Associate Professor
Ph.D., 2001; St. Petersburg State Univ., St. Petersburg
ORCID #0000-0001-8053-5619
Academic Department(s)
Biochemistry
Research Area
Brain Cancer
Research Interest
The laboratory investigates the mechanisms underlying the interaction between brain tumor glioma cells and infiltrating microglia/macrophages. Microglia infiltrate the majority of gliomas and have been shown to promote tumor growth, invasion, and resistance to therapy. Our research has identified Pyk2 and FAK as key intracellular signaling elements that mediate the crosstalk between microglia and glioma cells, contributing to accelerated tumor recurrence following surgical resection. In particular, we focus on the role of Pyk2 in regulating cytokine release and shaping the tumor immune microenvironment. Current studies are aimed at developing combinatorial treatment strategies that employ dual Pyk2/FAK inhibitors in conjunction with chemotherapeutic agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors to target the microglial contribution to tumor progression and enhance the response to immunotherapy.
Availability for StudentsYes
Publications
Publications NCBI Link
Contact Information
Universidad Central del Caribe
P.O. Box 60327
Bayamón, PR 00960-6032
Tel.: (787) 798-3001 x 2100
e-mail: lilia.kucheryavykh@uccaribe.edu