Stephen D. Hyter, Ph.D.

Professional Background

I serve as the Assistant Director of the Clinical Molecular Oncology Laboratory (CMOL) in the Division of Genomics Diagnostics and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas, doctorate degree at Oregon State University and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Graduate work focused on the microenvironmental effects of keratinocytic paracrine signaling. We were able to implicate RXRα binding and subsequent transcriptional repression of Edn1 in melanomagenesis. This hypothesis was expanded to probe the regulation of keratinocytic Tp53 in UV-induced melanocyte activation. Also included was a broad review of type II nuclear hormone receptors in development and homeostasis of keratinocyte and melanocyte biology.

Post-graduate effort was directed towards drug discovery using genetic profiles in ovarian cancer and Ewing's sarcoma. Initial work involved constructing genetic signatures to anticipate drug response in ovarian cancer cell lines. This entailed high-throughput drug screens using novel combinations of repurposed compounds. Dissimilar proliferative phenotypes in these lines were used to interrogate transcriptomes for expression profiles predictive of sensitivity. Other projects involved drug discovery through bioinformatical techniques, susceptibility of error-prone DNA repair pathways and the use of 3D culture models.

My initial responsibilities for the CMOL in 2016 were clinical assay validations, I then accepted the Assistant Director position in 2020 and earned a High-complexity Clinical Director certification (HCLD) in 2024. Currently I process next-generation sequencing data (NGS) into interpretive reports that oncologists can use to guide personalized therapies. Experience in onboarding various high-complexity platforms and assays, managing multidisciplinary molecular tumor board meetings and preparation for CAP inspections positions me as a strong collaborator in the field of molecular medicine.

• BGS, History, University of Kansas
• PhD, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Oregon State University
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, Ovarian Cancer, University of Kansas Medical Center

• Kansas Institute for Precision Medicine, Center of Biomedical Research Excellence, Key Personnel

• Braun Mitchell W, Abdelhakim Haitham, Li Meizhang, Hyter Stephen, Pessetto Ziyan, Koestler Devin C, Pathak Harsh B, Dunavin Neil, Godwin Andrew K. 2020. Adherent cell depletion promotes the expansion of renal cell carcinoma infiltrating T cells with optimal characteristics for adoptive transfer. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 8 (2), e000706. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2020-000706
• Blidner Richard A, Haynes Brian C, Hyter Stephen, Schmitt Sarah, Pessetto Ziyan Y, Godwin Andrew K, Su Dan, Hurban Patrick, van Kempen Léon C, Aguirre Maria L, Gokul Shobha, Cardwell Robyn D, Latham Gary J. 2019. Design, Optimization, and Multisite Evaluation of a Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Assay System for Chimeric RNAs from Gene Fusions and Exon-Skipping Events in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 21 (2), 352-365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoldx.2018.10.003
• Hirst Jeff, Pathak Harsh B, Hyter Stephen, Pessetto Ziyan Y, Ly Thuc, Graw Stefan, Koestler Devin C, Krieg Adam J, Roby Katherine F, Godwin Andrew K. 2018. Licofelone Enhances the Efficacy of Paclitaxel in Ovarian Cancer by Reversing Drug Resistance and Tumor Stem-like Properties. Cancer Research, 78 (15), 4370-4385. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-3993
• Pessetto Ziyan Y, Chen Bin, Alturkmani Hani, Hyter Stephen, Flynn Colleen A, Baltezor Michael, Ma Yan, Rosenthal Howard G, Neville Kathleen A, Weir Scott J, Butte Atul J, Godwin Andrew K. 2017. In silico and in vitro drug screening identifies new therapeutic approaches for Ewing sarcoma.. Oncotarget, 8 (3), 4079-4095. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.13385
• Do Thuy-Vy, Hirst Jeff, Hyter Stephen, Roby Katherine F, Godwin Andrew K. 2017. Aurora A kinase regulates non-homologous end-joining and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase function in ovarian carcinoma cells. Oncotarget, 8 (31), 50376-50392. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.18970