Research Focus

The Albertson lab uses ‘omics technologies and spatial profiling (e.g., multiplex immunohistochemistry) to study oral cancers and the reciprocal communication between cancers and the microenvironment, including cancer innervating neurons. Projects investigate oral cancer pain in patients and preclinical models to better understand cancer-nerve interactions by identifying oral cancer derived mediators that promote neurotropism and sensitize nociceptive neurons, and in turn, the benefits conferred on the cancer by mediators released from neurons. Recent studies implicated differential expression of the partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (p-EMT) program in oral cancer pain and metastasis and release of cancer nociceptive mediators in extracellular vesicles (exosomes).

Publications

Complete listing available on the NYU Health Sciences Library site.

Active Projects