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- Sandra M. Cascio, PhD
Sandra M. Cascio, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute; Member, Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Only 10–15% of ovarian cancer patients respond to current immune checkpoint inhibitors. My research aims to develop novel immune therapies by reprogramming dysfunctional myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment to enhance T and NK cell‑mediated tumor killing activities and suppress tumor growth.
Sandra M. Cascio, PhD
Research in Brief
Dr. Cascio is working to unlock new immunotherapies for ovarian cancer by retraining immune cells that suppress anti-tumor responses. By targeting signals like EGFL6 within tumors, she’s helping to reboot the body’s own defenses—improving outcomes for women facing this challenging disease.
Current Projects
- Role of tumor-derived EGFL6 in modulating tumor immunity
- Exploring the interplay between ovarian cancer, the microbiome, and myeloid cells
- Investigating intercellular communication between myeloid and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment
Selected Publications
- Hamze Sinno S, Imperatore JA, Cascio S, et al. Egfl6 promotes ovarian cancer progression by enhancing immunosuppressive functions of tumor-associated myeloid cells. J Clin Invest. 2024 Nov;134(21). PMID: 39312740
- Zhang L#, Cascio S #, Adams C, Mellors JW, Buckanovich RJ, Osmanbeyoglu HU. Single-cell analysis reveals stromal dynamics and tumor-specific characteristics in ovarian cancer microenvironment. Commun Biol. 2024 Jan;7(1):20
- Cascio S, Chandler C, Zhang L, Sinno S, et al. Cancer-associated MSC drive tumor immune exclusion and resistance to immunotherapy; Hedgehog inhibition overcomes this. Sci Adv. 2021 Nov;7(46). PMID: 34767446
- Kvorjak M, Ahmed Y, Miller LM, Sriram R, Coronello C, Hashash GJ, Hartman JD, Telmer AC, Miskov-Zinavov N, Finn JO, Cascio S. Crosstalk between colon cells and macrophages increases ST6GALNAC1 and MUC1‑sTn in ulcerative colitis and colon cancer. Cancer Immunol Res. 2020 Feb;8(2):167‑178
- Cascio S, Faylo JL, Sciurba JC, et al. Abnormally glycosylated MUC1 establishes a positive feedback of inflammatory cytokines in colitis-associated cancer. Oncotarget. 2017
For additional publications, click here.
Research Group
Josh Imperatore, PhD Research Associate
Nyasha Mafarachisi, BS Research Assistant
Ahmad Syed, MD Visiting Scholar
Parisa Lotfinejad, PhD Postdoctoral Associate
Eras Yager, BS Research Assistant
Noemie Gomes-Jourdan Undergraduate Student