Primary Research Focus
The de la Puente Lab develops translational and physiologically relevant preclinical cancer models as tools to recapitulate tumor behavior ex vivo (“out of the living”) with an emphasis in cellular crosstalk, extracellular matrix remodeling, and spatial gradients. We focus on elucidating mechanisms driving chemoresistance and immune evasion in women’s cancer and further developing novel treatment strategies to mitigate their occurrence. Our long-term goal is to accelerate and directly translate our significant insights to aid women suffering from cancer.
About the de la Puente Lab
Lab Projects and News
Patient-derived tumor models as avatars for personalized prediction of therapeutic efficacy
Despite significant improvements in research and development in the cancer field, oncology clinical trials have the highest failure rate (96.6%) compared with any other therapeutic area. There is a lack of suitable preclinical models that accurately represent tumor behavior ex vivo (“out of the living”). To better understand the role and the complexity of the tumor microenvironment in human tumors, we are developing patient-derived tumors models as avatars for personalized prediction of therapeutic efficacy. This personalized drug screening platform allows rapid prediction of therapeutic response in vitro, thereby ensuring drug efficacy for each patient.
Calar K*, Plesselova S*, Bhattacharya S, Jorgensen M, De la Puente P. Human Plasma-Derived 3D Cultures Model Breast Cancer Treatment Responses and Predict Clinically Effective Drug Treatment Concentrations. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Jun 29;12(7):1722. doi: 10.3390/cancers12071722. PMID: 32610529 (* equal contribution).
