Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of biology that impact cancer cells
From disease etiology to new approaches to treatment, the Molecular and Cellular Biology Department at Roswell Park studies the mechanisms governing cellular development, differentiation, and organismal homeostasis.
We explore the fundamental pathways that can transcend cancer type and yield broad impact.
What we do
Our research focuses on five key themes:
- Epigenetic pathways that contribute to cancer, the risk, disease progression, and therapeutic sensitivities
- The glycobiology of cell-cell interactions which are relevant to multiple features of tumor biology and interface with the microenvironment
- Regulatory control of cell proliferation, and means exploit genetic features of deregulated proliferation
- The interface of the tumor with the microenvironment in disease progression and therapeutic resistance.
- The intersection of tumor genetics with biological features of cancer
Ongoing studies transcend bench work carried out in a variety of clinically relevant cancer models, all the way to clinical trials, touching on major biological process of relevance to cancer.
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Faculty
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Gene Targeting and Transgenic Shared Resource
Our Gene Targeting & Transgenic Shared Resource provides access to state-of-the-art technologies, methods, and tissue models.
Training the next generation of scientists
In addition to our research activities, the Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology is actively involved in hands-on teaching with Master’s and PhD students in our highly competitive graduate studies program.
Our multidisciplinary education model allows students a unique immersive experience, preparing them for successful careers as independent investigators.
Unmatched expertise
Research interests: Cell cycle control in cancer as a therapeutic target; RB-tumor suppressor pathway in the progression of cancer; breast and pancreatic cancer genetics; defining rationally targeted therapeutic interventions for clinical use.
See the science
- O'Connor TN, Schultz E, Kabraji S, Levine E, Williams AJ, Knudsen ES, Witkiewicz AK. Real-World Plasma Thymidine Kinase Activity in High-Risk and Metastatic Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Breast Cancer Treated With Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitors. JCO Precis Oncol. 2026;10:e2500346. Epub 20260123. doi: 10.1200/PO-25-00346. PubMed PMID: 41576303.
- Kumarasamy V, Wang J, Roti M, Wan Y, Dommer AP, Rosenheck H, Putta S, Trub A, Bisi J, Strum J, Roberts P, Rubin SM, Frangou C, McLean K, Witkiewicz AK, Knudsen ES. Discrete vulnerability to pharmacological CDK2 inhibition is governed by heterogeneity of the cancer cell cycle. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1):1476. Epub 20250209. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-56674-4. PubMed PMID: 39924553; PMCID: PMC11808123.
- Crawford KJ, Humphrey KS, Cortes E, Wang J, Feigin ME, Witkiewicz AK, Knudsen ES, Abel EV. Targeting FGFR4 Abrogates HNF1A-driven Metastasis in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. bioRxiv. 2025. Epub 20250208. doi: 10.1101/2025.02.06.636643. PubMed PMID: 39974881; PMCID: PMC11839031.
- Humphrey KS, Crawford KJ, Muppavarapu B, Mayberry MM, Morris W, Torres E, Long MD, Wang J, Knudsen ES, Witkiewicz AK, Abel EV. HNF1A is a novel BRD4 target and critical for BET-inhibitor response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. bioRxiv. 2025. Epub 20251002. doi: 10.1101/2025.10.01.679805. PubMed PMID: 41256683; PMCID: PMC12621656.
- Dommer AP, Kumarasamy V, Wang J, O'Connor TN, Roti M, Mahan S, McLean K, Knudsen ES, Witkiewicz AK. Tumor Suppressors Condition Differential Responses to the Selective CDK2 Inhibitor BLU-222. Cancer Res. 2025;85(7):1310-26. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-2244. PubMed PMID: 39945638; PMCID: PMC11977231.
- Soragni A, Knudsen ES, O'Connor TN, Tognon CE, Tyner JW, Gini B, Kim D, Bivona TG, Zang X, Witkiewicz AK, Goodrich DW, Jiang D, Gammon ST, Willey CD, Boutros PC, Sandulache VC, Osman AA, Myers JN, Mehla K, Singh PK, Chan KS, Gao H, Marathe H, National Cancer Institute Acquired Resistance to Therapy N. Acquired resistance in cancer: towards targeted therapeutic strategies. Nat Rev Cancer. 2025;25(8):613-33. Epub 20250603. doi: 10.1038/s41568-025-00824-9. PubMed PMID: 40461793; PMCID: PMC12307123.
- Maiti A, Axtman AD, Wu R, Redman LJB, Takabe K, Stablewski AB, Yan L, Ciesielski MJ, Zhang J, Evans SS, Kalinski P, Hait NC. BRSK2 plays a role in autophagy and cancer cell growth and survival under nutrient deprivation stress via the PIK3C3 pathway. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):40651. Epub 20251119. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-24354-4. PubMed PMID: 41258112; PMCID: PMC12630958.
- Aljahdali IAM, Ling X, Wu W, Wang W, Li D, Zhang R, Zhang E, Stablewski A, Azrak R, Li Q, Li F. FL496, an FL118-derived small molecule, induces growth inhibition, senescence, and apoptosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cells, and exhibits anti-MPM tumor efficacy strikingly superior to the pemetrexed-cisplatin combination. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2025;44(1):293. Epub 20251021. doi: 10.1186/s13046-025-03547-9. PubMed PMID: 41121175; PMCID: PMC12538866.
- Athans SR, Withers H, Stablewski A, Gurova K, Ohm J, Woloszynska A. STAG2 expression imparts distinct therapeutic vulnerabilities in muscle-invasive bladder cancer cells. Oncogenesis. 2025;14(1):4. Epub 20250301. doi: 10.1038/s41389-025-00548-3. PubMed PMID: 40025053; PMCID: PMC11873148.
Contact us
Jennifer Panaro
Scientific Department Administrator III
Phone: 716-845-1300, x1929
Email: Jennifer.Panaro@RoswellPark.org