Home Department: Biology
Mentor: Julien Sage (Pediatrics - Hematology/Oncology)

"Cell-State Interactions Underlying Tumor Heterogeneity in Combined Lung Cancer"

Lung cancer remains the #1 cancer killer worldwide. A major reason why lung cancer is so challenging to treat is tumor heterogeneity, as cancer cells in different genetic or epigenetic states provide a large reservoir for therapy resistance. Ryan’s project focuses on combined small-cell and non-small-cell lung cancer tumors (“c-SCLC”), which serve as a paradigm for tumor heterogeneity and therapy resistance. His project involves investigating how c-SCLC cells in different states functionally interact in culture and in mouse models, testing the hypothesis that these interactions promote tumor growth and provide additional mechanisms of therapy resistance.