Closeup of Luisjesus Cruz

Luisjesus Cruz, M.S.

Pronouns: luisjesus

Doctoral Student

SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology

San Diego

Location
BSCI 2nd Floor
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA, 92182
Mail Code
4614
Fax
[619-594-####]
Accounts

Areas of Research

Ovarian Cancer, Cancer Stem Cells, Tumor Microenvironment, Tumor Associated Macrophage, Immunology, Chemotherapy Resistance, Cancer Relapse

Bio

My research is focused on ovarian cancer and understanding how the tumor microenvironment facilitates relapse.

The tumor microenvironment plays a dynamic role in cancer progression and chemotherapy can affect the immune population. My goal is to identify novel ways in which the tumor microenvironment, specifically macrophages, support cancer progression and relapse.

Mentors

Carrie D. House, Ph.D.

Details

Education
  1. B.S. Cellular/Molecular Biology
    California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
  2. M.S. Biotechnology and Bioinformatics
    California State University Channel Islands
Publications
  1. Cruz, L. S., Robinson, M., Stevenson, D., Amador, I. C., Valenica, S., Jordan, G. J., Navarrete, C., House, C. D.; Chemotherapy enriches for pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes that support cancer stem-like cells and disease progression in ovarian cancer. (2024). Cancer Research Communications. https://doi.org/10.1158/2767-9764.CRC-24-0311
  2. Holmberg, R., Robinson, M., Gilbert, S. F., Lujano-Olazaba, O., Waters, J. A., Kogan, E., Velasquez, C. L. R., Stevenson, D., Cruz, L. S., Alexander, L. J., Lara, J., Mu, E. M., Camillo, J. R., Bitler, B. G., Huxford, T., & House, C. D.; TWEAK-Fn14-RelB Signaling Cascade Promotes Stem Cell-like Features that Contribute to Post-Chemotherapy Ovarian Cancer Relapse. (2023). Molecular cancer research: MCR, 21(2), 170–186.
  3. Bernareggi, D., Xie, Q., Prager, B. C., Yun, J., Cruz, L. S., Pham, T. V., Kim, W., Lee, X., Coffey, M., Zalfa, C., Azmoon, P., Zhu, H., Tamayo, P., Rich, J. N., & Kaufman, D. S.; CHMP2A regulates tumor sensitivity to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity. (2022). Nature communications, 13(1), 1899. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29469-0
  4. Pouyanfard, S., Meshgin, N., Cruz, L. S., Diggle, K., Hashemi, H., Pham, T. V., Fierro, M., Tamayo, P., Fanjul, A., Kisseleva, T., & Kaufman, D. S.; Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived macrophages ameliorate liver fibrosis. (2021). Stem cells, (39(12), 1701–1717. https://doi.org/10.1002/stem.3449
  5. Gumber, D., Do, M., Suresh Kumar, N., Sonavane, P. R., Wu, C. C. N., Cruz, L. S., Grainger, S., Carson, D., Gaasterland, T., & Willert, K.; Selective activation of FZD7 promotes mesendodermal differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. (2020). eLife, 9, e63060. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.63060
Presentations
  1. Joint Annual CIRM Fellows Retreat -Oral Talk- Scripps Research Institute, Fall 2024. “Chemotherapy enriches for pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes that support cancer stem-like cells and disease progression in ovarian cancer”
  2. SACNAS National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference -Poster Presentation- Phoenix, Arizona, Fall 2024. “Role of macrophages in the development of ovarian cancer stem-like cells”
  3. Symposium And Luncheon Underscoring Diversity (SALUD) in Biological Sciences -Oral Talk- Scripps Research Institute, Fall 2024. “Chemotherapy enriches for pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes that support cancer stem-like cells and disease progression in ovarian cancer”
  4. NCI Division of Cancer Biology (DCB) -AACR Early-Stage Investigators Interview- San Diego State University, Spring 2024. “Role of macrophages in the development of ovarian cancer stem-like cells”
  5. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting -Poster Presentation- San Diego, California, Spring 2024. “Role of macrophages in the development of ovarian cancer stem-like cells”
Service
  1. Society for Advancement of Chicanx/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) at SDSU
  2. Chapter Secretary and Social Media Chair, 2022-2024
  3. Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA) at SDSU
  4. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) Representative, 2023-2025
  5. Cell and Molecular Biology Program Representative, 2021-2023
  6. Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. at Cal Poly, Humboldt
Grants
  1. California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Predoctoral Fellowship, 2022-2025
Clinical Trials
  1. [A]
  2. [B]
  3. [C]
Awards & Honors
  1. Neel Endowed Scholarship, 2024-2025
  2. Scientist Mentoring & Diversity Program for Biotechnology (SMDP Biotech) Scholar, 2024-2025
  3. Prebys Biomedical Research Endowed Scholarship, 2021-2024
  4. Rees-Stealy Research Foundation Fellowship, 2023-2024
  5. CSU Interdisciplinary Cancer Meeting (CSU-ICM) Poster Presentation Award, 2022
  6. AACR Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award, 2022
  7. California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Bridges Scholar Award, 2017-2018
Patents & Copyrights
  1. [A]
  2. [B]
  3. [C]
Fun Facts
  1. My favorite thing to do in my free time is to lie down and not think one single thought.