Katerina Politi, PhD
Joseph A. and Lucille K. Madri Professor of PathologyDownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Appointments
Pathology
Primary
Medical Oncology and Hematology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Deputy Director, Yale Cancer Center
Scientific Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers
Contact Info
Appointments
Pathology
Primary
Medical Oncology and Hematology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Deputy Director, Yale Cancer Center
Scientific Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers
Contact Info
Appointments
Pathology
Primary
Medical Oncology and Hematology
Secondary
Additional Titles
Deputy Director, Yale Cancer Center
Scientific Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers
Contact Info
About
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Titles
Joseph A. and Lucille K. Madri Professor of Pathology
Deputy Director, Yale Cancer Center; Scientific Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers
Biography
Katerina Politi studied Biology at the University of Pavia in Italy. She then moved to New York, where she obtained her PhD in Genetics and Development working with Argiris Efstratiadis at Columbia University. Following graduate school, she joined Harold Varmus's lab at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and began her work on the molecular basis of lung cancer. She continues this work at Yale as a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Yale Cancer Center.
Last Updated on March 04, 2024.
Appointments
Pathology
ProfessorPrimaryMedical Oncology and Hematology
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Signaling Networks
- Internal Medicine
- K12 Calabresi Immuno-Oncology Training Program (IOTP)
- Medical Oncology and Hematology
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- MR Core
- Pathology
- Pathology and Molecular Medicine
- Pathology Research
- Politi Lab
- Program in Translational Biomedicine (PTB)
- SPORE in Lung Cancer
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale Stem Cell Center
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- Senior Research Scientist
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (2010)
- Research Fellow
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (2008)
- PhD
- Columbia University (2003)
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist
- Columbia University (2003)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Lung Neoplasms; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Pathology
ORCID
0000-0001-6064-4527- View Lab Website
Politi Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Katerina Politi's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Katerina Politi's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Katerina Politi is interested in exploring.
Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH
Francisco Exposito, PhD
Anna Wurtz
Don Nguyen, PhD
Michael Grant, MD
Robert Homer, MD, PhD
41Publications
1,214Citations
Lung Neoplasms
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
Molecular Targeted Therapy
Publications
2026
Looking back on the history of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in lung cancer
Herbst R, Wang M, Politi K. Looking back on the history of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in lung cancer. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences 2026, 381: 20240506. PMID: 42656148, DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2024.0506.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricPolycomb Scaffolding Subunit EED Supports the SCLC Neuroendocrine Identity and EGFR-Mutant LUAD to SCLC Transformation
Li Y, Laimon Y, Cho H, Vivero M, de Oliveira G, Seager M, Delcea A, Savla V, Chen Y, Durmaz Y, Qiu X, Kukreja S, Li R, Lu W, Van Orden M, Berchuck J, Bronson R, Li S, Ji H, Barbie D, Politi K, Freedman M, Long H, Signoretti S, Oser M. Polycomb Scaffolding Subunit EED Supports the SCLC Neuroendocrine Identity and EGFR-Mutant LUAD to SCLC Transformation. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2026 PMID: 42611544, DOI: 10.1172/jci199454.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricBasic and Translational Research Advances in NSCLC
Sharma R, Politi K. Basic and Translational Research Advances in NSCLC. The Cancer Journal 2026, 32: e0841. PMID: 42497399, DOI: 10.1097/ppo.0000000000000841.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsAltmetricLoss of PTEN as an Independent Poor Prognosis Indicator in Lung Adenocarcinoma, but Not in Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Is Associated with an Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment and Distinct Co-Mutational Profiles
Houry M, Silva S, Artola M, Behrens C, Politi K, Wistuba I, Montuenga L, Exposito F, Calvo A. Loss of PTEN as an Independent Poor Prognosis Indicator in Lung Adenocarcinoma, but Not in Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Is Associated with an Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment and Distinct Co-Mutational Profiles. Medical Sciences 2026, 14: 254. PMID: 42201046, PMCID: PMC13214857, DOI: 10.3390/medsci14020254.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricA Roadmap to Transform Lung Cancer Outcomes: Priorities in Biology, Therapeutic Innovation, Early Detection, Prevention and Interception
Winslow M, Ahmed M, Berg C, Black J, Downward J, Govindan R, Herbst R, Heymach J, Jaffee E, Kraut N, Merad M, Meyerson M, Pandya T, Politi K, Rao A, Rudin C, Soria J, Tang Y, Wong K, Yap T, Swanton C, Abbosh C, Bess B, Bivona T, Blackhall F, Brahmer J, Cheng I, Chuter D, De Koning H, Diehn M, Dive C, Galbraith S, Gros A, Jamal-Hanjani M, Janes S, Jänne P, Klebanoff C, Lee S, Lovly C, McGranahan N, Mok T, Peters S, Schalper K, Sequist L, Shaw A, Siu L, Solomon B, Spira A, Stiles B, Tan D, Temel J, Tsai C, Velculescu V, Vokes E, Whetstine J, Winn R, Chih-Hsin Yang J. A Roadmap to Transform Lung Cancer Outcomes: Priorities in Biology, Therapeutic Innovation, Early Detection, Prevention and Interception. Cancer Discovery 2026, 16: 1055-1073. PMID: 42001483, PMCID: PMC7619086, DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-25-2318.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricERBB2-Activating Mutations and Co-Occurring Genomic Alterations Contribute to Disease Heterogeneity in Patients With ERBB2-Mutant Lung Cancer
Stockhammer P, Schillo J, Li F, Goldberg S, Politi K, Grant M. ERBB2-Activating Mutations and Co-Occurring Genomic Alterations Contribute to Disease Heterogeneity in Patients With ERBB2-Mutant Lung Cancer. Journal Of Thoracic Oncology 2026, 21: 103708. PMID: 41932614, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2026.103708.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates ERBB2 mutations in lung cancer, showing extracellular domain variants predict unique profiles and improved chemoimmunotherapy outcomes.
2025
Tolerance and Resistance to Targeted Therapy in NSCLC: Emerging Concepts and Strategies
Sanchez-Cespedes M, Lockwood W, Suda K, Gardner E, Mitsudomi T, Politi K, Rolfo C, Sen T, Sos M, Tammela T, Wynes M, Tsao M, Berger A. Tolerance and Resistance to Targeted Therapy in NSCLC: Emerging Concepts and Strategies. JTO Clinical And Research Reports 2025, 7: 100944. PMID: 41858873, PMCID: PMC12996998, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2025.100944.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricEpigenetic priming promotes tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and oncogene amplification
Starble R, Sun E, Gbyli R, Radda J, Lu J, Jensen T, Sun N, Khudaverdyan N, Zhao T, Hu B, Melnick M, Zhao S, Roper N, Wang G, Tackett A, Wang Y, Song J, Politi K, Wang S, Xiao A. Epigenetic priming promotes tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and oncogene amplification. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 2025, 33: 7-19. PMID: 41131337, PMCID: PMC12819156, DOI: 10.1038/s41594-025-01685-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricLasering in on Uncommon EGFR Mutations
Kim S, Politi K, Goldberg S. Lasering in on Uncommon EGFR Mutations. Journal Of Thoracic Oncology 2025, 20: 1148-1151. PMID: 40914593, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2025.06.014.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersCitationsAltmetricIntratumoral IL12 mRNA administration activates innate and adaptive pathways in checkpoint inhibitor-resistant tumors resulting in complete responses
Lakshmipathi J, Santha S, Li M, Qian Y, Roy S, Luheshi N, Politi K, Bosenberg M, Eyles J, Muthusamy V. Intratumoral IL12 mRNA administration activates innate and adaptive pathways in checkpoint inhibitor-resistant tumors resulting in complete responses. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy 2025, 74: 250. PMID: 40560386, PMCID: PMC12198101, DOI: 10.1007/s00262-025-04105-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThis study investigates intratumoral IL12 mRNA therapy, showing it effectively reactivates immune responses in checkpoint inhibitor-resistant tumors, leading to significant complete responses, potentially benefiting cancer patients with resistant tumors.
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Determining Mechanisms of Sensitivity and Resistance to Anti-Cancer Therapy for Advanced Lung Cancer
IRB ID1603017333RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/16/2036Recruiting Participants
News & Links
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Media
The Power of Progress in Lung Cancer
Dr. Roy Herbst shares the progress that has been made in lung cancer care and research at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center.
News
- September 25, 2026
The Weekly Dose: Antibiotic allergies; endometriosis pain; AI scribes
- September 18, 2026
Support for Research Is a Class Act
- September 16, 2026
Multigenerational Yale Legacy Fuels $1 Million for Cancer Research at Yale School of Medicine
- June 16, 2026
Lung Cancer Scientific Symposium
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Locations
Nathan Smith Building
Lab
315 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06510
Winchester Building
Academic Office
25 York Street, Rm 208
New Haven, CT 06511