Torres Laboratory
Keila Torres, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.
Principal Investigator
- Departments, Labs and Institutes
- Labs
- Torres Laboratory
Areas of Research
- Sarcoma
- Epigenetics
The primary goal of the Torres Laboratory is to understand the molecular deregulations responsible for the initiation and progression of high-grade soft-tissue sarcoma and to develop new approaches for its management and treatment.
Dr. Keila Torres is a surgeon-scientist dedicated to research studies focused on high-grade soft tissue sarcomas. Approximately 13,000 new soft-tissue sarcoma cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. Even with world-class multimodality therapy, as practiced at MD Anderson Cancer Center, achieving sarcoma disease-free outcomes remains challenging and overall patient survival remains poor. Noticeably, there is an unequivocal need to make progress in managing these tumors, no matter how uncommon and unexplored. We hope to facilitate a "bench to bedside and back" approach to investigations by providing continuous communication between the clinic and laboratory.
The Torres Laboratory's research efforts focus on malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). The reasons for focusing specifically on this histology are that these malignancies are incredibly aggressive, and effective systemic therapies for these tumors are essentially nonexistent. Dr. Torres also provides surgical care to patients who have localized MPNST.