Laura Stabile

Summary

The Stabile Lab investigates oncogene-driven lung cancer with the overall goal of developing novel strategies for prevention and treatment. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and a growing number of patients, particularly women, develop the disease despite never smoking. Lung cancer in never smokers exhibits distinct biological and molecular characteristics influenced by hormonal signaling, environmental exposures, and unique genetic alterations. Research in the lab aims to understand these mechanisms to inform the development of effective, personalized therapies. Additional research focuses on the role of actionable oncogenes such as EGFR, ALK, and MET in tumor development, therapeutic response and resistance, and disease progression. A major area of interest is brain metastasis, a common complication of advanced lung cancer. Current studies investigate how tumors with specific molecular drivers colonize the brain, how the brain microenvironment contributes to metastatic growth, and how molecular alterations in the brain lesions can be detected using non-invasive approaches.