Overview

The Oncoimmune Signaling and Therapeutics Laboratory investigates signal transduction pathways that lie at the interface of oncology and immunity. The laboratory is using new knowledge derived from our research to develop innovative therapeutic approaches to restore antitumor immunity across a range of cancers. The lab is led by co-investigators Peter C. Lucas, M.D., Ph.D., and Linda M. McAllister, M.D., Ph.D.

Our lab's main focus is to investigate how dysregulated inflammatory signaling pathways in cancer cells, such as the NF-kB, JNK, JAK/STAT and STING pathways, impact the behavior of cancer cells and the cells of the tumor microenvironment.

A key area of emphasis is understanding how these oncoimmune signaling pathways enable cancer cells to communicate with both innate and adaptive immune cells to establish a tumor immune microenvironment that favors growth and subsequent metastatic dissemination.

Our research team is motivated by the goal of leveraging our discoveries to develop novel therapeutic approaches to restore antitumor immunity for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, brain cancer or liver cancer.

About the investigators

The Oncoimmune Lab is directed by the husband-and-wife team of Drs. Lucas and McAllister.

Dr. Lucas is a pathologist and physician-scientist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He is also vice chair for research in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and chair of the Division of Experimental Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Dr. McAllister is a pediatric oncologist and physician-scientist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She is also enterprise deputy director for pediatric cancer programs within Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.