Harbison Lab

The Harbison Lab at WashU Medicine is revolutionizing cancer treatment by uncovering how cancers hijack nutrients to outsmart the body’s defenses. Through rigorous science, we aim to reduce treatment side effects, enhance cure rates, and give patients the tools to reclaim vibrant, fulfilling lives. Join us in driving this life – changing mission forward.

Polyamine Metabolism in Cancer

Polyamines are a fascinating family of charged molecules, vital for cell function–balancing charges, stabilizing chromatin, regulating redox homeostasis, and supporting cell growth. Polyamines are essential for immune responses. The twist? Blocking polyamines can both decrease autoimmunity and supercharge the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. We are focused on understanding how polyamine metabolism in the tumor microenvironment shapes anti-cancer immunity. By decoding these complex processes, we aim to unlock groundbreaking therapies to reinvigorate the immune system’s natural ability to defeat cancer.

Nutrient Utilization in the Tumor Microenvironment

Cancer thrives by hijacking nutrients in the tumor microenvironment (TME), starving our immune system and weakening its ability to fight back. Tumor cells dominate this nutrient battlefield, fueling their growth while driving maladaptive immune responses. Our research focuses on unraveling this competition, identifying ways to disrupt cancer’s nutrient supply chain, and empowering the body’s natural defenses to outcompete tumors. This approach holds the promise of transforming cancer care by turning the tables on cancer’s survival strategies—offering patients smarter, more effective treatments with fewer side effects.

Methionine salvage in thyroid cancer

Polyamine levels are elevated in thyroid cancers and highest in poor prognostic subtypes including poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid cancers. Methionine, a methyl donor and nutrient important for nucleic acid synthesis, is an essential precursor for polyamine synthesis. We hope to identify new opportunities for treating thyroid cancers by understanding how these metabolites promote thyroid cancer invasion and metastasis.  

Lab News

05/25 NIH K08 awarded entitled, “Polyamine blockade and anti-tumor immunity in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma”

10/24 Jing Wu joins the lab to launch her postdoctoral research exploring nutrient utilization in the tumor microenvironment

08/23 Cody Huffman joins the lab as a founding member of the Harbison lab studying polyamine metabolism in cancer

07/23 Harbison lab launched