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Rosandra N. Kaplan, M.D.

Rosandra N. Kaplan, M.D.

  • Center for Cancer Research
  • National Cancer Institute
Pediatric Oncology Branch

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Dr. Kaplan is a physician scientist who developed the concept of the pre-metastatic niche describing the changes in distant microenvironments in response to a growing tumor that create a niche environment conducive to disseminating tumor cell survival and growth resulting in clinically relevant metastasis. Dr. Kaplan has an active translational research program focusing on developing novel biomarkers and targets of the metastatic microenvironment by understanding the commonalities in mechanisms employed by a cancer cell to generate an entire heterogenous tumor at distant sites and stem cells and their niche to repopulate tissues.

Areas of Expertise

Information for Patients

Learn more about our clinical trials and the highly specialized care teams that lead them. 

Publications

Selected Recent Publications

Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Gene Rearrangement in Children and Young Adults With Mesothelioma

Mian I, Abdullaev Z, Morrow B, Kaplan RN, Gao S, Miettinen M, Schrump DS, Zgonc V, Wei JS, Khan J, Pack S, Hassan R.
J Thorac Oncol. 15(3): 457-61, 2020. [ Journal Article ]

KLF4-dependent perivascular cell plasticity mediates pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis

Murgai M, Ju W, Eason M, Kline J, Beury DW, Kaczanowska S, Miettinen MM, Kruhlak M, Lei H, Shern JF, Cherepanova OA, Owens GK, Kaplan RN.
Nat Med. 23(10): 1176-90, 2017. [ Journal Article ]

Pre-metastatic niches: organ-specific homes for metastases

Peinado H, Zhang H, Matei IR, Costa-Silva B, Hoshino A, Rodrigues G, Psaila B, Kaplan RN, Bromberg JF, Kang Y, Bissell MJ, Cox TR, Giaccia AJ, Erler JT, Hiratsuka S, Ghajar CM, Lyden D.
Nat Rev Cancer. 17(5): 302-17, 2017. [ Journal Article ]

The functional interplay between systemic cancer and the hematopoietic stem cell niche

Giles AJ, Chien CD, Reid CM, Fry TJ, Park DM, Kaplan RN, Gilbert MR.
Pharmacol Ther. 168: 53-60, 2016. [ Journal Article ]

Activation of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells Promotes Immunosuppression Within the Pre-metastatic Niche

Giles AJ, Reid CM, Evans JD, Murgai M, Vicioso Y, Highfill SL, Kasai M, Vahdat L, Mackall CL, Lyden D, Wexler L, Kaplan RN.
Cancer Res. 76(6): 1335-47, 2016. [ Journal Article ]

Job Vacancies

Position Degree Required Contact Name Contact Email
Post-doctoral Fellow - Tumor microenvironment, immunology Ph.D. or equivalent, M.D. or equivalent Rosandra Kaplan, MD rosie.kaplan@nih.gov

Team

Research Biologist
Wei Ju, Ph.D.
Program Assistant
Crystal Fuller
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mohit Singh, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Mohd Omar Sikder, Ph.D.
Postbaccalaureate Fellow
Kailey Jackett
Postbaccalaureate Fellow
Alondra Martinez Osorno
Postbaccalaureate Fellow
Brendan Ball
Graduate Student
Alice Browne
Graduate Student
Cristie Contreras Burrola
Clinical Fellow
Jacqui Klicka-Skeels, M.D.
Clinical Fellow
James Cronk, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Fellow
Julia Segal, M.D.
Head shot of Etan Aber
Clinical Fellow
Etan Aber, M.D., Ph.D.