Research

The Biobehavioral Cancer Control Program (BCCP) seeks to reduce the burden of cancer across the continuum, from prevention through survivorship, through research focused on behavioral factors and the patient experience. Investigators explore biobehavioral mechanisms that influence cancer risk, particularly tobacco use, and develop innovative interventions to promote risk reduction and prevention behaviors. The program also examines disease- and treatment-related symptoms in survivors, advancing personalized strategies to improve therapy adherence, quality of life, and functional outcomes. Research spans preclinical, translational, and clinical studies, including interventional trials, and is grounded in two central themes: cancer prevention and cancer survivorship.

Bone disease and sarcoma research in the Division spans clinical, translational, and basic science investigations aimed at improving understanding and treatment of these challenging cancers. In sarcoma, studies focus on clinical trials and immune monitoring to uncover how checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-1 blockade elicit responses, with correlative analyses of circulating immune populations, tumor PD-L1 status, and intratumoral immune activity providing insights into mechanisms of response and resistance. In bone disease, research explores how osteoclast and osteoblast signaling pathways are disrupted in disorders such as Paget’s disease of bone and multiple myeloma, including the roles of viral proteins, chromatin regulators, and transcriptional repressors in altering bone cell differentiation and the marrow microenvironment. These studies extend to testing whether targeting key pathways, such as TBK1/IKKε signaling, may serve as effective therapeutic strategies. Complementary work examines how mutations in histones and other chromatin regulators drive sarcoma development, with the goal of identifying vulnerabilities that can be exploited for novel therapies.

Breast and ovarian cancer research in the Division integrates clinical, translational, and basic science approaches to address the challenges of therapeutic resistance, disease recurrence, and individualized treatment. In breast cancer, efforts focus on developing and validating circulating tumor DNA technologies for monitoring treatment response and identifying resistance mechanisms, with the goal of guiding personalized therapy in both early and metastatic disease. Complementary studies investigate hormone receptor–positive and invasive lobular breast cancers, examining their distinct biology, treatment vulnerabilities, and patient-reported outcomes to improve clinical care. In ovarian cancer, research centers on understanding why tumors are often resistant to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, with particular emphasis on quiescent cancer cells and stromal interactions that promote survival, immune evasion, and relapse. Ongoing studies use molecular, cellular, and translational models to uncover pathways driving resistance, identify new biomarkers, and test novel therapeutic strategies, including clinical trials designed to overcome chemoresistance and enhance patient outcomes.

The Cancer Biology Program integrates basic cancer biology and data science to study malignant transformation and tumor progression at the in vitro, in vivo, and in silico levels, with the goal of uncovering molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive cancer and applying these discoveries to translational and clinical research across Hillman Cancer Center. Research within the program spans three major themes: Data Science, which applies computational modeling and systems biology to understand cancer as a complex, evolving system; Drug Resistance and Metastasis, which investigates the mechanisms underlying treatment resistance and metastatic spread to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities; and Hormone Response and Cell Signaling, which explores intracellular and intercellular signaling pathways, including hormone-driven mechanisms, as critical regulators and therapeutic targets. Through these efforts, the program fosters collaborations across disciplines and accelerates the development of novel preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies.

The Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention (CEP) Program is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer through research that spans the continuum from discovery to clinical translation. CEP investigators focus on three interconnected aims: identifying and characterizing novel risk and causative factors for cancer development, discovering and testing innovative approaches for cancer prevention, and advancing new strategies for cancer screening and early detection. Research within the program emphasizes three primary areas: 1) cancer prevention, including trials of vaccines and chemopreventive agents, such as cruciferous vegetable-derived compounds; 2 ) screening and early detection, with a focus on developing and validating novel biomarkers and imaging technologies to detect cancers at more treatable stages; and 3) discovery of risk factors, including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle contributors to cancer risk. Together, these efforts not only enhance understanding of cancer etiology but also drive the development of interventions to reduce incidence and mortality, with direct impact on populations within our catchment area and beyond.

The Genome Stability Program seeks to uncover the molecular mechanisms that safeguard genome integrity, understand how these processes are disrupted in cancer, and translate this knowledge into novel therapeutic strategies. Each day, human cells encounter tens of thousands of DNA lesions from endogenous and environmental sources, and when repair fails, mutations and genome instability drive cancer development. Program members investigate the mechanisms of genome stability, cellular responses to genotoxic stress, the links between aging and cancer, and the impact of radiation and oxidative damage, with the goals of identifying vulnerabilities in cancer cells, enhancing immunotherapeutic efficacy, and developing strategies to sensitize tumors while protecting healthy tissues. Through collaboration across Hillman Cancer Center, discoveries from this program inform drug development, biomarker discovery, and ultimately new clinical interventions.

The Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program (CIIP) is dedicated to reducing the burden of cancer by uncovering how the immune system interacts with tumors and translating these insights into more effective treatments and prevention strategies. Through a strong foundation in basic research and robust collaborations across Hillman and UPMC centers, CIIP investigators explore the regulatory mechanisms of anti-tumor immunity, tumor immune evasion, and the tumor microenvironment. Their work drives the discovery of new immunotherapeutic targets, biomarkers, and translational approaches that advance the development of novel cancer immunotherapies and accelerate their application in clinical trials to improve patient outcomes.

The Cancer Therapeutics Program (CTP) unites scientists and clinicians in an integrated effort to translate basic discoveries into effective cancer treatments. Research within the program centers on three key areas: preclinical discovery and development of novel targets, pathways, and agents; mechanistic studies to understand how new and existing anticancer therapies work at the molecular level; and early- and late-phase clinical trials that bring the most promising discoveries into patient care. Through this collaborative approach, CTP advances innovative therapies for solid tumors and hematologic malignancies while fostering seamless exchange between laboratory and clinical science.

The Cancer Virology Program (CVP) is internationally recognized for advancing the understanding of tumor viruses, which cause approximately 15% of human cancers, and for harnessing viruses as tools to combat cancer. Building on landmark discoveries of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) by Hillman investigators, With strengths spanning new pathogen discovery, viral markers, viral oncology, and viral therapeutics, CVP fosters deep collaborations with other Hillman programs and SPORE initiatives, translating basic insights into new diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic approaches for virus-associated and non-viral cancers alike.