Pedro Torres-Ayuso, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University; Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center
Research Program
Lab Overview
The Torres-Ayuso laboratory conducts basic and translational research focused on (1) identifying new therapeutic targets, primarily protein kinases, and (2) overcoming mechanisms of therapy resistance in lung and head and neck cancers, specifically, squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC and HNSCC). Our scientific mission is to advance new precision medicine strategies, also known as targeted therapies, in LSCC and HNSCC.
To achieve this, we use functional genomics and genetic screens to identify novel kinase drivers in LSCC and HNSCC. We then apply a variety of molecular techniques – such as CRISPR interference, CRISPR, and shRNA – and phenotypic assays, to assess whether targeting these kinases prevents cancer cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. We also employ proteomics and chemical biology approaches to determine how these kinases contribute to tumorigenesis and/or therapy resistance. Finally, we conduct efficacy studies in preclinical models of LSCC and HNSCC, including patient-derived xenografts, to assess the potential of targeting these kinase drivers, alone or in combination with standard of care.
To support our mission, the lab collaborates closely with other scientists and clinicians at Temple University, Fox Chase Cancer Center, and The Wistar Institute.
Educational Background
- PhD (Molecular Biology), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Postdoc, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Manchester, UK
- Postdoc, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
Memberships
- American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
- American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET)
- European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)
Honors & Awards
National Institutes of Health Fellows Award for Research Excellence, 2020
- National Institutes of Health Mentor Award, 2019
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship, 2016
- AACR Scholar-in-Training Award, 2016
People
Additional Staff
Former Staff members:
Pilar Gonzalez-Molina, MSc, visiting PhD student (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain).
Christina Wells, BSc, URP Undergraduate Fellow, Temple University.
Research Interests
- Elucidating new kinase drivers within the “dark” kinome, focusing on MAP4-kinases.
- Understanding the molecular basis of tumorigenesis and therapy resistance in lung and head and neck cancers.
- Targeting signaling networks to improve treatment efficacy in lung and head and neck cancers
Selected Publications
Additional Publications
1. Ren F, Aliper A, Chen J, Zhao H, Rao S, Kuppe C, Ozerov IV, Zhang M, Witte K, Kruse C, Aladinskiy V, Ivanenkov Y, Polykovskiy D, Fu Y, Babin E, Qiao J, Liang X, Mou Z, Wang H, Pun FW, Torres-Ayuso P, Veviorskiy A, Song D, Liu S, Zhang B, Naumov V, Ding X, Kukharenko A, Izumchenko E, Zhavoronkov A. A small-molecule TNIK inhibitor targets fibrosis in preclinical and clinical models. Nat Biotechnol. 2025 Jan;43(1):63-75. doi: 10.1038/s41587-024-02143-0. Epub 2024 Mar 8. PubMed PMID: 38459338; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11738990.
2. Torres-Ayuso P, Katerji M, Mehlich D, Lookingbill SA, Sabbasani VR, Liou H, Casillas AL, Chauhan SS, Serwa R, Rubin MR, Marusiak AA, Swenson RE, Warfel NA, Brognard J. PIM1 targeted degradation prevents the emergence of chemoresistance in prostate cancer. Cell Chem Biol. 2024 Feb 15;31(2):326-337.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.10.023. Epub 2023 Nov 27. PubMed PMID: 38016478; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10922308.
3. Torres-Ayuso P, An E, Nyswaner KM, Bensen RC, Ritt DA, Specht SI, Das S, Andresson T, Cachau RE, Liang RJ, Ries AL, Robinson CM, Difilippantonio S, Gouker B, Bassel L, Karim BO, Miller CJ, Turk BE, Morrison DK, Brognard J. TNIK Is a Therapeutic Target in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Regulates FAK Activation through Merlin. Cancer Discov. 2021 Jun;11(6):1411-1423. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-0797. Epub 2021 Jan 25. PubMed PMID: 33495197; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8178189.
4. Torres-Ayuso P, Brognard J. Degraders: The Ultimate Weapon Against Amplified Driver Kinases in Cancer. Mol Pharmacol. 2022 Apr;101(4):191-200. doi