Programs > Fellowships > Fellows > June 2009 > Yuliya Pylayeva-Gupta, Ph.D.

Yuliya Pylayeva-Gupta, Ph.D.
New York University School of Medicine
New York, NY

Project Title: Role of KRas activation in modulating the immune response during pancreatic cancer development
Sponsor: Dafna Bar-Sagi, Ph.D. 

Pancreatic cancer is an extremely aggressive disease and is the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.  Even with surgical intervention, only four percent of patients will survive past the five-year mark.  One of the major obstacles in combating pancreatic cancer is at the diagnosis stage: most pancreatic cancers are detected too late in their progression.  Recent studies have shown that newly-generated cancer cells have the ability to activate components of the immune response that frequently contribute to tumor progression.  However, it is not known which immune cells are responsible for this effect, how they play a part in promoting tumorigenesis, and what would be the therapeutic implications of interrupting their activation. 

One of Dr. Pylayeva-Gupta’s main objectives is to identify immune system components involved in the development of pancreatic cancer.  She will use mouse models of pancreatic cancer in combination with cell manipulation techniques.  By studying a molecule called KRas, a key initiating factor in pancreatic cancer growth, she will investigate pathways relevant to the disease, characterize critical elements of immune response initiated by KRas, and determine their role in instigating cancer-associated inflammation and progression to advanced stages of cancer.  Understanding the molecular and cellular nature of such interactions, the types of immune cells that are involved, and their functional contribution to pathogenesis of the disease may provide us with tools to better treat this lethal cancer.  These findings, combined with known genetic and epidemiologic risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer, may lead to development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

What is the role of KRas in pancreatic cancer?

In pancreatic cancer, more than 90 percent of patients are affected by a very important antigen named KRas. The KRas molecule is thought to contribute to many features of the pancreatic tumors, and we’re interested in understanding whether it also contributes to the immunological response that happens within those tumors. We are utilizing mouse models to look at how KRas can recruit immune cells to the pancreatic tumor; basically characterize what cells can come into play and how they get there. We hope to eventually have the ability to manipulate their basic immune responses and see if we can change which immune cells come to the tumor and what they do in the tumor.

How did you become interested in immunology research?

I’ve always wanted to work in cancer partly because I’m fascinated by the complexity of the cellular composition of tumors.  Cancer is a very complex and devastating disease. The components of the immune system, in particular, seem to be very important and the role that they play in tumor development is largely undefined, and really needs to be investigated. A very interesting thing about the immune system is it has a great potential for therapeutic targeting. And I think in the end, it is this translational aspect of going “from bench to clinic” of this research that is something that drove me to the field of tumor immunology.

What are the good and difficult parts of working in an immunology lab?

For a new postdoctoral fellow like me, this lab provides a great environment.  A lot of very motivated, very smart people are working here, and they come from all kinds of backgrounds—biochemistry, cancer biology, etc. They can provide some really helpful knowledge when you need them and their mentorship is very motivating.  The difficult part is to try to set up a system that will give you answers that you’re looking for.

How does the CRI Fellowship Award impact your research and your career?

In a field such as tumor immunology, it’s very important to have your ideas and approaches be evaluated in a rigorous manner by specialists in the field. The Cancer Research Institute award certainly gives me a lot of confidence since they support my project.  It’s just a great opportunity and the support is so valuable to do what I’ve always wanted.

How do you use your free time?

Well my background, actually I was born in the USSR, so I came here to America when I was 17 and I went to college and graduated from school here. In a way I always knew I wanted to study biology, or something live in a way has always been interesting to me. Nowadays I basically am really grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in this country to move forward with what I really wanted to do. I still think I’m extremely motivated with what I am doing. And certainly the fellowship has been fantastic—I think basically a dream come true at this point in my career. As for my hobbies, I really like to travel. I love living in New York just because it’s such a multicultural place. I love being in the mix of things, and hearing different people and hearing about their cultures. And at least once a year me and my husband like to go to a new place and explore.