Taking aim at cancer
“Our Cancer Center is committed to performing impactful translational multi-disciplinary research that addresses unmet clinical needs relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”
– Ze'ev Ronai, Ph.D., Center Director
Achieving our goals through collaboration
Our scientists are always looking for novel ideas, partners and new ways of doing groundbreaking research to target cancer.
Programs
Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program
Understanding the cells that give rise to tumors and the signals allowing them to expand uncontrollably will help us learn how to defeat cancer.
Cancer Metabolism and Microenvironment Program
Just like a complex machine is made up of synchronized parts, cancer is the sum of highly organized cells and molecules that relay information causing the tumor to grow.
Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program
We are using the most sophisticated technologies to discover new anti-cancer therapeutics based on novel insights into cancer biology.
Technology supporting the three programs
Cancer Center Shared Resources
The 10 shared resources of our Cancer Center are specialized service facilities that support the cancer research efforts of our members, as well as other nonprofit and for-profit investigators in cancer research.
Latest news
-
How cancer research silos perpetuate inequity in cancer outcomes: An interview with Svasti Haricharan
To honor National Minority Health Month, we spoke to Svasti Haricharan about her work, who recently published a paper describing some of the shortfalls of the current research focusing on cancer disparities. -
Erkki Ruoslahti named a Fellow of the AACR Academy
The mission of the AACR Academy is to recognize and honor distinguished scientists whose scientific contributions have propelled significant innovation and progress against cancer. -
Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers awarded Curebound Discovery grants
Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers received three Discovery Grants from Curebound, an organization dedicated to funding collaborative cancer research in the San Diego area. -
Is cloud computing a game changer in cancer research? Three big questions for Lukas Chavez
Assistant Professor Lukas Chavez leverages modern technology for precision diagnostics and for uncovering new treatment options for the most aggressive childhood brain cancers - We asked him how these technologies are changing the game in cancer research. -
How community collaboration shapes leukemia research at Sanford Burnham Prebys
Since 2020, Todd and Rena Johnson have helped fund the research of Associate Professor Ani Deshpande, Ph.D. But it all started with their son Luke. -
Heating up cold brain tumors: An emerging approach to medulloblastoma
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but it doesn’t work on many childhood brain tumors. Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys are working to change that. -
Three Sanford Burnham Prebys faculty receive promotions
Sanford Burnham Prebys Cancer researchers Ani Deshpande, Brooke Emerling, and Charles Spruck have all been promoted from assistant to associate professor. -
Facing cancer disparities head-on: An interview with Svasti Haricharan
Svasti Haricharan, Ph.D., and her lab are revealing why more Black women get breast cancer, and they’re also telling us what we can do about it. -
Boosting immunotherapy in aggressive brain cancer
By deactivating the cells that sustain tumors, researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys are working to treat one of the deadliest brain cancers. -
How a breast cancer advocate shapes research at Sanford Burnham Prebys
Svasti Haricharan, a Sanford Burnham Prebys assistant professor and Karen McDonald, an advocate working with Svasti's team, discuss how to include patient voices in the biomedical research process. -
How misplaced DNA contributes to chronic illness
Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys recently published a review article in the journal Cell about cytoplasmic DNA. This is DNA that has migrated outside of the nucleus, which can act as a short-term protective strategy against cancer formation. However, the DNA can also contribute to cancer development through chronic inflammation over the long term. -
Sanford Burnham Prebys drug enters Phase 1 study for the treatment of tobacco use disorder
A drug discovered in the lab of Nicholas Cosford, Ph.D., professor and deputy director of the NCI-designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys, has entered a Phase 1 clinical study.
Publications
PRMT5 control of cGAS/STING and NLRC5 pathways defines melanoma response to antitumor immunity.
Kim H, Kim H, Feng Y, Li Y, Tamiya H, Tocci S, Ronai ZA
Sci Transl Med 2020 Jul 8 ;12(551)
Inhibition of Nuclear Pore Complex Formation Selectively Induces Cancer Cell Death.
Sakuma S, Raices M, Borlido J, Guglielmi V, Zhu EYS, D'Angelo MA
Cancer Discov 2021 Jan ;11(1):176-193
Golgi Acidification by NHE7 Regulates Cytosolic pH Homeostasis in Pancreatic Cancer Cells.
Galenkamp KMO, Sosicka P, Jung M, Recouvreux MV, Zhang Y, Moldenhauer MR, Brandi G, Freeze HH, Commisso C
Cancer Discov 2020 Jun ;10(6):822-835
PSGL-1 attenuates early TCR signaling to suppress CD8(+) T cell progenitor differentiation and elicit terminal CD8(+) T cell exhaustion.
Hope JL, Otero DC, Bae EA, Stairiker CJ, Palete AB, Faso HA, Lin M, Henriquez ML, Roy S, Seo H, Lei X, Wang ES, Chow S, Tinoco R, Daniels GA, Yip K, Campos AR, Yin J, Adams PD, Rao A, Bradley LM
Cell Rep 2023 Apr 26 ;42(5):112436
Alteration of Community Metabolism by Prebiotics and Medicinal Herbs.
Peterson CT, Pérez-Santiago J, Iablokov SN, Rodionov DA, Peterson SN
Microorganisms 2023 Mar 28 ;11(4)
3D genome mapping identifies subgroup-specific chromosome conformations and tumor-dependency genes in ependymoma.
Okonechnikov K, Camgöz A, Chapman O, Wani S, Park DE, Hübner JM, Chakraborty A, Pagadala M, Bump R, Chandran S, Kraft K, Acuna-Hidalgo R, Reid D, Sikkink K, Mauermann M, Juarez EF, Jenseit A, Robinson JT, Pajtler KW, Milde T, Jäger N, Fiesel P, Morgan L, Sridhar S, Coufal NG, Levy M, Malicki D, Hobbs C, Kingsmore S, Nahas S, Snuderl M, Crawford J, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Davidson TB, Cotter J, Michaiel G, Fleischhack G, Mundlos S, Schmitt A, Carter H, Michealraj KA, Kumar SA, Taylor MD, Rich J, Buchholz F, Mesirov JP, Pfister SM, Ay F, Dixon JR, Kool M, Chavez L
Nat Commun 2023 Apr 21 ;14(1):2300
The DOT1L-MLLT10 complex regulates male fertility and promotes histone removal during spermiogenesis.
Lin H, Cossu IG, Leu NA, Deshpande AJ, Bernt KM, Luo M, Wang PJ
Development 2023 Apr 21 ;
LncRNA EPR regulates intestinal mucus production and protects against inflammation and tumorigenesis.
Briata P, Mastracci L, Zapparoli E, Caputo L, Ferracci E, Silvestri A, Garuti A, Hamadou MH, Inga A, Marcaccini E, Grillo F, Bucci G, Puri PL, Beznoussenko G, Mironov A, Chiacchiera F, Gherzi R
Nucleic Acids Res 2023 Apr 18 ;
Targeting PPAR-gamma counteracts tumour adaptation to immune-checkpoint blockade in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Xiong Z, Chan SL, Zhou J, Vong JSL, Kwong TT, Zeng X, Wu H, Cao J, Tu Y, Feng Y, Yang W, Wong PP, Si-Tou WW, Liu X, Wang J, Tang W, Liang Z, Lu J, Li KM, Low JT, Chan MW, Leung HHW, Chan AWH, To KF, Yip KY, Lo YMD, Sung JJ, Cheng AS
Gut 2023 Apr 5 ;
