Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Screening · POLQ · Antigen · Repair · KRAS
A translational pancreatic cancer research laboratory developing precision therapeutics — from bench to bedside — in Manhattan, New York.
Five interconnected pillars driving translational breakthroughs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
KRAS mutations are present in >90% of PDAC. Our lab is at the forefront of targeting KRAS G12D — the most common substitution variant in pancreatic cancer (40% of patients). We led the first-in-human trial of setidegrasib (ASP3082), a first-in-class KRAS G12D targeted protein degrader, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2026).
The POLAR trial — our investigator-initiated phase 2 study — demonstrated that maintenance pembrolizumab + olaparib yields a median overall survival of 28 months and 3-year OS rate of 44% in BRCA/PALB2-mutated metastatic pancreatic cancer. Published in Nature Medicine (2026).
We study polymerase theta (POLQ) and error-prone end-joining pathways to uncover synthetic lethal interactions exploitable in HRD-deficient tumors, complementing PARP inhibitor strategies.
We develop pipelines for neoantigen discovery and biologic modalities targeting tumor-specific epitopes. Our translational analyses from the POLAR trial showed that frameshift indel neoantigens are associated with durable clinical benefit in HRD tumors.
We deploy genetic and small-molecule screens — including CRISPR-based functional genomics — to identify combination strategies, resistance mechanisms, and novel therapeutic targets in PDAC.
First-in-human phase 1 study of setidegrasib (ASP3082), a first-in-class KRAS G12D targeted protein degrader. Among 21 patients with metastatic PDAC receiving the 600 mg dose, 24% achieved objective response. In NSCLC (n=45), ORR was 36% with median PFS of 8.3 months.
Phase 2 POLAR trial evaluating maintenance pembrolizumab + olaparib in biomarker-stratified metastatic PC. In cohort A (BRCA1/2, PALB2; n=33): median PFS 8.3 months, median OS 28 months, 3-year OS rate 44%. ctDNA response and enrichment of frameshift indel neoantigens were associated with durable clinical benefit.
Sorted by citations. Park W indicated in author list.
Pancreatic cancer: a review
JAMA 326(9), 851–862
Personalized RNA neoantigen vaccines stimulate T cells in pancreatic cancer
Nature 618(7963), 144–150
Axitinib plus pembrolizumab in patients with advanced sarcomas including alveolar soft-part sarcoma: a single-centre, single-arm, phase 2 trial
The Lancet Oncology 20(6), 837–848
New perspectives of curcumin in cancer prevention
Cancer Prevention Research 6(5), 387–400
Genomic methods identify homologous recombination deficiency in pancreas adenocarcinoma and optimize treatment selection
Clinical Cancer Research 26(13), 3239–3247
RNA neoantigen vaccines prime long-lived CD8+ T cells in pancreatic cancer
Nature 639(8056), 1042–1051
Association of ablative radiation therapy with survival among patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer
JAMA Oncology 7(5), 735–738
Automated real-world data integration improves cancer outcome prediction
Nature 636(8043), 728–736
Cost-effectiveness of Osimertinib in the First-Line Treatment of Patients With EGFR-Mutated Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
JAMA Oncology 4(8), 1080–1084
Antiangiogenic effects of ganetespib in colorectal cancer mediated through inhibition of HIF-1α and STAT-3
Angiogenesis 16(4), 903–917
Heat shock protein 90 promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition, invasion, and migration in colorectal cancer
Molecular Carcinogenesis 54(10), 1147–1158
Clinical implications of circulating tumor DNA tumor mutational burden (ctDNA TMB) in non-small cell lung cancer
The Oncologist 24(6), 820–828
Genomic profiling identifies somatic mutations predicting thromboembolic risk in patients with solid tumors
Blood 137(15), 2103–2113
Outcomes associated with immune-related adverse events in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with nivolumab: a pooled exploratory analysis from a global cohort
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 69(7), 1177–1187
Toward a comprehensive view of cancer immune responsiveness: a synopsis from the SITC workshop
Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer 7(1), 131
Alterations in driver genes are predictive of survival in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Cancer 126(17), 3939–3949
Clinicogenomic landscape of pancreatic adenocarcinoma identifies KRAS mutant dosage as prognostic of overall survival
Nature Medicine 31(2), 466–477
MITI minimum information guidelines for highly multiplexed tissue images
Nature Methods, 10.1038/s41592-022-01415-4
Distinct clinical outcomes and biological features of specific KRAS mutants in human pancreatic cancer
Cancer Cell 42(9), 1614–1629
Early-onset pancreas cancer: clinical descriptors, genomics, and outcomes
JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute 113(9), 1194–1202
Source: Google Scholar · Citations reflect data at time of listing
We integrate multi-omic profiling with clinical trial design to accelerate precision oncology in pancreatic cancer.
MSK-IMPACT and whole-exome sequencing to identify actionable mutations — KRAS, BRCA1/2, PALB2, ATM, and beyond.
Prospective cohort design using HRD status, ctDNA dynamics, and mutational signatures (COSMIC signature 3, LST, LOH, TAI).
Multiplex immunofluorescence, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte quantification, and neoantigen landscape analysis from serial biopsies.
Investigator-initiated trials testing novel combinations — PARP + immunotherapy, KRAS degraders, and neoantigen-targeted vaccines.
Gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Leading translational and clinical research bridging mechanistic insights to therapeutic impact in pancreatic cancer.
Driving discovery across DDR, KRAS signaling, immunotherapy resistance, and functional genomics.
Engineering assays, computational pipelines, preclinical models, and datasets for robust reproducible science.
First-in-class KRAS G12D degrader shows promising antitumor activity in advanced PDAC and NSCLC.
Phase 2 maintenance pembrolizumab + olaparib demonstrates durable benefit in HRD metastatic pancreatic cancer.
We are looking for passionate researchers — postdoctoral fellows and research staff — to join our mission. Reach out if you are interested in translational PDAC research.
Papers reviewed at our biweekly lab journal club.