We study the tumor immune macroenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer — simultaneously analyzing tumor tissue, tumor-draining lymph nodes, and peripheral blood to capture the full systemic immune response.
mIF · Lymph Node Section
We integrate clinical, genomic, and immunological data from a prospective living biobank to identify immune signatures with translational potential.
A prospective cohort of 100+ surgical patients with matched tumor tissue, tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN), non-tumor-draining lymph nodes, and peripheral blood. Longitudinal clinical outcomes and comprehensive genomic data are integrated for correlative analysis.
Building on evidence that tumor-draining lymph nodes are active regulators — not passive bystanders — of anti-tumor immunity, often characterized by regulatory T cells and inhibitory signaling pathways.
We analyze T-cell activation, exhaustion, and regulatory phenotypes through flow cytometry and in vitro functional assays — preserving viable cells for experiments not possible with fixed tissue.
TCR sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing reveal T-cell clonal dynamics and transcriptional states across compartments, enabling deep characterization of anti-tumor immune responses.
Translational murine experiments complement our human biobank data, enabling mechanistic interrogation of immune pathways identified in patient samples and validation of therapeutic targets.
Integrating immune profiling data with patient demographics, tumor stage, genomic alterations, treatment history, and longitudinal outcomes to identify patterns predictive of immunotherapy response.
A multidisciplinary group spanning surgical oncology, functional immunology, genomics, and translational research.
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Dr. Villena-Vargas leads the Villena Lab, focusing on the tumor immune macroenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer. His work integrates surgical oncology with translational immunology to identify immune signatures predictive of therapy response and uncover novel therapeutic targets in NSCLC.
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Our biobank preserves viable immune cells, enabling functional and longitudinal studies impossible with traditional fixed tissue.
High-dimensional immune profiling to characterize phenotype and function of immune cell populations across compartments.
Transcriptional profiling at single-cell resolution to resolve immune cell states and identify novel subpopulations.
T-cell receptor repertoire analysis to study clonality, clonal expansion, and tumor-reactive T-cell dynamics.
Comprehensive characterization of immune subsets, activation states, exhaustion markers, and regulatory phenotypes.
Tissue processing protocols optimized for 66–90% viability preservation after more than two years — a hallmark of our biobank.
Linking immune profiles to genomic alterations, tumor staging, treatment history, and longitudinal clinical outcomes.
Selected publications from the lab. Full list available on PubMed.
Interested in collaboration, patient referrals, or joining the lab? Reach out to us.
Weill Cornell Medicine
525 E 68th Street
Suite M-404, Box 110
New York, NY 10065
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