Research Interests
Organogenesis
Stem Cells
Pancreatic Cancer
Regulation of Organ Size
Key words: Pancreatic Cancer, Notch, stem cells, development
Description of Research
Stem/Progenitor Cells in Development and Disease
How do internal organs achieve their remarkable structures? What determines the size of organs? How are stem cells regulated in adult solid organs? What cells give rise to cancer? During mammalian organogenesis, stem/progenitor cells and their derivatives undergo carefully controlled division, differentiation, and morphogenesis to generate complex functioning three-dimensional structures. Our laboratory uses the tools of developmental biology to address problems relevant to development, regenerative medicine and cancer. We use the mouse as a model system to genetically tag specific cellular lineages, or to alter the function of important signaling pathways. The focus is on stem cells and progenitor cells in the vertebrate liver and pancreas, essential organs with great clinical importance and a rich history in developmental biology.
Many of the mechanisms used during organ formation are also important in carcinogenesis and tissue regeneration. One hypothesis that links development and cancer is the idea that cancers originate from cells with stem-like properties. Current studies are aimed at further exploring cellular lineage relationships in pancreatic cancer and understanding the role that important developmental signals play during cancer progression. Another area of major interest is the control of organ size. We have developed tools to determine the extent to which size is regulated versus intrinsically determined during pancreas development. Studies employing the novel tools and techniques are being applied and contrasted in the liver and pancreatic islets. Our goal is to understand in detail how these different cell types behave during development, organ regeneration, and carcinogenesis. We hope to exploit insights gained from these studies to develop new approaches to cancer therapy and bioengineering.
Rotation Projects
Several rotation projects in the areas of are available based upon applicant interests. Please contact Dr. Stanger directly to discuss potential projects.
Lab personnel:
Ben Stanger, MD, PhD – Principal Instigator
Chenghua Yang - Research Specialist, Lab Manager
Tao Gao, PhD - Post-Doctoral Researcher
Alfredo Penzo, PhD - Post-Doctoral Researcher
Yi-Ju Chen, PhD - Post-Doctoral Researcher
Andrew Rhim, MD - Research Associate, Instructor
Ravi Maddipatti, MD - Research Associate
Erin Dekleva - Research Specialist
Kilang Yanger - Graduate student
Zhewei Shen - Graduate Student
Nicole Aiello - Graduate Student
Trisha Saha - Duke Medical Student
Lara Maggs - Undergraduate Student
Daniel Weinblatt - Undergraduate Student
Administrative Assistant:
Laura Murillo
215-573-0908
murillo@exchange.upenn.edu
Selected Publications
Rhim AD, Mirek ET, Aiello NM, Maitra A, Bailey JM, McCallister F, Reichert M, Beatty GL, Rustgi AK, Vonderheide RH, Leach SD, and Stanger BZ: EMT and dissemination precede pancreatic tumor formation. Cell 148(1-2): 349-61, 2012.
Stanger BZ: Quit your YAPing: a new target for cancer therapy. Genes & Development 26(12): 1263-7, 2012.
Stanger BZ, and Podolsky DK: Development of the gastrointestinal system. Yamada T, Alpers DH, Kalloo AN, Kaplowitz N, Owyang C, Powell DW eds. Textbook of Gastroenterology, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Chapter 23: 567-602, 2009.
Plentz R, Park JS, Rhim AD, Abravanel D, Hezel AF, Sharma SV, Gurumurthy S, Deshpande V, Kenific C, Settleman J, Majumder PK, Stanger BZ*, and Bardeesy N: Inhibition of gamma-secretase activity inhibits tumor progression in a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Gastroenterology 136(5): 1741-9.e6, 2009 Notes: *co-corresponding author.
Zong Y, Panikkar A, Xu J, Antoniou A, Raynaud P, Lemaigre F, and Stanger BZ: Notch signaling controls liver development by regulating biliary differentiation. Development 136(10): 1727-39, 2009.
Stanger, BZ, Tanaka, AJ, Melton, DA: Organ size is limited by the number of embryonic progenitor cells in the pancreas but not the liver. Nature 445(7130): 886-91, 2007.
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Last updated: 10/31/2012
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