Sean Morrison

Sean Morrison challenged the cancer stem cell model by demonstrating that melanoma-initiating cell frequency is much higher than originally estimated when more permissive xenotransplantation assays are used, revealing that cancer stem cell frequency varies dramatically across tumor types and is influenced by experimental conditions. His work on the role of oxidative stress in limiting metastatic efficiency showed that successful metastasis requires metabolic adaptation including increased antioxidant capacity, identifying metabolic vulnerabilities specific to disseminating cancer stem cells. His studies on stem cell niche interactions have informed understanding of how microenvironmental signals maintain cancer stem cell properties.