We envision a world where a pancreatic cancer diagnosis is no longer a death sentence. At the Escobar-Hoyos Lab, we operate at the dynamic interface of pathology, RNA biology, and immuno-oncology to discover biomarker-guided therapies that can outsmart the most aggressive tumors. We translate deep scientific insights into real clinical solutions, aiming to transform how patients are diagnosed, treated, and followed.
We investigate how aggressive tumors, like pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), hijack their RNA splicing machinery to drive growth and therapy resistance. By mapping these aberrant RNA programs, we design innovative therapeutics including "splicing-hit" oligonucleotides and targeted RNA delivery systems to disable key oncogenic pathways at their source.
Our group pioneered the discovery of Keratin 17 (K17) as a powerful biomarker for the most lethal cancer subtypes. We leverage K17 to develop diagnostic tests that predict patient prognosis and chemotherapy response. Furthermore, we target K17's oncogenic functions directly and use it as a basis for novel cancer vaccines that train the immune system to recognize and eliminate K17-positive tumor cells.
We develop strategies to overcome the immune resistance of "cold" tumors like pancreatic cancer. By understanding how tumor-intrinsic factors shape the immune microenvironment, we design rational combination therapies. Our state-of-the-art platform uses patient-derived organoids and immune cells in ex vivo patient trials, allowing us to test and predict a patient's response to immunotherapy before they ever receive the treatment.