Evaluating the impact of intratumoral heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment in genitourinary malignancies

The Gessner Lab utilizes primary human tumors, 3D organoid tumors systems, and mouse models which replicate human cancer to identify molecular aberrations or changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) driving progression to invasive disease or impacting therapeutic response.

We are also assessing the impact of intratumoral heterogeneity on the tumor microenvironment and tumor drivers using novel molecular techniques, such as spatial transcriptomic analysis.

While genomic approaches have drastically changed our understanding of tumor biology and therapeutic response for many types of cancers, previous genomic research has largely focused on understanding the alterations present in tumor cells themselves. However, as the tumor microenvironment is increasingly recognized as a critical player in disease progression and response to treatments, including immunotherapy, it is imperative to understand the interplay between tumor cells and the TME.

Human Samples
and Preclinical Models

Spatial Transcriptomic and
Single Cell Approaches

Functional

Genomics

Evaluating the impact of intratumoral heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment in genitourinary malignancies

The Gessner Lab utilizes primary human tumors, 3D organoid tumors systems, and mouse models which replicate human cancer to identify molecular aberrations or changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) driving progression to invasive disease or impacting therapeutic response.

Human Samples and Preclinical Models

Spatial Transcriptomic and Single Cell Approaches

Human Samples
and Preclinical Models

Spatial Transcriptomic and
Single Cell Approaches