Nancy León Rivera, B.A.
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Doctoral Student
Department of Biology
SDSU / UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Cell and Molecular Biology
Cell and Molecular Biology
SDSU / UC San Diego
Primary Email: [email protected]
Building/Location
Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center - 2102
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego,
CA
92182
Mail Code: 4614
Website Links
Bio
My research focuses on understanding the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast cancer progression. Specifically, I study how autophagy—a process that degrades and recycles damaged parts of the cell—supports CAFs in creating a tumor-friendly microenvironment.
Using transgenic mouse models and aggressive breast cancer cell lines, I’m investigating how blocking autophagy in these fibroblasts impacts tumor growth, desmoplasia, and metastasis.
This work aims to uncover new therapeutic targets by disrupting the supportive relationship between cancer cells and their microenvironment.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Biology & Chemistry
Whittier College, Whittier, CA
Areas of Specialization
Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Tumor-Microenvironment
Fun Facts
Watch scary movies, spend time with friends/family, go to the beach and stop for boba on the way.
Mentors
Awards & Honors
John Greenleaf Whittier Merit Scholarship – Fall 2015 – Spring 2019
Dean’s List Recipient, Whittier College – Spring 2019
Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award in Chemistry, Whittier College – Spring 2019
National Institutes of Health Post Baccalaureate Research Experience Programs Grant, – UCSC 2019-2020
Prebys Biomedical Research Endowed Scholarship, SDSU – Fall 2023
1st Place Best Poster Presentation, Symposium And Luncheon Underscoring Diversity (SALUD) in Biological Science, Scripps Research – Fall 2024
Presentations
Nancy Leόn-Rivera, Teresa Monkkonen. Exploring the Role of Autophagy in Cancer- Associated Fibroblasts: Implications for Tumor Desmoplasia and Metastasis. San Diego State University/ UC San Diego Cancer Research and Education to Advance HealTh Equity (CREATE) Research Symposium, San Diego, CA, January 28, 2025. Poster
Nancy Leόn-Rivera, Megan Keene, Teresa Monkkonen. Impact of Autophagy in Stromal Fibroblasts on Tumor Desmoplasia and Metastasis. Symposium And Luncheon Underscoring Diversity (SALUD) in Biological Science, San Diego, CA, October 18, 2024. Poster.
Publications
Filipowska, J., Cisneros, Z., León-Rivera, N., Wang, P., Kang, R., Lu, G., Yuan, Y. C., Bhattacharya, S., Dhawan, S., Garcia-Ocaña, A., Kondegowda, N. G., & Vasavada, R. C.(2024). LGR4 is essential for maintaining β-cell homeostasis through suppression of RANK. bioRxiv: the preprint server for biology, 2024.05.10.593645. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.10.593645
Kondegowda, N. G., Filipowska, J., Do, J. S., León-Rivera, N., Li, R., Hampton, R., Ogyaadu, S., Levister, C., Penninger, J. M., Reijonen, H., Levy, C. J., & Vasavada, R. C. (2023). RANKL/RANK is required for cytokine-induced beta cell death; osteoprotegerin, a RANKL inhibitor, reverses rodent type 1 diabetes. Science advances, 9(44), eadf5238. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adf5238
Filipowska J, Kondegowda NG, León-Rivera N, Dhawan S, Vasavada RC. LGR4, a G Protein-Coupled Receptor With a Systemic Role: From Development to Metabolic Regulation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 May 30;13:867001. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.867001. PMID: 35707461; PMCID: PMC9190282
Ochoa JM, Mijares O, Acosta AA, Escoto X, León-Rivera N, Marshall JD, Sawaya MR, Yeates TO. Structural characterization of hexameric shell proteins from two types of choline- utilization bacterial microcompartments. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun. 2021 Sep 1;77(Pt 9):275-285. doi: 10.1107/S2053230X21007470. Epub 2021 Aug 24. PMID: 34473104; PMCID: PMC8411931