tumor mass and the differences in cancer stem cells as compared to normal stem cells, our team seeks to discover the biochemical vulnerabilities of cancer stem cells and how to eliminate them.

Functions of Tumor Microenvironment and Key Signaling Changes

All organs have a unique microenvironment, specialized for function, and with cancer we have to understand the communication between a tumor and the microenvironment.

Cell behaviors change based on the microenvironment in which they live. The microenvironment can cause cancer cells to grow rather than allowing the immune system to fight the cancer. By observing both normal and cancer cells,we gain a greater understanding of the immune system and how we can alter this behavior.

This signaling or communication within the microenvironment is key to targeted therapy because signaling molecules are activated by the specific tumor. We then can activate the immune system to work against the tumor by preventing the signaling. By influencing this signaling behavior, we can stop cancer growth.

Scientific Goals Lead to New Treatments

Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment Program members generate new knowledge that leads to a deeper understanding of cellular and extracellular factors regulating tumor initiation, expansion, invasion and metastasis, with the goal of applying this knowledge to improve cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Investigators whose main focus is the microenvironment use multiple approaches to understand the interaction of tumor cells with cellular and extracellular components of the microenvironment.

Program-wide Mentoring Focus for Education and Training

Across the entire Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment Program, leadership has implemented a mentoring program to provide input on grant submissions and optimal research engagements and to help identify career development opportunities. This collaborative approach provides a more conducive environment to advancing cancer biology discovery. The program has a long-standing commitment to education for graduate and post-doctoral training. Home to the NCI-funded Cancer Biology Training Program, our members continue to significantly impact the education and training of the next generation of cancer biology investigators.

Signaling and Tumor Microenvironment Program Leadership

Yatrik Shah, Ph.D.
Marina Pasca di Magliano, Ph.D.