Exploring the Intersection of Surgery and Cancer Research with Dr. Dan Delitto

Dr. Dan Delitto is an assistant professor of surgery at Stanford University specializes in surgical oncology and holds a PhD in immunology. On this episode, Dr. Delitto reflects on his decision to pursue an MD-PhD pathway during residency and discusses the recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing technology that his lab has acquired. He explains the complex role of fibroblasts in cancer development, particularly in pancreatic ductal carcinoma, highlighting how these cells can both promote and hinder tumor growth.
The conversation includes a lightning round, during which Dr. Delitto shares his admiration for his mentor, Steve Hughes, and offers succinct advice on the importance of surgical experience. He also mentions his preference for trance music while working and shares his excitement about ongoing and future research projects in his lab, which include investigations into various cancers, such as sarcomas.
Link to Nature Cancer article “Cancer-derived mitochondria fuel fibroblasts to become pro-tumorigenic.”: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43018-025-01005-1
Link to Cell Reports article “Disruption of fibroblast MYD88 signaling promotes antitumor immunity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma”: https://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext/S2211-1247(25)01118-0?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2211124725011180%3Fshowall%3Dtrue