Researcher Profile Form First National Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Meeting March 9, 2025 - Jerusalem
Researcher: Prof. Tomer Cooks
Current Role & Affiliation
Title/Position: Head of Research Group
Institution: Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Email: cooks@bgu.ac.il
Phone: 058-4079687
Prof. Cooks leads a research group focusing on the tumor microenvironment and cell-to-cell communication as well as internal radiotherapy.
Research Focus
● Tumor microenvironment
● Extracellular vesicles
● TP53 gene mutations
● Alpha-particle based radiotherapy
Current Projects Related to Pediatric Brain Tumors
● Molecular insights into tumor-immune compartment communication
● Application of DaRT for cancer treatment
● The role of EVs shed by Neuroblastomas in BBB modulation
Laboratory/Research Resources
● Advanced molecular analysis tools
● Translational research models
Collaboration Interests
● Tumor microenvironment research
● Translational approaches for pediatric cancer
What You Can Offer Potential Collaborators
● Expertise in TP53 mutations and cell communication
● Insights into tumor-host interactions
● Preclinical cancer models
● Extracellular vesicles interaction with the BBB
Selected Publications
1. 1. Cooks T, Pateras IS, Tarcic O, Solomon H, Schetter AJ, Wilder S, Lozano GC, Pikarsky E, Forshew T, Rosenfeld N, Harpaz N, Itzkowitz S, Harris CC, Rotter V, Gorgoulis VG, Oren M. (2013) Mutant p53 Prolongs NF-κB Activation and Promotes Chronic Inflammation and Inflammation-Associated Colorectal Cancer. Cancer Cell. 23(5):634-646.
2. Cooks T, Pateras IS, Jenkins LM, Patel KM, Robles AI, Morris J, Forshew T, Appella E, Gorgoulis VG, Harris CC. (2018) Mutant p53 cancers reprogram tumor associated macrophages via exosomal miR-1246. Nature Comm. 9(1):771.
3. Nishri Y, Vatarescu M, Luz I, Epstein L, Dumančić M, Del-Mare S, Shai A, Schmidt M, Deutsch L, Den RB, Kelson I, Keisari Y, Arazi L, Cooks T, Domankevich V. (2022) Diffusing Alpha-emitters Radiation Therapy in Combination with Temozolomide or Bevacizumab in Human Glioblastoma Multiforme Xenografts. Front Oncol. 12:888100.
4. Michaeli O, Vatarescu M, Luz I, Tal Manko, Weizman N, Korotinsky Y, Tsitrina A, Braiman A, Arazi L, Cooks T. (2024) APR-246 as a radiosensitization strategy for mutant p53 cancers treated with alpha-particles-based radiotherapy. Cell, Death & Disease, 18;15(6):426.
Keywords
Tumor Microenvironment, TP53 Mutations, DaRT, extracellular vesicles
Brief Bio
Prof. Cooks’ research focuses on the plethora of interactions between a tumor cell and the microenvironment, matching basic novel molecular mechanisms with innovative translational approaches for the benefit of cancer patients. Prof. Cooks received his BSc and PhD degrees from Tel-Aviv University. Following two postdoctoral fellowships, first at the Weizmann Institute of Science and then at the US National Cancer Institute, he returned to Israel and opened his independent research laboratory at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The lab focuses on various aspects of the tumor microenvironment, particularly cell-to-cell communication via extracellular vesicles. Amongst many hallmarks of cancer, an ‘in-depth’ focus is dedicated to mutations in the tumor suppressor TP53 gene and the plethora of interactions this molecular event shares with its surrounding. These include tumor cells communicating with the immune compartment of the tumor as well as specific microbiome members promoting host-pathogen responses. In addition, the Cooks lab constantly strives to match basic novel molecular mechanisms with innovative translational approaches for the benefit of cancer patients. Therefore, we believe that combining the knowledge and toolset of the lab with the pioneering Diffusing Alpha-emitters Radiation Therapy (DaRT), will enable us to provide insights about molecular traits with fundamental relevance to clinical decision-making. Promoting precision medicine approaches will advance a better quality of the DaRT treatment for many cancer patients worldwide.
