Assistant Professor
The research program in the Abdul-Aziz lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the aging bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) niche and the role of aged microenvironment cells in promoting adult myeloid leukemia development and response to therapy.
Using patient tumor cells and in in vitro as well as in vivo assays, the lab aims to uncover intrinsic mechanisms in the mesenchymal stromal cell and immune cell components of the BMM that are associated with natural and leukemia-induced aging.
The lab also places a large emphasis on investigating the effect of targeted leukemia therapies on components of the bone marrow microenvironment with the goal to understand mechanisms of resistance and relapse that are microenvironment driven.
Abdul-Aziz Lab – Investigating leukemia promoting processes in the bone marrow microenvironment
Understanding aging processes (e.g. senescence and inflammation) in the bone marrow microenvironment of myeloid leukemias with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets and biomarkers of response to therapy
Abdul-Aziz A, Devine RD, Lyberger JM, Chang H, Kovacs A, Lerma JR, Rogers AM, Byrd JC, Hertlein E, Behbehani GK. Mass Cytometry as a Tool for Investigating Senescence in Multiple Model Systems. Cells. 2023 Aug 11;12(16). doi: 10.3390/cells12162045. PubMed PMID: 37626855; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10453346.
Abdul-Aziz AM, Sun Y, Hellmich C, Marlein CR, Mistry J, Forde E, Piddock RE, Shafat MS, Morfakis A, Mehta T, Di Palma F, Macaulay I, Ingham CJ, Haestier A, Collins A, Campisi J, Bowles KM, Rushworth SA. Acute myeloid leukemia induces protumoral p16INK4a-driven senescence in the bone marrow microenvironment. Blood. 2019 Jan 31;133(5):446-456. doi: 10.1182/blood-2018-04-845420. Epub 2018 Nov 6. PubMed PMID: 30401703; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6356984.
Abdul-Aziz AM, Shafat MS, Sun Y, Marlein CR, Piddock RE, Robinson SD, Edwards DR, Zhou Z, Collins A, Bowles KM, Rushworth SA. HIF1α drives chemokine factor pro-tumoral signaling pathways in acute myeloid leukemia. Oncogene. 2018 May;37(20):2676-2686. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0151-1. Epub 2018 Feb 28. PubMed PMID: 29487418.
Abdul-Aziz AM, Shafat MS, Mehta TK, Di Palma F, Lawes MJ, Rushworth SA, Bowles KM. MIF-Induced Stromal PKCβ/IL8 Is Essential in Human Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancer Res. 2017 Jan 15;77(2):303-311. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-16-1095. Epub 2016 Nov 21. PubMed PMID: 27872094.
The Abdul-Aziz Laboratory at the Fels Cancer Institute for Personalized Medicine, Temple University and the Fox Chase Cancer Center is seeking ambitious and self-motivated Postdoctoral Fellows in Cancer Biology to join our efforts to further our understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms involved in the aging bone marrow microenvironment niche and its role in promoting adult myeloid leukemia development and response to therapy. The laboratory uses cutting-edge technologies and collaborations with leading scientists and clinicians to discover novel pathways and treatments for targeting adult leukemia and translate these advances into new treatments. Candidates should have a PhD (or equivalent) degree or be close to obtaining their doctoral degree and should have a passion for science and desire to impact cancer. Advanced molecular biology skills and familiarity with cancer pathogenesis, cell-based therapy and knowledge of molecular/genetic concepts, experimental methods, and data analysis, and ability to maximize resources for troubleshooting pertaining to research activities are essential. Experience using mouse models, a willingness to do animal work and being comfortable with handling of human blood and other tissues is desired..
Email a CV, cover letter that states research interest(s) and goals, and the name of at least three references to [email protected]. Qualified candidates will then be invited for a preliminary zoom interview.
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