CONTACT INFORMATIONBIOGRAPHYCREDENTIALSAWARDSPUBLICATIONSYi-Fen Lee, Ph.D.Contact InformationPhone NumbersOffice: (585) 275-9702Research LabsVisit Lab WebsiteLocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box 656Rochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsProfessor - Department of Urology (SMD) Professor - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (SMD) - JointBiographyMy lab is studying extracellular vesicles (EVs), often called exosomes, for their roles in cancer development, progression and response to treatment, with a focus on Urology cancers such as bladder and prostate cancers. This is a relatively new and exciting area of research: small vesicles, in size ranging from 30-250 nm, are secreted by almost all types of cells and contain bio-information (such as DNA, RNA and proteins) resembling the cells of origins. They travel distances via circulation, and can be taken up by recipient cells, consequently affecting their behavior. The genetic and molecular contents of EVs can become an attractive resource of biomarkers for prediction of disease and response to therapy. In my lab, we have isolated EVs from cancer cell lines and urine and blood of patients with bladder cancer at different stages. Via miRNA array, gene array, and proteomics, we are aiming to identify the signature protein profiles that can be used for disease prognosis. Through the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, we have attempted to inhibit cancer growth by targeting EV biogenesis pathways in cancer cells. We are also studying potential involvement of EV secretion in response to two treatments that often apply in bladder cancer: BCG immunotherapy for superficial bladder cancer, and cisplatin chemotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer. Since the EVs are quite small - the size of a virus - we utilize the Nanosight nanoparticle tracking system, which allow us to trace and monitor EVs based on the Brownian motion of each single particle in a real time manner. In collaborations with URMC investigators, in addition to our participation in the SWOG S1602 clinical trial, we’ve started to collect and analyze patients’ urine- and blood-borne EV profiles before, during, and after therapy. Our goal is to establish rapid body fluid biopsy assays that can be used as indicators of patients’ responsiveness to therapy. The molecular/genetic contents within EVs from each individual patient could provide an opportunity to develop precision, personalized medicine in the future. Yi-Fen Lee, Ph.D. Yi-Fen Lee, Ph.D. Principal InvestigatorResearchMy lab is studying extracellular vesicles (EVs), often called exosomes, for their roles in cancer development, progression and response to treatment, with a focus on Urology cancers such as bladder and prostate cancers. This is a relatively new and exciting area of research: small vesicles, in size ranging from 30-250 nm, are secreted by almost all types of cells and contain bio-information (such as DNA, RNA and proteins) resembling the cells of origins. They travel distances via circulation, and can be taken up by recipient cells, consequently affecting their behavior. The genetic and molecular contents of EVs can become an attractive resource of biomarkers for prediction of disease and response to therapy. In my lab, we have isolated EVs from cancer cell lines and urine and blood of patients with bladder cancer at different stages. Via miRNA array, gene array, and proteomics, we are aiming to identify the signature protein profiles that can be used for disease prognosis. Through the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, we have attempted to inhibit cancer growth by targeting EV biogenesis pathways in cancer cells. We are also studying potential involvement of EV secretion in response to two treatments that often apply in bladder cancer: BCG immunotherapy for superficial bladder cancer, and cisplatin chemotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer. Since the EVs are quite small - the size of a virus - we utilize the Nanosight nanoparticle tracking system, which allow us to trace and monitor EVs based on the Brownian motion of each single particle in a real time manner. In collaborations with URMC investigators, in addition to our participation in the SWOG S1602 clinical trial, we’ve started to collect and analyze patients’ urine- and blood-borne EV profiles before, during, and after therapy. Our goal is to establish rapid body fluid biopsy assays that can be used as indicators of patients’ responsiveness to therapy. The molecular/genetic contents within EVs from each individual patient could provide an opportunity to develop precision, personalized medicine in the future. Yi-Fen Lee, Ph.D. Yi-Fen Lee, Ph.D. Principal InvestigatorCredentialsEducation1986BS | Tung-Hai UniversityBiology1988MS | Tung-Hai UniversityBiology1997PhD | Univ Wisconsin-MadisonEndocrinology/Molecular OncologyPost-doctoral Training & Residency1997 - 2001Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Pathology1997 - 2002Lab Manager, Department of PathologyAwards2006 - PresentResearch ScholarSponsor: American Cancer Society2003 - 2005Edwin Beer Fellowship AwardSponsor: New York Academy of Medicine2002Cap CURE Award, Third PrizeSponsor: AUAVIEW ALL expand_morePublicationsJournal Articles1/4/2023Molony RD, Wu CH, Lee YF. "E-liquid exposure induces bladder cancer cells to release extracellular vesicles that promote non-malignant urothelial cell transformation." Scientific reports.. 2023 Jan 4; 13(1):142. Epub 2023 Jan 04. 11/15/2022Groves AM, Paris N, Hernady E, Johnston CJ, Aljitawi O, Lee YF, Kerns SL, Marples B. "Prevention of radiation-induced bladder injury: A murine study using captopril." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.. 2022 Nov 15; Epub 2022 Nov 15. 3/8/2022Ortiz-Bonilla CJ, Uccello TP, Gerber SA, Lord EM, Messing EM, Lee YF. "Bladder Cancer Extracellular Vesicles Elicit a CD8 T Cell-Mediated Antitumor Immunity." International journal of molecular sciences.. 2022 Mar 8; 23(6)Epub 2022 Mar 08. 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