Close-up of sample being place into microplate

Research Lab Overview

A large number of lymphoid neoplasms are currently being treated with conventional chemotherapies that are toxic for normal cells. Of note, healthy lymphocytes express the normal counterparts of oncoproteins, making direct targeting of oncogenes difficult. Therefore, identification of therapies that can specifically target cancer cells is required. The immune system is a natural defense mechanism against cancers that can be activated to specifically kill malignant cells.

Development of targeted immunotherapy against lymphoid malignancies requires distinguishing normal and malignant lymphocytes in two respects: (1) Cell-intrinsic signaling, that includes surface molecules and intracellular signaling, and (2) Regulation of immune microenvironment. Srividya Swaminathan’s laboratory will study these aspects by comparing both cell-intrinsic processes, and the spatial and temporal distribution of the immune system during normal and malignant lymphopoiesis; using approaches including mass cytometry (CyTOF), CIBERSORT and humanized mouse models. This knowledge will be applied for the development of cell-based and other immunotherapies. Her laboratory at the City of Hope is currently funded by a five‐year start‐up package, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Scholar Award, the NCI Lymphoma SPORE Career Enhancement Program, and a Research Starter Grant from the PhRMA Foundation.

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Principal Investigator: Srividya Swaminatan, Ph.D.

An Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems Biology, Srividya Swaminathan's research focuses on immune profiling of normal and malignant lymphopoiesis, molecular mechanisms of immune modulation by oncogenes, development of cell-based and non-cell-based immunotherapies against lymphoid neoplasms.

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Lab Members

Adeleh Taghi Khani, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Focus Tumor immunology Immune cell-based therapy

Anil Kumar, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Focus Molecular mechanisms of immune surveillance in B- and T-lymphoid malignancies Identification of alternative treatment approaches for high-risk pediatric lymphoid malignancies

Ashly Sanchez Ortiz

Research Associate II

Research Focus: lentivirus production, CRISPR library cloning, DNA/RNA/plasmid DNA extraction/preparation Education: Bachelors from UC Berkeley in molecular and cell biology (class of 2020) Professional Experience: 2017-2020 Lab Technician at UC Berkeley Isacoff Lab 2020-2021 Research Technician at Zymo Research Corporation, Epigenetics team 2021-present Research Associate II/Lab Manager for Dr. Swaminathan’s lab

Soraya Aramburo

Graduate Student and Veterinarian Fellow

Research Focus: Delineating the mechanisms by which oncogenes suppress natural killer cells in B‐cell and T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia Using neural stem cells as therapeutic prodrug delivery vehicles for glioma Education: 2021-present, Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences, Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 2021-present, Veterinary Residency in Laboratory Animal Medicine, Center for Comparative Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 2017-2021, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 1999-2004, Bachelor of Science in Animal Science: Pre‐Vet Option, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA Professional Experience: 2016-2017, Senior Research Associate; 2008-2016, Research Associate II; 2007-2008, Research Associate I; Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA 2006-2007, Animal Health Technician, Center for Comparative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA 2005-2006, Quality Inspector, Fill/Finish Department, Kelly Services, Baxter Bioscience, Los Angeles, CA Memberships: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) Southern California Branch of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (SCB‐AALAS) California Laboratory Animal Medicine Society (CLAMS) Publications: Kumar, A., Khani, A. T., Duault, C., Aramburo, S., Ortiz, A. S., Lee, S. J., et al.. (2023). Intrinsic suppression of type I interferon production underlies the therapeutic efficacy of IL-15-producing natural killer cells in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 11(5), e006649. Taghi Khani, A., Kumar, A., Sanchez Ortiz, A., Radecki, K. C., Aramburo, S., Lee, S. J., et al. (2023). Isoformspecific knockdown of long and intermediate prolactin receptors interferes with evolution of B-cell neoplasms. Communications Biology, 6(1), 295. doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-04667-8 Haber, T., Cornejo, Y. R., Aramburo, S., Flores, L., Cao, P., Liu, A. et al. (2020). Specific targeting of ovarian tumor-associated macrophages by large, anionic nanoparticles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(33), 19737-19745. doi:10.1073/pnas.1917424117 Tiet, P., Li, J., Abidi, W., Mooney, R., Flores, L., Aramburo, S. et al. (2019). Silica Coated Paclitaxel Nanocrystals Enable Neural Stem Cell Loading For Treatment of Ovarian Cancer. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 30(5), 1415-1424. doi:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00160 Gutova, M., Flores, L., Adhikarla, V., Tsaturyan, L., Tirughana, R., Aramburo, S. et al. (2019). Quantitative Evaluation of Intraventricular Delivery of Therapeutic Neural Stem Cells to Orthotopic Glioma. Frontiers in Oncology, 9. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00068 Mooney, R., Majid, A. A., Mota, D., He, A., Aramburo, S., Flores, L. et al. (2018). Bcl-2 Overexpression Improves Survival and Efficacy of Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Enzyme Prodrug Therapy. Stem Cells International, 2018, 1-13. doi:10.1155/2018/7047496 Barish, M. E., Herrmann, K., Tang, Y., Argalian Herculian, S., Metz, M., Aramburo, S. et al. (2017). Human Neural Stem Cell Biodistribution and Predicted Tumor Coverage by a Diffusible Therapeutic in a Mouse Glioma Model. STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, 6(6), 1522-1532. doi:10.1002/sctm.16-0397 Ghoda, L., Metz, M., Tirughana, R., Aramburo, S., Gilchrist, M., Gutova, M. et al. (2017). STEM-32. PRECLINICAL SAFETY AND EFFICACY STUDIES OF NEURAL STEM CELL MEDIATED CARBOXYLESTERASE/IRINOTECAN ENZYME/PRODRUG GENE THERAPY FOR RECURRENT GLIOMA LEADING TO FIRST-IN-HUMAN PHASE I CLINICAL TRIAL. Neuro-Oncology, 19(suppl_6), vi232-vi233. doi:10.1093/neuonc/nox168.947 Cao, P., Mooney, R., Tirughana, R., Abidi, W., Aramburo, S., Flores, L. et al. (2017). Intraperitoneal Administration of Neural Stem Cell–Nanoparticle Conjugates Targets Chemotherapy to Ovarian Tumors. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 28(6), 1767-1776. doi:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00237 Cao, P., Tirughana, R., Nwokafor, U., Aramburo, S., Flores, L., Berlin, J., & Aboody, K. S. (2016). 209. Stem Cell/Nanoparticle Constructs for Targeted Ovarian Cancer Therapy. Molecular Therapy, 24, S81-S82. doi:10.1016/s1525-0016(16)33018-0 Li, Z., Oganesyan, D., Mooney, R., Rong, X., Christensen, Matthew J., Shahmanyan, D. [et al. including Aramburo, S.] (2016). L-MYC Expression Maintains Self-Renewal and Prolongs Multipotency of Primary Human Neural Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports, 7(3), 483-495. doi:10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.07.013 Aboody, K., Li, Z., Oganesyan, D., Mooney, R., Christensen, M., & Shahmanyan, D. [et al. including Aramburo, S.] (2015). Stem-10 L-myc expression promotes human neural stem cell multipotency. Neuro-Oncology, 17(suppl 5), v210.2-v210. doi:10.1093/neuonc/nov234.10 Mooney, R., Weng, Y., Tirughana-Sambandan, R., Valenzuela, V., Aramburo, S., & Garcia, E. et al. (2014). Neural stem cells improve intracranial nanoparticle retention and tumor-selective distribution. Future Oncology, 10(3), 401-415. doi:10.2217/fon.13.217 Aboody, K., Najbauer, J., Metz, M., D'Apuzzo, M., Gutova, M., & Annala, A. [et al. including Aramburo, S.] (2013). Neural stem cell‐mediated enzyme/prodrug therapy for glioma: Preclinical studies. Science Translational Medicine, 5(184), 184ra59‐184ra59. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3005365

Soraya Aramburo

Graduate Student and Veterinarian Fellow

Research Focus:

Delineating the mechanisms by which oncogenes suppress natural killer cells in B‐cell and T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Using neural stem cells as therapeutic prodrug delivery vehicles for glioma

Education:

2021-present, Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences, Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2021-present, Veterinary Residency in Laboratory Animal Medicine, Center for Comparative Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2017-2021, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
1999-2004, Bachelor of Science in Animal Science: Pre‐Vet Option, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA

Professional Experience:

2016-2017, Senior Research Associate; 2008-2016, Research Associate II; 2007-2008, Research Associate I; Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA
2006-2007, Animal Health Technician, Center for Comparative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA
2005-2006, Quality Inspector, Fill/Finish Department, Kelly Services, Baxter Bioscience, Los Angeles, CA

Memberships:

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA)
Southern California Branch of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (SCB‐AALAS)
California Laboratory Animal Medicine Society (CLAMS)

Publications:

Kumar, A., Khani, A. T., Duault, C., Aramburo, S., Ortiz, A. S., Lee, S. J., et al.. (2023). Intrinsic suppression of type I interferon production underlies the therapeutic efficacy of IL-15-producing natural killer cells in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 11(5), e006649.
Taghi Khani, A., Kumar, A., Sanchez Ortiz, A., Radecki, K. C., Aramburo, S., Lee, S. J., et al. (2023). Isoformspecific knockdown of long and intermediate prolactin receptors interferes with evolution of B-cell neoplasms. Communications Biology, 6(1), 295. doi: 10.1038/s42003-023-04667-8
Haber, T., Cornejo, Y. R., Aramburo, S., Flores, L., Cao, P., Liu, A. et al. (2020). Specific targeting of ovarian tumor-associated macrophages by large, anionic nanoparticles. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(33), 19737-19745. doi:10.1073/pnas.1917424117
Tiet, P., Li, J., Abidi, W., Mooney, R., Flores, L., Aramburo, S. et al. (2019). Silica Coated Paclitaxel Nanocrystals Enable Neural Stem Cell Loading For Treatment of Ovarian Cancer. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 30(5), 1415-1424. doi:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00160
Gutova, M., Flores, L., Adhikarla, V., Tsaturyan, L., Tirughana, R., Aramburo, S. et al. (2019). Quantitative Evaluation of Intraventricular Delivery of Therapeutic Neural Stem Cells to Orthotopic Glioma. Frontiers in Oncology, 9. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00068
Mooney, R., Majid, A. A., Mota, D., He, A., Aramburo, S., Flores, L. et al. (2018). Bcl-2 Overexpression Improves Survival and Efficacy of Neural Stem Cell-Mediated Enzyme Prodrug Therapy. Stem Cells International, 2018, 1-13. doi:10.1155/2018/7047496
Barish, M. E., Herrmann, K., Tang, Y., Argalian Herculian, S., Metz, M., Aramburo, S. et al. (2017). Human Neural Stem Cell Biodistribution and Predicted Tumor Coverage by a Diffusible Therapeutic in a Mouse Glioma Model. STEM CELLS Translational Medicine, 6(6), 1522-1532. doi:10.1002/sctm.16-0397
Ghoda, L., Metz, M., Tirughana, R., Aramburo, S., Gilchrist, M., Gutova, M. et al. (2017). STEM-32. PRECLINICAL SAFETY AND EFFICACY STUDIES OF NEURAL STEM CELL MEDIATED CARBOXYLESTERASE/IRINOTECAN ENZYME/PRODRUG GENE THERAPY FOR RECURRENT GLIOMA LEADING TO FIRST-IN-HUMAN PHASE I CLINICAL TRIAL. Neuro-Oncology, 19(suppl_6), vi232-vi233. doi:10.1093/neuonc/nox168.947
Cao, P., Mooney, R., Tirughana, R., Abidi, W., Aramburo, S., Flores, L. et al. (2017). Intraperitoneal Administration of Neural Stem Cell–Nanoparticle Conjugates Targets Chemotherapy to Ovarian Tumors. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 28(6), 1767-1776. doi:10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00237
Cao, P., Tirughana, R., Nwokafor, U., Aramburo, S., Flores, L., Berlin, J., & Aboody, K. S. (2016). 209. Stem Cell/Nanoparticle Constructs for Targeted Ovarian Cancer Therapy. Molecular Therapy, 24, S81-S82. doi:10.1016/s1525-0016(16)33018-0
Li, Z., Oganesyan, D., Mooney, R., Rong, X., Christensen, Matthew J., Shahmanyan, D. [et al. including Aramburo, S.] (2016). L-MYC Expression Maintains Self-Renewal and Prolongs Multipotency of Primary Human Neural Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports, 7(3), 483-495. doi:10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.07.013
Aboody, K., Li, Z., Oganesyan, D., Mooney, R., Christensen, M., & Shahmanyan, D. [et al. including Aramburo, S.] (2015). Stem-10 L-myc expression promotes human neural stem cell multipotency. Neuro-Oncology, 17(suppl 5), v210.2-v210. doi:10.1093/neuonc/nov234.10
Mooney, R., Weng, Y., Tirughana-Sambandan, R., Valenzuela, V., Aramburo, S., & Garcia, E. et al. (2014). Neural stem cells improve intracranial nanoparticle retention and tumor-selective distribution. Future Oncology, 10(3), 401-415. doi:10.2217/fon.13.217
Aboody, K., Najbauer, J., Metz, M., D'Apuzzo, M., Gutova, M., & Annala, A. [et al. including Aramburo, S.] (2013). Neural stem cell‐mediated enzyme/prodrug therapy for glioma: Preclinical studies. Science Translational Medicine, 5(184), 184ra59‐184ra59. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3005365