The David Jones Lab
Research
The primary reason people die from cancer is the development of metastatic disease. As a surgeon-scientist who cares for patients with earlier stage lung and esophageal cancer, my laboratory studies why patients with completely resected cancer still develop metastases and die. We focus on a class of genes known as metastasis suppressor genes and, in particular, breast cancer metastasis suppressor I (BRMS1). We have identified important functions of BRMS1 as a transcriptional repressor, an E3 ligase, and a mediator of RelA/p65 transcription in lung cancer. We investigate BRMS1-mediated suppression of metastases in p53mut lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), as well as the identification of a novel germline point mutation of BRMS1 variant 2, a pro-metastatic variant. Currently, we are exploring the role of the tumor immune microenvironment in BRMS1-loss tumors. Our lab is also examining tumor genomics in early stage LUAD and has built a comprehensive clinically- and genomically-annotated database. Our recent focus is LUAD organotropism, or the preferential metastasis to specific organ sites, and we have identified specific mutations that drive site-specific metastasis of LUAD. Over the past several years, we have established a large patient-derived organoid (PDO) program to explore the biology of metastases and related therapies in vitro and in novel mouse models of metastases. Finally, we have initiated a prospective study examining the role of tumor-related exosomes and extravesical particles in the development of metastases in operable lung cancer patients. Collectively, the goal of my laboratory is to understand the biology of metastases in early-stage lung and esophageal cancer and develop therapies to mitigate this deadly process.
Research Projects
People
David R. Jones, MD
- Physician-scientist David R. Jones studies molecular mechanisms governing the development of metastases in lung and esophageal cancers.
- [email protected]
- Email Address
- 212-639-6428
- Office Phone
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- Physician profile
Members
Achievements
- President, American Association for Thoracic Surgery 2024-2025
- AACR Career Development Award for Translational Research in Lung Cancer 2001
- Member, Tumor Progression and Metastases Study Section NCI; 2010-16 (Chair 2014-16)
- Co-Director, Fiona and Stanley Druckenmiller Center for Lung Cancer Research, MSKCC
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors for Cancer 2010-present