Karen T. Hastings

Contact:

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix 425 North 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Chair
Professor, Tenure - Dermatology
Professor, N/A - Basic Medical Sciences
Chair - Dermatology
Faculty
Dermatology; Basic Medical Sciences; Dermatology

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship: Immunobiology, Yale University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 2006
  • Residency: Dermatology, Yale New Haven Hospital, 2004
  • Internship: Internal Medicine, Yale New Haven Hospital, 2001
  • MD: Harvard University, 2000
  • PhD: Immunology, Harvard University, 2000

Publications

  • Borden ES, Adams AC, Buetow KH, Wilson MA, Bauman JE, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Chow HHS, LaFleur BJ & Hastings KT (2021). Shared gene expression and immune pathway changes associated with progression from nevi to melanoma. Cancers. Vol. 14, 12/21/2021 - Article, Refereed Journal -
  • Adams AC, Macy AM, Saboda K, Dickinson SE, Glembocki DJ, Roe DJ & Hastings KT (2021). Solar simulated light induces cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in inbred mice: a clinically relevant model to investigate T cell responses. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Vol. 141, 2990-2993., 12/2021 - Article, Refereed Journal -
  • Rausch MP, Meador LR, Metzger TC, Li H, Qiu S, Anderson MS & Hastings KT (2020). GILT in thymic epithelial cells facilitates central CD4 T cell tolerance to a tissue-restricted, melanoma-associated self antigen. Journal of Immunology. Vol. 204, 2877-2886., 06/01/2020 - Article, Refereed Journal -
  • Borden ES, Kang P, Natri HM, Phung TN, Wilson MA, Buetow KH & Hastings KT (2019). Neoantigen fitness model predicts lower immune recognition of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas than actinic keratoses. Frontiers in Immunology. Vol. 10, 2799., 11/29/2019 - Article, Refereed Journal -
  • Buetow KH, Meador LR, Menon H, Lu YK, Brill J, Cui H, Roe DJ, DiCaudo DJ & Hastings KT (2019). High GILT expression and an active and intact MHC class II antigen presentation pathway are associated with improved survival in melanoma. Journal of Immunology. Vol. 203, 2577-2587., 11/15/2019 - Article, Refereed Journal -

Specialties

  • American Board of Dermatology
Research Interests
- Skin Cancer - Immunology - Dermatology
Research Summary
Dr. Hastings is a physician-scientist with a cancer immunology research program focused on antigen presentation and regulation of T cell responses in skin cancer. Her laboratory has defined GILT as a critical enzyme in MHC class II antigen presentation and regulation of T cell responses. We are investigating MHC class II antigen presentation in melanoma, prediction of immunogenic neoantigens and immune recognition of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.