University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus · Biochemistry

Laboratory of Viral-Induced Cancer Metastasis

James V Degregori · Denver, Colorado

Research Focus

Dr. James V Degregori's research lab at the University of Colorado Denver focuses on how respiratory viral infections, such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2, affect dormant cancer cells in the lungs and lead to breast cancer metastasis. The lab investigates the connections between inflammation caused by these infections and the awakening of dormant cancer cells that can result in serious health complications. Their work aims to uncover mechanisms to prevent cancer recurrence and develop strategies for early detection and risk mitigation in cancer survivors.

breast cancerviral infectionslung metastasisdormant cancer cellsinflammationSARS-CoV-2cell immunityCD4 T-cellsCD8 T-cellsIL-6

Research Aims

AIM 01Investigate how respiratory viral infections awaken dormant cancer cells in the lung.

AIM 02Explore the role of inflammation in promoting the expansion of dormant cancer cells.

AIM 03Determine the mechanisms by which CD4 and CD8 T-cells affect dormant cancer cell persistence during viral infections.

AIM 04Identify strategies to mitigate the risk of metastatic progression in cancer survivors after viral infections.

Skills the Lab Values

mouse modelsinfluenza infection assaysvirology techniquesimmunoassayscell cultureflow cytometryWestern blottingRNA extraction and analysisepidemiological study designmolecular biology techniques

Output against the department

Publications376top 14% of dept.56th of 402

this lab

most publishedleast published

Citations21ktop 20% of dept.80th of 402

this lab

most citedleast cited

Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.