Haake Cancer Lab

Explorers of Kidney Cancer and Extracellular Matrix Biology

Our goal:

To leverage science and discovery to improve the lives of kidney cancer patients.

These efforts span the breadth of biomedical research, including laboratory, translational and clinical research projects.


Haake lab members

Pictured above are Haake Cancer Lab members Scott Haake, MD, PhD, Lexi Grisham, and Cathy Xu.


Laboratory-based research program:

In the Haake Cancer Lab, we study the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling during tumor initiation and evolution. ECM signaling via integrins is required for the survival of epithelial cells. However, as epithelial cells transform into carcinoma cells, the role of ECM and integrin signaling becomes more complex.

In some contexts, such as lung cancer, we have shown that cancer cells exhibit constitutive, ligand-independent activation of ECM receptors, and this signaling is required for tumor initiation. However, their role in the biology of carcinoma types remains poorly defined.

Our current work is focused on understanding the biological factors that regulate integrin signaling in various tumor types, including kidney cancer.

Translational work:

The Haake Cancer Lab is leading a multi-institutional effort to collect blood samples from patients with stage IV, metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma who are receiving immunotherapy.

We collect blood samples at multiple time points during therapy. Samples are then shipped to our lab where we extract tumor cell free DNA. We then work with collaborators at multiple institutions to identify and quantitate the tumor cell free DNA using cutting-edge Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies.

Clinical trial work:

The Haake Cancer Lab is collaborating with multiple investigators and institutions to test a novel biomarker designed to match cancer patients to the right therapy based on the biology of their tumors.

This new biomarker relies on NGS-based RNA sequencing to measure the gene expression of the patient’s tumor. Based on this data, the patient is then assigned a treatment tailored to their tumor’s biology. This phase II clinical trial, termed the OPtimal Treatment by Invoking biologic Clusters in Renal Cell Carcinoma or OPTIC-RCC trial, will accrue at multiple cancer centers across the country.

Click here for more information

Clinical Trial Collaboraters:​​​​​​

Scott Haake, MD, PhD

Biomarker Team Lead

Katy Beckermann, MD, PhD

Vanderbilt Clinical Lead

Brian Rini, MD

Principal Investigator

Check out these videos and podcasts to learn more about research conducted by the Haake Lab:


In this episode from "The Uromigos” podcast that aired on 11/14/22, Dr. Scott Haake discusses tumor cell free DNA in kidney cancer as well as the OPTIC-RCC trial. 

Listen here


In this talk from the 2022 KidneyCAN Kidney Cancer Research Forum, Dr. Anupama Reddy discusses the bioinformatics behind the OPTIC-RCC clinical trial.

Watch here (begins at 57:25)


In this talk for the 2021 Vanderbilt Translational Research Forum, Dr. Haake discusses tumor cell free DNA in kidney cancer.

Watch here


In this talk for the 2021 KidneyCAN Kidney Cancer Research Forum, Dr. Haake discusses tumor cell free DNA in kidney cancer.

Watch here (begins at 31:27)


Language
English