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
Tumor Initiation and Maintenance 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.
Cell and Molecular Biology of Cancer Program
Insights into the complex system of networks and mechanisms that tumors use to survive and proliferate will lead us to tumor-specific, less toxic therapies.
Aging, Cancer and Immuno-oncology Program
We are studying the interplay among cancer cells, immune cells and their environment to put the brakes on cancer.
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
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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. -
Advocates for our Cancer Center ensure patient perspective is understood in the lab
Spotlight: Helen Eckmann and Ruth Claire Black share a common history with breast cancer and a drive to serve their community. -
Conrad Prebys Foundation provides $3 million for pediatric brain cancer research
The Conrad Prebys Foundation provides $3 million to Robert Wechsler-Reya, Ph.D., and his team of researchers to advance a potential drug to treat medulloblastoma—the most common malignant brain tumor in children. -
Alumni adventures: Catching up with student intern Daniel Million
Million reflects on how a summer internship at Sanford Burnham Prebys accelerated his scientific career. -
Scientists design potential drug for triple-negative breast cancer
Drug candidate blocks autophagy, a cellular recycling process that cancer cells hijack as a way to resist treatment. -
Mining “junk DNA” reveals a new way to kill cancer cells
Scientists unearth a previously unknown vulnerability for cancer and a promising drug candidate that leverages the approach. -
Meet immunologist Jennifer Hope
Hope’s research aims to help cancer immunotherapy work for more people. -
Scientists “turn back time” on cancer using new stem cell reprogramming technique
Discovery opens new research avenues that may help catch cancer early and identify potential preventive treatments. -
Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers awarded 2020 Padres Pedal the Cause grants
Funding for the research comes from the record setting $3.1 million raised in the 2019 event and brings the lifetime raise for PPTC to over $13 million. -
Padres Pedal the Cause donates $3.1 million to cancer research
Garth Powis, who heads our NCI-designated Cancer Center, joined representatives from the beneficiary institutes onstage for the check presentation ceremony. -
Prestigious Forbeck Scholar Award granted to Sanford Burnham Prebys cancer researcher
This prestigious award recognizes early-career cancer researchers for their achievements, research and dedication to the field. -
How to help children survive—and thrive—after a brain cancer diagnosis
Pediatric brain tumor experts gather at the Fleet Science Center to discuss paths to better treatments.
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
KIT Low Cells Mediate Imatinib Resistance in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.
Banerjee S, Yoon H, Ting S, Tang CM, Yebra M, Wenzel AT, Yeerna H, Mesirov JP, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Tamayo P, Sicklick JK
Mol Cancer Ther 2021 Aug 10 ;
Combined Inhibition of AKT and KIT Restores Expression of Programmed Cell Death 4 (PDCD4) in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.
Kozinova M, Joshi S, Ye S, Belinsky MG, Sharipova D, Farma JM, Reddy SS, Litwin S, Devarajan K, Campos AR, Yu Y, Schwartz B, von Mehren M, Rink L
Cancers (Basel) 2021 Jul 23 ;13(15)
PSGL-1 Is a T Cell Intrinsic Inhibitor That Regulates Effector and Memory Differentiation and Responses During Viral Infection.
Tinoco R, Neubert EN, Stairiker CJ, Henriquez ML, Bradley LM
Front Immunol 2021 ;12:677824
HER2 activation and endocrine treatment resistance in HER2-negative breast cancer.
Mazumder A, Shiao S, Haricharan S
Endocrinology 2021 Jul 28 ;
Structure, Maintenance, and Regulation of Nuclear Pore Complexes: The Gatekeepers of the Eukaryotic Genome.
Raices M, D'Angelo MA
Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2021 Jul 26 ;
The role of the PZP domain of AF10 in acute leukemia driven by AF10 translocations.
Klein BJ, Deshpande A, Cox KL, Xuan F, Zandian M, Barbosa K, Khanal S, Tong Q, Zhang Y, Zhang P, Sinha A, Bohlander SK, Shi X, Wen H, Poirier MG, Deshpande AJ, Kutateladze TG
Nat Commun 2021 Jul 5 ;12(1):4130