Description of Research Expertise
Research Interests
Cell Plasticity
Pancreatic Cancer
Tumor Immunology
Metastasis
Liver Regeneration
Key words: Metastasis, Pancreatic Cancer, Tumor Immunology, Cell Plasticity
Description of Research
Pancreas Cancer
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDA) is poised to become the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. This poor outcome is attributable to two facts: (1) pancreatic cancers metastasize early, before clinical detection, and (2) current anti-cancer therapies are inadequate. Our laboratory tackles these problems by understanding how tumors metastasize and identifying vulnerabilities that will lead to better therapies. Our efforts include studies of the tumor immune microenvironment, tumor metabolism, and cellular plasticity, using genetically engineered mice that recapitulate salient features of the human disease. In addition, we maintain a strong interest in liver biology and the pathogenesis of type I diabetes.
Rotation Projects
Rotation projects may be available based upon applicant interest starting in the Winter of 2020 (second rotation block). Please contact Dr. Stanger directly to discuss potential projects.
Lab personnel:
Ben Stanger, MD, PhD - Principal Investigator
Chenghua Yang - Research Specialist, Lab Manager
Jason Pitarresi, PhD - Research Associate
Jason Eccleston, MD - Postdoctoral Researcher
Maimon Hubbi, MD PhD - Postdoctoral Researcher
Takeshi Katsuda, PhD – Postdoctoral Researcher
Allyson J. Merrell, PhD - Postdoctoral Researcher
Yogev Sela, PhD - Postdoctoral Researcher
Il-Kyu Kim, PhD - Postdoctoral Researcher
Salina Yuan - Post-Graduate Student
Erin Hollander - Graduate Student
Jinyang Li - Graduate Student
Bobby Norgard - Graduate Student
Benjamin Kahn – MD PhD Rotation Student
Administrative Assistant:
Laura Murillo
215-573-0908
murillo@upenn.edu
Selected Publications
Yuan S, Natesan R, Sanchez-Rivera FJ, Li J, Bhanu NV, Yamazoe T, Lin JH, Merrell AJ, Sela Y, Thomas SK, Jiang Y, Plesset JB, Miller EM, Shi J, Garcia BA, Lowe SW, Asangani IA, Stanger BZ: Global regulation of the histone mark H3K36me2 underlies epithelial plasticity and metastatic progression Cancer Discov 10 (6): 854-871,2020.
Yuan S, Norgard RJ, Stanger BZ: Cellular Plasticity in Cancer Cancer Discov 9 (7): 837-51,2019.
Li J, Stanger BZ: The tumor as organizer model Science 363 (6431): 1038-1039,2019.
Markosyan N, Li J, Sun YH, Richman LP, Lin JH, Yan F, Quinones L, Sela Y, Yamazoe T, Gordon N, Tobias JW, Byrne KT, Rech AJ, FitzGerald GA, Stanger BZ, Vonderheide RH: Tumor cell-intrinsic EPHA2 suppresses anti-tumor immunity by regulating PTGS2 (COX-2) J Clin Invest 130 : 3594-3609,2019.
Aiello NM, Maddipati R, Norgard RJ, Balli D, Li J, Yuan S, Yamazoe T, Black T, Sahmoud A, Furth EE, Bar-Sagi D, Stanger BZ: EMT subtype influences epithelial plasticity and mode of cell migration Developmental Cell 45 (6): 681-695,2018.
Li J, Byrne KT, Yan F, Yamazoe T, Chen Z, Baslan T, Richman LP, Lin J, Sun YH, Rech AJ, Balli D, Hay CA, Sela Y, Merrell AJ, Liudahl SM, Gordon N, Norgard RJ, Yuan S, Yu S, Chao T, Ye S, Eisinger-Mathason TSK, Faryabi RB, Tobias JW, Lowe S, Coussens LM, Wherry EJ, Vonderheide RH, Stanger BZ: Tumor cell-intrinsic factors underlie immune heterogeneity and therapeutic response Immunity 49 (1): 178-193,2018.
Aiello NM, Brabletz T, Kang Y, Nieto MA, Weinberg RA, Stanger BZ: Upholding a role for EMT in pancreatic cancer metastasis Nature 547 (7661): E7-E8,2017.
View all publications
Academic Contact Information
Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute
Division of Gastroenterology
Department of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
512 Biomedical Research Bldg II/III (Office)
527 Biomedical Research Bldg II/III (Lab)
421 Curie Boulevard
Philadelphia,
PA
19104
Phone: 215-746-5560
Patient appointments: 800-789-7366