
David L. Spector
Professor & Director of Research
Robert B. Gardner, Jr. Professor
Cancer Center Program Co-Leader
Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1980
spector@cshl.edu | 516-367-8456
The immense amount of DNA, RNA and proteins that contribute to our genetic programs are precisely organized inside the cell's nucleus. My group studies how nuclear organization impacts gene regulation, and how misregulation of non-coding RNAs contributes to human diseases such as cancer.
David L. Spector’s laboratory is focused on characterizing long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that exhibit altered levels of expression in breast cancer progression and during embryonic stem cell differentiation. A major focus of their efforts has been on Malat1 lncRNA, which is one of the most abundant lncRNAs. The Spector lab previously identified a novel mechanism of 3′-end processing of this RNA. More recent studies have revealed that increased levels of Malat1 lncRNA impact breast cancer progression and metastasis. Knockout or antisense oligonucleotide knockdown of Malat1 results in the differentiation of mammary tumors and a significant reduction in metastasis. Studies are currently under way to elucidate the mechanism of action of this abundant nuclear retained lncRNA and to implement innovative therapeutic approaches that can impact its function in vivo. In addition, they have identified additional lncRNAs, termed Mammary Tumor Associated RNAs, that are upregulated in breast tumors, and they are currently assessing the function of these lncRNAs using 3D tumor organoids as well as mouse models.
A second area of study in the Spector lab is based on their earlier discovery of an increase in random autosomal monoallelic gene expression upon the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells to neural progenitor cells. These data support a model where stochastic gene regulation during differentiation results in monoallelic gene expression, and for some genes, the cell is able to compensate transcriptionally to maintain the required transcriptional output of these genes. Therefore, random monoallelic gene expression exemplifies the stochastic and plastic nature of gene expression in single cells. Ongoing studies are examining the relationship of monoallelic gene expression to lineage commitment.
Cancer lab makes surprise discoveries in heart disease
November 30, 2022
Two separate studies from the Spector lab at CSHL suggest that certain genes can lead to cardiac problems.
Can cancer be treated by changing its cells?
April 11, 2022
Tumors grow when cells lose their biological identity. A promising therapeutic might restore their sense of self.
Paving a path to triple-negative breast cancer treatment
March 29, 2022
Researchers collected a biobank of triple-negative breast cancer mini-tissues to search for new and potentially patient-specific treatments.
Regulatory RNAs promote breast cancer metastasis
December 22, 2020
A gene-regulating bit of RNA promotes breast cancer metastasis. Agents that destroy that RNA provide hope for a new drug.
One experiment: Organoids as living laboratories
October 30, 2020
These tiny balls of cells are revolutionizing the research and treatment of pancreas and other types of cancers.
Women’s coalition donates $100k to breast cancer research
December 6, 2018
Members of the Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer supported research through a donation from the Ladies Night Out fundraiser.
Undergrad symposium highlights lessons in the lab
August 20, 2018
The 2018 Undergraduate Research Program class presents their projects after working for ten weeks in various labs across campus.
What does it mean to be an URP?
August 20, 2018
A quick chat with a student and his mentor reveals how much the work of our undergraduate researchers mean to CSHL. Hint: A whole lot.
Portrait of a Neuroscience Powerhouse
April 27, 2018
A relatively small neuroscience group at CSHL is having an outsized impact on a dynamic and highly competitive field
David Spector is named ASCB Fellow
December 11, 2017
David L. Spector was named a fellow of The American Society for Cell Biology
Selected Publications
Mammary Tumor-Associated RNAs Impact Tumor Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration
27 Sep 2016 | Cell Reports | 17(1):261-274
Diermeier, Sarah, Chang, Kung-Chi, Freier, Susan, Song, Junyan, El Demerdash, Osama, Krasnitz, Alexander, Rigo, Frank, Bennett, C, Spector, David
Regulation of the ESC transcriptome by nuclear long non-coding RNAs
Sep 2015 | Genome Research | 25(9):1336-1346
Bergmann, J, Li, J, Eckersley-Maslin, M, Rigo, F, Freier, S, Spector, D
Random Monoallelic Gene Expression Increases upon Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
24 Feb 2014 | Developmental Cell | 28(4):351-65
Eckersley-Maslin, M, Thybert, D, Bergmann, J, Marioni, J, Flicek, P, Spector, D
The lncRNA Malat1 is dispensable for mouse development but its transcription plays a cis-regulatory role in the adult
2012 | Cell Reports | 2(1):111-123
Zhang, B, Arun, G, Mao, Y, Lazar, Z, Hung, G, Bhattacharjee, G, Xiao, X, Booth, C, Wu, J, Zhang, C, Spector, D
All Publications
Neutrophil extracellular traps formed during chemotherapy confer treatment resistance via TGF-β activation
10 Apr 2023 | Cancer Cell | 41(4):757-775.e10
Mousset, Alexandra, Lecorgne, Enora, Bourget, Isabelle, Lopez, Pascal, Jenovai, Kitti, Cherfils-Vicini, Julien, Dominici, Chloé, Rios, Géraldine, Girard-Riboulleau, Cédric, Liu, Bodu, Spector, David, Ehmsen, Sidse, Renault, Shufang, Hego, Caroline, Mechta-Grigoriou, Fatima, Bidard, François-Clément, Terp, Mikkel, Egeblad, Mikala, Gaggioli, Cédric, Albrengues, Jean
Allele pairing at Sun1-enriched domains at the nuclear periphery via T1A3 tandem DNA repeats.
7 Apr 2023 | bioRxiv
Balasooriya, Gayan, Spector, David
Establishment and Culture of Patient-Derived Breast Organoids
17 Feb 2023 | Journal of Visualized Experiments | (192)
Aggarwal, Disha, Russo, Suzanne, Naik, Payal, Bhatia, Sonam, Spector, David
Identification of glioblastoma stem cell-associated lncRNAs using single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets.
20 Jan 2023 | bioRxiv
Hazra, Rasmani, Utama, Raditya, Naik, Payal, Dobin, Alexander, Spector, David
Long non-coding RNAs: definitions, functions, challenges and recommendations
3 Jan 2023 | Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
Mattick, John, Amaral, Paulo, Carninci, Piero, Carpenter, Susan, Chang, Howard, Chen, Ling-Ling, Chen, Runsheng, Dean, Caroline, Dinger, Marcel, Fitzgerald, Katherine, Gingeras, Thomas, Guttman, Mitchell, Hirose, Tetsuro, Huarte, Maite, Johnson, Rory, Kanduri, Chandrasekhar, Kapranov, Philipp, Lawrence, Jeanne, Lee, Jeannie, Mendell, Joshua, Mercer, Timothy, Moore, Kathryn, Nakagawa, Shinichi, Rinn, John, Spector, David, Ulitsky, Igor, Wan, Yue, Wilusz, Jeremy, Wu, Mian
Single Oligonucleotide Capture of RNA And Temperature Elution Series ( SOCRATES ) for Identification of RNA-binding Proteins
20 Dec 2022 | Bio-protocol | 12(24):e4572
Yu, Allen, Aggarwal, Disha, Pappin, Darryl, Spector, David