Biomedical Graduate Studies

Description of Clinical Expertise

Squamous cell carcinoma and actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma

Description of Research Expertise

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
The Capell Lab seeks to understand epigenetic and epitranscriptomic gene regulatory mechanisms, how they interface with metabolism and the immune system, and how when disrupted, they may contribute to disease, and in particular, cancer. By combining the incredible accessibility of human skin with the most cutting-edge epigenetic and epitranscriptomic techniques, we aim to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer, and novel targets to treat disease.

KEYWORDS:
Epigenetics, epitranscriptomics, transcriptional regulation, cancer, aging, cutaneous biology, ferroptosis and lipid metabolism

RESEARCH DETAILS:
Epithelial tissues rely on a highly coordinated balance between self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation. Epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms provide this precise control through the regulation of gene expression in order to establish and maintain cell fate and identity. Disruption of these pathways can disrupt diverse cellular processes including both metabolism and immunity, and ultimately drive cancer.

Consistent with this, chromatin regulators are amongst the most frequently mutated genes in all of cancer, with an exceptionally high incidence of mutations in cancers of self-renewing epithelial tissues, such as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). SCC is the most common type of cancer worldwide, affecting numerous epithelial tissues ranging from the skin and eyes to the lung, esophagus, and oropharynx. Despite this, precisely how disruption of epigenetic and epitranscriptomic homeostasis may drive epithelial cancers such as SCC is poorly understood.

In the Capell Lab, we combine cutting-edge epigenetic and epitranscriptomic technologies, human patient samples, primary cells, and mouse models in order to solve several fundamental unanswered questions:

- How are epigenetic processes (histone, RNA, DNA) altered by intrinsic (i.e. aging) and extrinsic (i.e. ultraviolet radiation) environmental influences, and how do these changes impact cellular homeostasis (i.e. metabolism, immunity) to promote cancer?

- By elucidating these mechanisms, can we identify new targets and therapeutic vulnerabilities for the prevention and treatment of these potentially deadly cancers?

If you would be interested in joining our team, please contact us!

ROTATION PROJECTS:
If you would be interested in discussing potential rotation projects, please contact us (capellb@pennmedicine.upenn.edu).

LAB PERSONNEL:
Brian Capell, MD, PhD
Shaun Egolf
Sijia Huang, PhD
Eun Kyung Ko, PhD
Nina Kuprasertkul
Alexandra Maldonado-Lopez
Gina Pacella
Jonathan Zou