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Dr. Ge Jin’s research focuses on identifying signals sent out by tumor cells that recruit and activate tumor-promoting immune cells, particularly tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), for cancer progression. His laboratory has discovered that human β-defensin-3 (hBD3), a secreted epithelial cell-derived protein, is overexpressed in and released by oral precancerous lesions and oral cancer cells at the invasive front, while production of hBD1 and hBD2 are reduced. Further studies in Dr. Jin’s laboratory has found that tumor cell-derived hBD3 is involved in TAM accumulation using the chemokine receptor CCR2 and stimulates macrophages to produce chemokines and cytokines, potentially forming a positive feedback loop driving tumor progression.

In addition, his laboratory has identified that hBD3 production is driven by activation of growth factor receptors and inactivation of tumor suppressors, defined signaling networks previously identified to direct head and neck carcinogenesis. Dr. Jin’s laboratory recently finds that high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which are involved the progression of a subset of head and neck cancer, induce production of hBD3 through the tumor suppressor. Most recently, Dr. Jin is working on an NIH sponsored project to investigate the immune response and potential immunotherapeutic targets of head and neck cancer. He has been collaborating with researchers in the Department and with members of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center to develop biomarkers of head and neck cancer and other solid tumors.