Ronen Sumagin, PhD
Associate Professor, Pathology; Feinberg School of Medicine
Research Program
Link
Cancer-Focused Research
Studies in Dr. Sumaginâs laboratory are focused on determining the contributions of immune cell-mediated inflammation to development and progression of colorectal cancers. Immune cells are critical for host defense, however immune cell infiltration of mucosal surfaces under the conditions of inflammation leads to significant alteration of the tissue homeostasis. This includes restructuring of the extracellular matrix and alterations in cell-to-cell adhesions. Particularly, immune cell-mediated disruption of junctional adhesion complexes, which otherwise regulate epithelial cell polarity, migration, proliferation and differentiation can facilitate both tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. Our research thus, focuses on understanding the mechanisms governing leukocyte induced tissue injury and disruption of epithelial polarity as potential risk factors for tumor formation, growth and tissue dissemination.