Our lab is dedicated to translational research in gastrointestinal malignancies, with a primary focus on pancreatic cancer.
Non-coding repeat RNAs in cancer: We explore a novel class of non-coding repeat RNAs that are specifically and highly expressed in various cancers. These repeat RNAs exhibit "viral-like" behavior and can be delivered to stromal cells via extracellular vesicles. The study aims to elucidate the role of these sequences in cancer evolution and their interaction with the innate immune response.
Single-cell heterogeneity and plasticity in pancreatic cancer: Utilizing cutting-edge techniques such as single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics (CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager), we investigate the cellular and microenvironmental factors contributing to the development of heterogeneity and plasticity within pancreatic cancer.
Repeat RNA-induced cellular plasticity in pancreatic cancer (You et al, Cell, 2024)
Restriction of retrotransposon immunogenicity in PDAC (Sun and You et al, Immunity, 2024)
Immune evasion mechanisms (You et al, Cancer Discovery, in press)
There are four major projects being pursued by the laboratory.
Understanding of repeat RNA sequestration in PDAC (unpublished)
Repeat RNA-mediated blood vessel dysfunction in PDAC (unpublished)
LINE-1 ORF1p-mediated PDAC plasticity (unpublished)
Spatial heterogeneity of immune microenvironment (unpublished)