Research Overview

We study how metabolism mechanistically controls cancer initiation and progression. We are specifically interested in how metabolism guides cell competition dynamics, environmental changes, and cell type-specific behaviors. Our work integrates tools from cell biology, biochemistry, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, using various systems, including preclinical models, primary cell cultures, and clinically relevant samples.

Tumorigenesis is dependent on changes within the local tissue environment. Additionally, systemic metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, obesity, and dyslipidemia, are often cancer risk factors. This project aims to 1) investigate how metabolism controls the persistence of mutant cells within a tissue and 2) determine how important metabolic pathways can be modulated through diet for cancer prevention or improved treatment outcomes.

How do metabolic changes in the environment alter cancer initiation?

Precancer is a unique state that is histologically and transcriptionally different from healthy tissue and established cancers. Similarly, we find that precancerous lesions have unique metabolic alterations. This project aims to define the metabolic landscape of the pre-tumor microenvironment.

What is the metabolic landscape of precancer?

Selected Publications

A complete list of publications from Dr. Megan Radyk is available on PubMed.

NADPH-producing enzymes restrict the formation of pancreatic precancerous lesions

Radyk MD, Nelson BS, Ruckert MT, Halbrook CJ, Shan M, Alektiar JM, Lavoie BL, Salvatore L, Yan W, Perricone MD, Buscher K, Wood A, Hong HS, Sajjakulnukit P, Zhang L, Corfas G, Bednar F, Frankel TL, Pasca di Magliano M, Colacino JA, Shah YM‡, Crawford HC‡, Lyssiotis CA‡

Nature Metabolism (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-026-01496-x

The Hallmarks of Precancer

Stangis MM*, Chen Z*, Min J*, Glass SE*, Jackson JO*, Radyk MD*, Hoi XP, Brennen WN, Yu M, Dinh HQ, Coffey RJ, Shrubsole MJ, Chan KS, Grady WM, Yegnasubramanian S, Lyssiotis CA, Maitra A, Halberg RB, Dey N‡, Lau KS‡

Cancer Discovery (2024). Apr 4;14(4):683-689. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-1550. PMC11170686.

Metabolic landscape of the healthy pancreas and the pancreatic tumor microenvironment

Bonilla ME, Radyk MD, Perricone MD, Elhossiny AM, Harold AC, Medina-Cabrera PI, Kadiyala P, Shi J, Frankel TL, Carpenter ES, Green MD, Mitrea C‡, Lyssiotis CA‡, Pasca di Magliano M‡

JCI Insight (2024). Aug 13;9(18):e180114. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.180114. PMC11457849.