UMCUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School · Biology
Radiation Resistance and Therapeutics Lab
Arthur M Mercurio · Worcester, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Arthur M. Mercurio's lab focuses on understanding and overcoming resistance to radiation therapy in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The lab aims to explore how the interaction between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor, neuropilin-2 (NRP2), contributes to radiation resistance. By leveraging patient-derived models and organoids, the team seeks to discover novel therapies that enhance the effectiveness of radiotherapy in treating aggressive forms of breast cancer.
triple negative breast cancerradiation therapyVEGFneuropilin-2cancer resistancepatient-derived xenograftsorganoidssmall molecule therapeuticsNOS2
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the mechanism by which VEGF/NRP2 signaling promotes radiation resistance in TNBC.
AIM 02Assess the impact of blocking VEGF/NRP2 interaction on radiosensitivity in tumor organoids.
AIM 03Identify biomarkers of resistant populations through RNA sequencing.
AIM 04Develop small molecule therapeutics targeting resistant TNBC populations.
AIM 05Evaluate the therapeutic potential of anti-NRP2 mAb in vivo using PDX models.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureRNA sequencingmouse modelsantibody blockdrug screeningin vivo studiesflow cytometrybiomarker discoverygene expression analysis
Output against the department
Publications387top 12% of dept.125th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations21ktop 18% of dept.188th of 1,033
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.