Jeffrey Rosen Lab

Our laboratory’s research is based upon the philosophy that it necessary to first define the mechanisms regulating normal mammary gland development in order to understand the alterations in breast cancer.  Specifically we have been interested in characterizing the role of Wnt and Fgf family members in normal mammary gland development and stem cell self-renewal, and the properties of tumor initiating cells including the mechanisms of resistance to standard of care therapies. We have a long history of developing syngeneic preclinical genetically engineered models of triple negative breast cancer that have been extensively characterized using different omics platforms and more recently with respect to their immune microenvironments. These models are being used to study critical questions of tumor heterogeneity, dormancy and recurrence with a focus on the treatment of metastatic triple negative breast cancer. 

This website provides information about ongoing research in the laboratory, current lab members, publications, lab meeting schedule, and lab resources.

The research objectives of the Rosen laboratory are to elucidate the mechanisms regulating normal mammary gland development, and to determine how these regulatory mechanisms have deviated in breast cancer. Specific areas of interest are:

• The interplay of Wnt and Fgf family members in mammary gland development and breast cancer.
• Translational regulation as a new therapeutic vulnerability in triple negative breast cancer.
• Unique preclinical syngeneic mouse models to study the response of both primary tumors and specifically metastases to combinatorial therapies focusing on the response of tumor initiating cells and the role of the immune microenvironment.
• Studies to determine whether epigenetic reprogramming of EMT and/or the tumor microenvironment will improve response to standard-of-care chemotherapy and immunotherapy.