Damon Runyon Researchers

Studies have shown that lung tumors are sustained through the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones in a process called angiogenesis. Moreover, tumor cells secrete signaling proteins that help them communicate with each other and evade immune detection. However, most of these studies have been on late-stage lung tumors; our understanding of cell-cell interactions in the tumor environment during lung cancer initiation and early stages remains poor. Dr. Sengupta [Deborah J. Coleman Fellow] plans to identify the gene expression patterns in tumor cells, endothelial cells (blood-vessel-forming cells), and immune cells over time to understand how they engage in this cellular crosstalk, promoting tumorigenesis. She also plans to examine cell-cell interactions in early-stage lung cancer using organoids, or artificially grown miniature organs. This line of investigation will help understand the mechanisms underlying tumor initiation and lead to novel biomarkers that can help detect lung cancers earlier. The findings will also help identify novel therapeutic targets that can be inhibited to improve patient responses and survival. Dr. Sengupta received her PhD from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and her MS and BS from University of Calcutta, Kolkata.