The tumor microenvironment lab focuses on the role of stromal and immune cells and their molecular signals as criticle regulators of cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. The immune cells of our body are trained to detect and destroy cancer cells. However, cancer cells express various immune inhibitory molecules to escape anti-tumor immune response. Cancer cells also hijack the functions of stromal cells, including cancer-associated fibroblasts to secrete dense extra-cellular matrix, which prevents the infiltration of immune cells into the tumor bed. We are interested in understanding the signaling pathways activated in the tumor cells and immune/stromal cells, and the subsequent effects those signaling pathways exert on tumor cells.