University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences · Microbiology & ImmunologyDortaEstremera CancerLab
Stephanie Dorta-Estremera · San Juan, Puerto Rico
Research Focus
Dr. Stephanie Dorta-Estremera's lab at the University of Puerto Rico focuses on using non-pathogenic Streptococcus bacteria to develop new treatments for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). By studying how these bacteria can trigger immune responses and affect cancer cell survival, the lab aims to identify affordable and effective therapies that can improve outcomes for patients, particularly within minority communities. Students in the lab gain valuable experience in cancer research, microbiology, and immunology.
Streptococcusoropharyngeal cancercancer immunologymicrobial therapeuticstumor microenvironmentT cell activationoral health
Research Aims
3AIM 01Identify oral commensal Streptococcus species that affect OSCC cell survival and migration.
AIM 02Determine anti-tumorigenic functions of Streptococcus species in preclinical models for oropharyngeal cancer.
AIM 03Explore the potential of microbial therapeutics for improving prognosis in OSCC patients.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturepreclinical cancer modelsimmunological assaysflow cytometrybacterial cell culturetumor growth assessmentdata collection and analysis
Output against the department
Publications105bottom 38% of dept.302nd of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.5kbottom 9% of dept.441st of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.