Castro Lab
Read BioOur lab conducts translational oncology research through early stage clinical studies inspired by nanotechnologies, systems biology, and biomarker driven therapies. We focus on solid tumors with an emphasis on highly lethal subtypes such as ovarian cancers. We subscribe to both “high-tech” and “low-tech” theranostic approaches that leverage innovative advances within CSB. To date, these efforts have generated traction both domestically and abroad. We are currently establishing a comprehensive multi-departmental program to prospectively profile gynecologic cancers including multi-omics (sequencing, proteomics, liquid biopsies), pathology (digital and multiplexed profiling), imaging and clinical phenotypes. We seek to ultimately advance cancer theranostics by better understanding the spatiotemporal evolution of cancers and uncovering novel treatment response readouts using integrated machine learning and statistical inferences. Our work has been externally funded by the National Cancer Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, V Foundation for Cancer Research, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and the Department of Defense.
Recent Publications
Ssedyabane F, Tusubira D, Niyonzima N, Najjuma JN, Randall TC, Kajabwangu R, Castro CM, Lee H, Ngonzi J
The likely possibility of predicting treatment outcomes of cervical lesions using serum FOXP3 and P16INK4A as shown by a cohort study in South Western Uganda. Discov Oncol. 2026;:ePub - PMID: 41691576 - DOI: 10.1007/s12672-026-04670-5Pooladanda V, Xu R, Zarrella DT, Matoba Y, Shimada C, Kumar S, Kim E, Dibenedetto P, Qin X, Sarosiek KA, Krueger M, Magrassi N, Amiji M, Mohammadabadi MA, Winter U, Castro CM, Im H, Kumar R, Wang C, Dahl KDC, Nephew KP, Yeku OO, Milane LS, Rueda BR
Extracellular vesicles facilitate the horizontal transfer of drug resistance and stem-like properties between ovarian tumor cells. bioRxiv. 2026;:ePub - PMID: 41648167 - PMCID: PMC12871660 - DOI: 10.64898/2026.01.20.699925O'Shea A, Lewis AJM, Caravan P, Izquierdo-Garcia D, Le Fur M, Catalano OA, Montesi SB, Quintana JM, Carlson JCT, Dubach JM, Castro CM, Bobić M, Huesa-Berral C, Ng TSC, Bertolet A, Nahrendorf M, Weissleder R
First-in-Human Study of the Carbohydrate Nanoparticle 64Cu-Macrin. J Nucl Med. 2025;:ePub - PMID: 41469153 - DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.125.270770Matulonis UA, Vergote I, Moore KN, Martin LP, Castro CM, Gilbert L, Xia Y, Method M, Stec J, Birrer MJ, O'Malley DM
Safety and efficacy of mirvetuximab soravtansine, a folate receptor alpha (FRα)-targeting antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2025;200:96-104 - PMID: 40700855 - DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2025.06.016Ssedyabane F, Niyonzima N, Ngonzi J, Najjuma JN, Namuli A, Okeny C, Nuwashaba D, Birungi A, Kajabwangu R, Randall TC, Castro CM, Lee H, Tusubira D
Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum P16ink4A and FOX-P3 Concentrations for Detection of Cervical Lesions Among Women Attending a Cervical Cancer Clinic in Western Uganda: A Case-Control Study. Anal Cell Pathol (Amst). 2025;2025:1931921 - PMID: 40365511 - PMCID: PMC12074841 - DOI: 10.1155/ancp/1931921- More publications ...