Host-Tumor Interactions Research Program

Tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis depend not only on the tumor cell alone, but also on the complex interactions between the tumor cells and their host. The goal of the Host-Tumor Interactions Research Program is to develop a detailed and mechanistic understanding of not just the tumor cell and tumor mutations, but also all the components of the host microenvironment that influence cancer and the response to cancer therapy.

RESEARCH THEMES

With the goal of understanding how complex interactions between tumor cells and their host contribute to cancer, the Host-Tumor Interactions program focuses on four specific research themes:

Angiogenesis & Vasculogenesis

Understanding how new blood vessels form to feed tumors – and finding ways to block these processes

Cell:Cell & Cell:Matrix Interactions

Identifying molecules involved in communication between tumor cells and their cellular and structural microenvironment

Inflammation & Immunity

Uncovering how inflammation triggers and promotes cancer

Tumor Imaging & Modeling

Integrating knowledge about host-tumor interactions to understand how tumors evolve in a changing microenvironment

Program Leader

Mary M. Zutter, M.D.

Program Leader

Jeffrey C. Rathmell, Ph.D.

All Program Members

Featured Publications

Size matters in nanoscale communication.

Zijlstra A (HT), Di Vizio D.

Nat. Cell Biol. 2018 MAR 20(3):228-230 PMID:29476154

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Pharmacological blockade of ASCT2-dependent glutamine transport leads to antitumor efficacy in preclinical models.

Schulte ML, Fu A, Zhao P, Li J, Geng L, Smith ST, Kondo J, Coffey RJ (GI), Johnson MO, Rathmell JC (HT), Sharick JT, Skala MC, Smith JA, Berlin JD (GI, TR), Washington MK (GI), Nickels ML, Manning HC (HT).

Nat. Med. 2018 FEB 24(2):194-202 PMC5803339

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Similarities and Distinctions of Cancer and Immune Metabolism in Inflammation and Tumors

Andrejeva G, Rathmell JC (HT)

Cell Metab. 2017 JUL 5 26(1):49-70 PMC5555084.

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Metabolic Regulation of the Immune Humoral Response

Boothby MR (HT), Rickert RC.

Immunity 2017 MAY 16 46(5):743-755 PMC5640164

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Foxp3 and Toll-like receptor signaling balance Treg cell anabolic metabolism for suppression.

Gerriets VA, Kishton RJ, Johnson MO, Cohen S, Siska PJ, Nichols AG, Warmoes MO, de Cubas AA, MacIver NJ, Locasale JW, Turka LA, Wells AD, Rathmell JC (HT).

Nat. Immunol. 2016 DEC 17(12):1459-1466 PMC5215903.

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Program News

December 14, 2018

RNA processing and antiviral immunity

A recent study in Nature Communications defines the in vivo substrates of RIG-I like receptors (RLRs) during an oncogenic virus infection and reveals a relationship between cellular RNA processing and an innate antiviral immune response.