Dr. Minna Roh-Johnson

Understanding how melanoma cells migrate requires in vivo study. Central to the issue is focal adhesion, or how cancer cells attach to an underlying substrate. Despite years of research, the organization of these structures is still unclear.


Dr. Roh-Johnson’s lab has developed an innovative system in zebrafish larvae that allows them to observe the formation of focal adhesion structures in highly migratory melanoma cells on the surface of the skin.

They have used this system to dissect the composition and dynamics of focal adhesion structures and have identified unique properties of cancer cells in their native environments. This deeper understanding of focal adhesion formation is a positive step toward therapies to prevent it.

The recent development of chimeric antigen receptor macrophages (CAR-M’s) to create a proper anti-tumor macrophage phenotype hasopened new possibilities for therapeutic cancer interventions.

The premise is that macrophages can readily infiltrate solid tumors. If a macrophage can be taught to engulf a specific cancer cell, and is then introduced to the cancer environment, it could be the basis for a powerful therapeutic.