Dennis Jones, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Biography
Dennis Jones, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine.Our research focuses on understanding how tumors impact the functionality of blood vessels, which are essential for immune cells, such as T cells, to infiltrate tumors. Our previous studies have found that tumors can cause the compression and dysfunction of blood vessels, which ultimately limits T cell entry into the tumor. Therefore, our lab aims to develop approaches to improve vascular function within tumors, with the goal of increasing T cell entry. In combination, we will use immunotherapy to enhance the killing ability of T cells. Currently, we are testing this combination therapy in preclinical models. Our ultimate goal is to improve outcomes for patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Our lab is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of trainees with expertise in cancer biology, immunology, and vascular biology. We employ a range of techniques, including in vitro and in vivo experiments, imaging, and molecular and cellular biology assays, to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying tumor-induced vascular dysfunction and immune suppression.
Other Positions
- Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences
- Member, BU-BMC Cancer Center, Boston University
Education
- Yale University School of Medicine, PhD
- Morehouse College, BS
Publications
- Published on 12/16/2024
Seidl M, Stoecklein NH, Jones D. Editorial: Tumor-draining lymph nodes. Front Immunol. 2024; 15:1533289. PMID: 39737167.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 9/27/2024
Arroyo-Ataz G, Jones D. Overview of Lymphatic Muscle Cells in Development, Physiology, and Disease. Microcirculation. 2024 Nov; 31(8):e12887. PMID: 39329178.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 8/15/2024
Lei PJ, Fraser C, Jones D, Ubellacker JM, Padera TP. Lymphatic system regulation of anti-cancer immunity and metastasis. Front Immunol. 2024; 15:1449291. PMID: 39211044.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 7/22/2024
Arroyo-Ataz G, Yagüe AC, Breda JC, Mazzilli SA, Jones D. Transcriptional, developmental, and functional parallels of lymphatic and venous smooth muscle. bioRxiv. 2024 Jul 22. PMID: 39091770.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 6/1/2024
Jana S, Li W, Lei PJ, Wang Z, Kibara S, Huang P, Jones D. Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Mammary Adenocarcinoma, MCa-P1362, with Hormone Receptor Expression, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Positivity, and Enrichment in Cancer and Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Am J Pathol. 2024 Jun; 194(6):1137-1153. PMID: 38749609.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 12/21/2023
Barnard ME, Wang X, Petrick JL, Zirpoli GR, Jones D, Johnson WE, Palmer JR. Psychosocial stressors and breast cancer gene expression in the Black Women's Health Study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2024 Apr; 204(2):327-340. PMID: 38127176.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 11/19/2023
Lei PJ, Ruscic KJ, Roh K, Rajotte JJ, O'Melia MJ, Bouta EM, Marquez M, Pereira ER, Kumar AS, Arroyo-Ataz G, Razavi MS, Zhou H, Menzel L, Kumra H, Duquette M, Huang P, Baish JW, Munn LL, Ubellacker JM, Jones D, Padera TP. Lymphatic muscle cells are unique cells that undergo aging induced changes. bioRxiv. 2023 Nov 19. PMID: 38014141.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 10/18/2023
Delclaux I, Ventre KS, Jones D, Lund AW. The tumor-draining lymph node as a reservoir for systemic immune surveillance. Trends Cancer. 2024 Jan; 10(1):28-37. PMID: 37863720.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 6/21/2023
Lei PJ, Pereira ER, Andersson P, Amoozgar Z, Van Wijnbergen JW, O'Melia MJ, Zhou H, Chatterjee S, Ho WW, Posada JM, Kumar AS, Morita S, Menzel L, Chung C, Ergin I, Jones D, Huang P, Beyaz S, Padera TP. Cancer cell plasticity and MHC-II-mediated immune tolerance promote breast cancer metastasis to lymph nodes. J Exp Med. 2023 Sep 04; 220(9). PMID: 37341991.
Read at: PubMed - Published on 6/6/2023
Jana S, Li W, Lei PJ, Wang Z, Huang P, Jones D. "Isolation and characterization of a novel hormone receptor positive mammary adenocarcinoma MCa-P1362 with stromal drivers of tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance". bioRxiv. 2023 Jun 06. PMID: 37333242.
Read at: PubMed
View 27 more publications: View full profile at BUMC