Breadcrumb

David D. Roberts, Ph.D.

David D. Roberts, Ph.D.

  • Center for Cancer Research
  • National Cancer Institute
NCI Scientist Emeritus
Laboratory of Pathology

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Dr. Roberts investigated the role of extracellular matrix components in the tumor microenvironment in regulating tumor angiogenesis and antitumor immunity. His group discovered that thrombospondin-1 signaling through its receptor CD47 controls vascular cell responses to ischemic stress by enhancing nitric oxide/cGMP signaling and cellular responses to genotoxic stress by induction of protective autophagy, induction of anabolic metabolism, and enhanced DNA repair. CD47 also regulates stem cell self-renewal by controlling c-Myc. His lab developed novel therapeutics targeting CD47 that improve survival of ischemic injuries and increase resistance of nonmalignant cells and tissues to genotoxic stress caused by chemotherapy and ionizing radiation. The same agents enhance ablation of tumors by radio- and chemotherapy by activating CD8 T cell and NK cell cytotoxic activities.

Areas of Expertise

Cancer Signaling and Pathways
The Tumor Microenvironment
Extracellular Matrix
Stress Responses
Stem Cell Reprogramming
Angiogenesis

Publications

Selected Recent Publications

CD63, MHC class 1, and CD47 identify subsets of extracellular vesicles containing distinct populations of noncoding RNAs

Kaur S, Elkahloun AG, Arakelyan A, Young L, Myers TG, Otaizo-Carrasquero F, Wu W, Margolis L, Roberts DD.
Sci Rep. 8(1): 2577, 2018. [ Journal Article ]

Regulation of cellular redox signaling by matricellular proteins in vascular biology, immunology, and cancer

Roberts DD, Kaur S, Isenberg JS.
Antioxid Redox Signal. 27(12): 874-911, 2017. [ Journal Article ]

Natural Killer Cell Recruitment and Activation Are Regulated by CD47 Expression in the Tumor Microenvironment

Nath PR, Pal-Nath D, Mandal A, Cam MC, Schwartz AL, Roberts DD.
Cancer Immunol Res. 7(9): 1547-1561, 2019. [ Journal Article ]

Antisense targeting of CD47 enhances human cytotoxic T-cell activity and increases survival of mice bearing B16 melanoma when combined with anti-CTLA4 and tumor irradiation

Schwartz AL, Nath PR, Allgauer M, Lessey-Morillon EC, Sipes JM, Ridnour LA, Morillon Ii YM, Yu Z, Restifo NP, Roberts DD.
Cancer Immunol Immunother. 68(11): 1805-1817, 2019. [ Journal Article ]

Identification of Schlafen-11 as a Target of CD47 Signaling That Regulates Sensitivity to Ionizing Radiation and Topoisomerase Inhibitors

Kaur S, Schwartz AL, Jordan DG, Soto-Pantoja DR, Kuo B, Elkahloun AG, Mathews Griner L, Thomas CJ, Ferrer M, Thomas A, Tang SW, Rajapakse VN, Pommier Y, Roberts DD.
Front Oncol. 9: 994, 2019. [ Journal Article ]