Molecular Pharmacology Program

The Alex Kentsis Lab

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Research

Pictured: Alex Kentsis
Alex Kentsis, MD, PhD

We study the biology of cancers that affect children and young adults ranging from embryonal tumors in infants, leukemias and brain tumors in children, and sarcomas in young adults. Scientists in our group use inter-disciplinary experimental tools as they work to understand the fundamental causes of cancer and to develop definitive therapies for their control. Detailed information about our research is available at http://alexkentsis.net.

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Kentsis Research Group, Summer 2023

Kentsis Research Group, Summer 2023

Featured News

In the Lab
Physician-scientist Alex Kentsis
Research Shows How Common Feature of Blood Cancers Can Be Targeted

Research points to the role of a protein called MYB, which has long been known to play a role in cancer.
In the Lab
Cancer biologist and pediatric oncologist Alex Kentsis
Analyzing Urine Can Guide the Treatment of Childhood Kidney Tumors

A protein detected in the urine of children with Wilms’ tumor led to the development of a test to improve diagnosis and treatment.
In the News
Gears with 2016 and 2017
Year in Review: The Science and Technology that Shaped Cancer Care in 2017

As 2017 draws to a close, take a look back at the scientific discoveries that deepened our understanding of cancer in the past year.

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Publications

Jubierre L, Rodriguez Fos, Planas-Felix, Lewis, Cameron,  Demarest,  Nabila, Zhao, Bergin, Reed, Yamada, Socci, Hayes, Rabadan, Torrents, Kruer, Toth, Kentsis A. A transposase-derived gene required for human brain development. bioRxiv.

Bigot Y, Yamada M, Mueller H, Morell V, Alves S, Lecomte T, Kentsis A. Analysis of DNA transposition by DNA transposases in human cells. bioRxiv. 

Kazansky Y, Cameron D, Demarest P, Zaffaroni N, Arrighetti N, Zuco V, Kuwahara Y, Qu R, de Stanchina E, Dela Cruz F, Kung A, Gounder M, Kentsis A. Overcoming clinical resistance to EZH2 inhibition using rational epigenetic combination therapy. bioRxiv.

Keller R, Yamada M, Cameron D, Suzuki H, Sanghrajka R, Vaynshteyn J, Gerwin J, Maura F, Hooper W, Shah M, Robine N, Demarest P, Bayin SN, Jubierre L, Reed C, Taylor MD, Joyner AL, Raju PG, Kentsis A. Childhood cancer mutagenesis caused by a domesticated DNA transposase. bioRxiv.

Takao S, Morell V, Brown FC, Koche R, Kentsis A. Epigenetic mechanisms controlling human leukemia stem cells and therapy resistance. bioRxiv.

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People

Pictured: Alex Kentsis

Alex Kentsis, MD, PhD

  • Cancer biologist and pediatric oncologist Alex Kentsis leads research in the functional proteomics and molecular pharmacology of refractory childhood cancers.
  • MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
  • PhD, New York University
[email protected]
Email Address
1-646-888-2593
Office Phone
View physician profile
Physician profile

Members

Anna Antonova

Graduate Student

Gabriella Casalena
Gabriella Casalena

Scientific Research Manager

Shuyuan Cheng
Shuyuan Cheng

Graduate Student

Luz Jubierre Zapater, PhD
Luz Jubierre Zapater

Research Fellow

Katarzyna Kulej

Scientific Research Lead

Danmeng Luo
Danmeng Luo

Research Fellow

Helen Mueller

Research Fellow

Jack Ralls
Jack Ralls

Graduate Student

Sophia Rha
Sophia Rha

Research Technician

Laura Schmalbrock
Laura Schmalbrock

Research Fellow

Alicia Slavit
Alicia Slavit

Research Technician

Sumiko Takao

Senior Research Scientist

Stephanie Tingue
Stephanie Tingue

Administrative Assistant

Masahiro Uni
Masahiro Uni

Research Fellow

Ning Wang
Ning Wang

Research Fellow

Makiko Yamada
Makiko Yamada

Senior Research Scientist

Lab Affiliations

Achievements

  • Louise and Allston Boyer Award for Clinical Research
  • Terry Ann Krulwich Physician-Scientist Alumni Award
  • Pershing Square Sohn Prize
  • Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Scholar Award
  • Josie Robertson Investigator (2013-2018)
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  • St. Baldrick’s Robert J. Arceci Innovation Award
  • Elected Member of American Society for Clinical Investigation
  • Society for Pediatric Research Young Investigator Award
  • Rita Allen Foundation Scholar Award
  • Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award
  • American Society of Hematology Scholar Award
  • Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists
  • Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Residency in Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
  • MD, PhD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine and New York University
  • AB, SM, University of Chicago

Open Positions

To learn more about available postdoctoral opportunities, please visit our Career Center

To learn more about compensation and benefits for postdoctoral researchers at MSK, please visit Resources for Postdocs

Career Opportunities

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Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Alex Kentsis discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Blueprint Medicines
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Day One Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Novartis
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Rgenta Therapeutics Inc.
    Equity; Professional Services and Activities
  • U.S. Department of Justice
    Professional Services and Activities

The information published here is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.

This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2022 through disclosure submission in spring 2023). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].


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