Dr. Yuan’s head and neck squamous cell carcinoma research focuses on epithelial cell populations and tumor-intrinsic programs that regulate oral cancer initiation, progression, immune modulation, and therapeutic response. Her laboratory studies Wnt-responsive epithelial cells that are retained and expanded during oral carcinogenesis and contribute to tumor maintenance. In parallel, her group investigates stress-induced epithelial programs mediated by KRT17 and ICAM-1, examining how these molecules promote tumor initiation, shape tumor–immune interactions, and influence response to immunotherapy. Together, these studies aim to identify epithelial-driven mechanisms and therapeutic vulnerabilities that can improve treatment strategies for HNSCC.
Ph.D. - The State University of New York at Buffalo, NY 08/2015
