Jacqueline Lees

Jacqueline Lees

Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research; Associate Department Head; Associate Director, David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research

Jacqueline Lees develops mouse and zebrafish models, identifying the molecular pathways leading to tumor formation.

617-252-1972

Phone

76-461

Office

jalees@mit.edu

Email

Lab Website
Paul Thompson

Assistant

617-258-0480

Assistant Phone

Education

  • PhD, 1990, University of London
  • BSc, 1986, Biochemistry, University of York

Research Summary

We identify the proteins and pathways involved in tumorigenicity — establishing their mechanism of action in both normal and tumor cells. To do so, we use a combination of molecular and cellular analyses, mutant mouse models and genetic screens in zebrafish.

Recent Publications

  1. The Rb tumor suppressor regulates epithelial cell migration and polarity. Parisi, T, Balsamo, M, Gertler, F, Lees, JA. 2018. Mol Carcinog 57, 1640-1650.
    doi: 10.1002/mc.22886PMID:30084175
  2. Uveal melanoma driver mutations in GNAQ/11 yield numerous changes in melanocyte biology. Perez, DE, Henle, AM, Amsterdam, A, Hagen, HR, Lees, JA. 2018. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 31, 604-613.
    doi: 10.1111/pcmr.12700PMID:29570931
  3. EMT programs promote basal mammary stem cell and tumor-initiating cell stemness by inducing primary ciliogenesis and Hedgehog signaling. Guen, VJ, Chavarria, TE, Kröger, C, Ye, X, Weinberg, RA, Lees, JA. 2017. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 114, E10532-E10539.
    doi: 10.1073/pnas.1711534114PMID:29158396
  4. Coordinated Splicing of Regulatory Detained Introns within Oncogenic Transcripts Creates an Exploitable Vulnerability in Malignant Glioma. Braun, CJ, Stanciu, M, Boutz, PL, Patterson, JC, Calligaris, D, Higuchi, F, Neupane, R, Fenoglio, S, Cahill, DP, Wakimoto, H et al.. 2017. Cancer Cell 32, 411-426.e11.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2017.08.018PMID:28966034
  5. E2f4 and E2f5 are essential for the development of the male reproductive system. Danielian, PS, Hess, RA, Lees, JA. 2016. Cell Cycle 15, 250-60.
    doi: 10.1080/15384101.2015.1121350PMID:26825228
  6. BMI1 induces an invasive signature in melanoma that promotes metastasis and chemoresistance. Ferretti, R, Bhutkar, A, McNamara, MC, Lees, JA. 2016. Genes Dev 30, 18-33.
    doi: 10.1101/gad.267757.115PMID:26679841
  7. Inactivation of the retinoblastoma gene yields a mouse model of malignant colorectal cancer. Parisi, T, Bronson, RT, Lees, JA. 2015. Oncogene 34, 5890-9.
    doi: 10.1038/onc.2015.30PMID:25745996
  8. Bmi1 is required for tumorigenesis in a mouse model of intestinal cancer. Maynard, MA, Ferretti, R, Hilgendorf, KI, Perret, C, Whyte, P, Lees, JA. 2014. Oncogene 33, 3742-7.
    doi: 10.1038/onc.2013.333PMID:23955081
  9. The retinoblastoma protein induces apoptosis directly at the mitochondria. Hilgendorf, KI, Leshchiner, ES, Nedelcu, S, Maynard, MA, Calo, E, Ianari, A, Walensky, LD, Lees, JA. 2013. Genes Dev 27, 1003-15.
    doi: 10.1101/gad.211326.112PMID:23618872
  10. Loss of pRB and p107 disrupts cartilage development and promotes enchondroma formation. Landman, AS, Danielian, PS, Lees, JA. 2013. Oncogene 32, 4798-805.
    doi: 10.1038/onc.2012.496PMID:23146901
More Publications
Photo courtesy of the MIT Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research