Nick Pannunzio
Associate Professor, Medicine
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Associate Professor, Biological Chemistry
School of Medicine
School of Medicine
Ph.D., Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 2010, Genetics and Molecular Biology
B.S., University of Pittsburgh, 2002, Microbiology
B.S., University of Pittsburgh, 2002, Microbiology
Email: nrpann@hs.uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
847 Health Sciences Road
Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building
Room 3228
Mail Code: 3905
Irvine, CA 92617
847 Health Sciences Road
Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building
Room 3228
Mail Code: 3905
Irvine, CA 92617
Research Interests
cancer genetics, B cell malignancies, chromosomal translocations, DNA damage and repair, cancer health disparities
Websites
Research Abstract
Chromosomal translocations are a recurrent, transformative feature of many cancers and occur following formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). While critical to development of antibody producing B cells, improper repair of DSBs is a major factor in the etiology of B cell malignancies. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, the Pannunzio lab seeks to understand how internal factors (torsional stress, transcription, replication, DNA modifying enzymes) and external factors (reactive oxygen species, radiation, chemotherapy drugs, environmental toxins) contribute to DSB formation. Using the latest technology, we quantify DSBs in human B cells carrying mutations in disease relevant genes or exposed to DNA damaging agents.
Another major component of our research is understanding cancer health disparities present in certain races and ethnicities. Our work seeks to define what genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors make Hispanics, Latinos, and Native Americans disproportionately affected by certain subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and why the incidence rate of multiple myeloma is higher in African Americans.
Another major component of our research is understanding cancer health disparities present in certain races and ethnicities. Our work seeks to define what genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors make Hispanics, Latinos, and Native Americans disproportionately affected by certain subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and why the incidence rate of multiple myeloma is higher in African Americans.
Awards and Honors
2022 NIH/NCI R37 MERIT Award
2019 USC Department of Pathology Seminar of the Year Award
2018 FASEB Travel Award
2017 USC Department of Pathology Paper of the Year Award
2010-2015 ARCS Foundation, Los Angeles Founder Chapter, John H. Richardson
Postdoctoral Fellowship
2008 Rachmiel Levine Student Scientific Communication Award
2006 City of Hope Graduate Education Travel Award
2006-2008 American Heart Association Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
2002 Graduated University of Pittsburgh cum laude
2019 USC Department of Pathology Seminar of the Year Award
2018 FASEB Travel Award
2017 USC Department of Pathology Paper of the Year Award
2010-2015 ARCS Foundation, Los Angeles Founder Chapter, John H. Richardson
Postdoctoral Fellowship
2008 Rachmiel Levine Student Scientific Communication Award
2006 City of Hope Graduate Education Travel Award
2006-2008 American Heart Association Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
2002 Graduated University of Pittsburgh cum laude
Publications
Pedulla ML, Ford ME, Houtz JM, Karthikeyan T, Wadsworth C, Lewis JA, Jacobs-Sera D, Falbo J, Gross J, Pannunzio NR, Brucker W, Kumar V, Kandasamy J, Keenan L, Bardarov S, Kriakov J, Lawrence JG, Jacobs WR Jr, Hendrix RW, Hatfull GF. (2003) Origins of Highly Mosaic Mycobacteriophage Genomes. Cell, 113(2): 171-82. (cover article)
Ghosh P, Pannunzio NR, Hatfull GF. (2005). Synapsis of phage Bxb1 integration: selection mechanism for the correct pair of recombination sites. J. Mol. Biol. 349(2): 331-48.
Pannunzio NR, Manthey GM, Bailis AM. (2008). Rad59 is required for the efficient repair of simultaneous double-strand breaks resulting in translocations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DNA repair (Amst), 7(5): 788-800.
Pannunzio NR, Manthey GM, Bailis AM. (2010). RAD59 and RAD1 cooperate in translocation formation by single-strand annealing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Curr Genet, 56(1): 87-100.
Liddell L, Manthey G, Pannunzio N, Bailis A. (2011). Quantitation and analysis of the formation of HO-endonuclease stimulated chromosomal translocations by single-strand annealing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Vis Exp, 55: 3150.
Pannunzio NR, Manthey GM, Liddell LC, Fu BXH, Roberts CM, Bailis AM. (2012). Rad59 regulates association of Rad52 with DNA double-strand breaks. MicrobiologyOpen. Sep;1(3);285-97.
Pannunzio NR. Li S, Watanabe G, Lieber MR. (2014). Non-homologous end joining often uses microhomology: implications for alternative end joining. DNA Repair (Amst). May;17:74-80.
Zhang ZZ, Pannunzio NR, Han L, Hsieh CL, Yu K, Lieber MR. (2014). The strength of an Ig switch region is determined by its ability to drive R look formation and its number of WGCW sites. Cell Rep. Jul 24;8(2):557-69.
Zhang ZZ, Pannunzio NR, Hsieh CL, Yu K, Lieber MR. (2014). The role of G-density in switch region repeats for immunoglobulin class switch recombination. Nucleic Acids Res. Dec 1;42(21):13186-93.
Zhang ZZ, Pannunzio NR, Hsieh CL, Yu K, Lieber MR. (2015). Complexities due to single-stranded RNA during antibody detection of genomic RNA:DNA hybrids. BMC Res Notes. Apr 8,8:127.
Zhang ZZ, Pannunzio NR, Lu Z, Hsu E, Yu K, Lieber MR. (2015). The repetitive portion of the Xenopus IgH mu switch region mediates orientation-dependent class switch recombination. Molecular Immunology. Oct; 67(2PtB):524-31.
Lu Z, Pannunzio NR, Greisman H, Cesaro D, Parekh C, Lieber MR. (2015). Convergent BCL6 and lncRNA promoters demarcate the major breakpoint region for BCL6 translocations. Blood. Oct 1; 126(14):1730-1
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2016). Dissecting the roles of divergent and convergent transcription in chromosome instability. Cell Reports. Feb 9; 14(5):1025-31.
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2016). RNA polymerase collision versus DNA structural distortion: twists and turns can cause break failure. Molecular Cell. May 5; 62(3):327-34.
Chang HHY, Pannunzio NR, Adachi N, Lieber MR. (2017) Non-homologous DNA end joining and alternative pathways to double-strand break repair. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. May 17. (cover article)
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2017) AID and reactive oxygen species can induce DNA breaks within human chromosomal translocation fragile zones. Molecular Cell. December 7; 68:901-912. (cover article)
Pannunzio NR, Watanabe G, Lieber MR. (2018) Nonhomologous DNA end-joining for repair of DNA double-strand breaks. J Biol Chem 293:10512-10523. (cover article)
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2018) Concept of DNA Lesion Longevity and Chromosomal Translocations. Trends Biochem Sci 43:490-498. (cover article)
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2019) Constitutively Active Artemis Nuclease Recognizes Structures Containing Single-Stranded DNA Configurations. DNA Repair.
Sterrenberg, JN, Folkerts ML, Rangel V, Lee SE, Pannunzio NR. (2022) Diversity Upon Diversity: Linking DNA Double-Strand Break Repair to Blood Cancer Health Disparities. Trends in Cancer.
Ghosh P, Pannunzio NR, Hatfull GF. (2005). Synapsis of phage Bxb1 integration: selection mechanism for the correct pair of recombination sites. J. Mol. Biol. 349(2): 331-48.
Pannunzio NR, Manthey GM, Bailis AM. (2008). Rad59 is required for the efficient repair of simultaneous double-strand breaks resulting in translocations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DNA repair (Amst), 7(5): 788-800.
Pannunzio NR, Manthey GM, Bailis AM. (2010). RAD59 and RAD1 cooperate in translocation formation by single-strand annealing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Curr Genet, 56(1): 87-100.
Liddell L, Manthey G, Pannunzio N, Bailis A. (2011). Quantitation and analysis of the formation of HO-endonuclease stimulated chromosomal translocations by single-strand annealing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Vis Exp, 55: 3150.
Pannunzio NR, Manthey GM, Liddell LC, Fu BXH, Roberts CM, Bailis AM. (2012). Rad59 regulates association of Rad52 with DNA double-strand breaks. MicrobiologyOpen. Sep;1(3);285-97.
Pannunzio NR. Li S, Watanabe G, Lieber MR. (2014). Non-homologous end joining often uses microhomology: implications for alternative end joining. DNA Repair (Amst). May;17:74-80.
Zhang ZZ, Pannunzio NR, Han L, Hsieh CL, Yu K, Lieber MR. (2014). The strength of an Ig switch region is determined by its ability to drive R look formation and its number of WGCW sites. Cell Rep. Jul 24;8(2):557-69.
Zhang ZZ, Pannunzio NR, Hsieh CL, Yu K, Lieber MR. (2014). The role of G-density in switch region repeats for immunoglobulin class switch recombination. Nucleic Acids Res. Dec 1;42(21):13186-93.
Zhang ZZ, Pannunzio NR, Hsieh CL, Yu K, Lieber MR. (2015). Complexities due to single-stranded RNA during antibody detection of genomic RNA:DNA hybrids. BMC Res Notes. Apr 8,8:127.
Zhang ZZ, Pannunzio NR, Lu Z, Hsu E, Yu K, Lieber MR. (2015). The repetitive portion of the Xenopus IgH mu switch region mediates orientation-dependent class switch recombination. Molecular Immunology. Oct; 67(2PtB):524-31.
Lu Z, Pannunzio NR, Greisman H, Cesaro D, Parekh C, Lieber MR. (2015). Convergent BCL6 and lncRNA promoters demarcate the major breakpoint region for BCL6 translocations. Blood. Oct 1; 126(14):1730-1
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2016). Dissecting the roles of divergent and convergent transcription in chromosome instability. Cell Reports. Feb 9; 14(5):1025-31.
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2016). RNA polymerase collision versus DNA structural distortion: twists and turns can cause break failure. Molecular Cell. May 5; 62(3):327-34.
Chang HHY, Pannunzio NR, Adachi N, Lieber MR. (2017) Non-homologous DNA end joining and alternative pathways to double-strand break repair. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. May 17. (cover article)
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2017) AID and reactive oxygen species can induce DNA breaks within human chromosomal translocation fragile zones. Molecular Cell. December 7; 68:901-912. (cover article)
Pannunzio NR, Watanabe G, Lieber MR. (2018) Nonhomologous DNA end-joining for repair of DNA double-strand breaks. J Biol Chem 293:10512-10523. (cover article)
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2018) Concept of DNA Lesion Longevity and Chromosomal Translocations. Trends Biochem Sci 43:490-498. (cover article)
Pannunzio NR, Lieber MR. (2019) Constitutively Active Artemis Nuclease Recognizes Structures Containing Single-Stranded DNA Configurations. DNA Repair.
Sterrenberg, JN, Folkerts ML, Rangel V, Lee SE, Pannunzio NR. (2022) Diversity Upon Diversity: Linking DNA Double-Strand Break Repair to Blood Cancer Health Disparities. Trends in Cancer.
Chun SK, Fortin BM, Fellows R, Habowski AN, Verlande A, Song WA, Mahieu AL, Lefebvre AEYT, Sterrenberg JN, Velez LM, Digman MA, Edwards RA, Pannunzio NR, Seldin MM, Waterman ML, Masri S. (2022) Disruption of the Circadian Clock drives Apc Loss of Heterozygosity to Accelerate Colorectal Cancer. Science Advances. Sci Adv. 2022 Aug 12;8(32).
Lee BJ, Griffin SP, Doh J, Chan A, Ciurea SO, Jeyakumar D, Fleischman AG, Naqvi K, Pannunzio NR, O'Brien S, Kongtim P. (2024) HyperCVAD versus pegaspargase-containing regimens for Hispanic adults with newly diagnosed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Eur J Haematol. Nov 6. PMID: 37933194
Zhou M, Van C, Molendijk J, Chang IY, Johnson C, Velez LM, Yeo RX, Bae H, Le J, Larson N, Pulido R, Nascimento-Filho CHV, Hevener A, Sparks LM, Justice JN, Kershaw EE, Marazzi I, Pannunzio NR, Nicholas D, Parker B, Jang C, Masri S, Seldin M. (2024) Leveraging Genetic Correlation Structure to Target Discrete Signaling Mechanisms Across Metabolic Tissues. Elife. Jan 15;12:RP88863. doi: 10.7554/eLife.88863. PMID: 38224289
Fortin BM, Pfeiffer SM, Insua-RodrÃguez J, Alshetaiwi H, Moshensky A, Song WA, Mahieu AL, Chun SK, Lewis AN, Hsu A, Adam I, Eng OS, Pannunzio NR, Seldin MM, Marazzi I, Marangoni F, Lawson DA, Kessenbrock K, Masri S. (2024) Circadian control of tumor immunosuppression affects efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. Nature Immunology. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1038/s41590-024-01859-0. PMID: 38806707
Kelliher JL, Folkerts ML, Shen KV, Song W, Tengler K, Stiefel CM, Lee SO, Dray E, Zhao W, Koss B, Pannunzio NR*, Leung JW*. (*Co-corresponding) (2024) Evolved histone tail regulates 53BP1 recruitment at damaged chromatin. Nature Communications. May 31;15(1):4634. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49071-w. PMID: 38821984
Rangel V, Sterrenberg J, Garawi A, Mezcord V, Folkerts M, Caulderon S, Wang J, Soyfer E, Eng O, Valerin J, Tanjasiri S, Quintero-Rivera F, Masri S, Seldin M, Frock R, Fleischman A, Pannunzio NR. (2024) Increased AID Results in Mutations at the CRLF2 Locus Implicated in Latin American ALL Health Disparities. Nature Communications. Jul 27;15(1):6331 PMID: 39068148
Fortin BM, Mahieu AL, Fellows RC, Pannunzio NR, Masri S. (2023) Circadian clocks in health and disease: Dissecting the roles of the biological pacemaker in cancer. F1000 Research. May 16:12:116. PMID: 39282509
Fellows RC, Chun SK, Larson N, Fortin BM, Mahieu AL, Song WA, Seldin MM, Pannunzio NR, Masri S. (2024) Disruption of the intestinal clock drives dysbiosis and impaired barrier function in colorectal cancer. Science Advances. Sep 27;10(39) PMID: 39331712
Fortin BM, Mahieu AL, Fellows RC, Kang Y, Lewis AN, Ead AS, Lamia KA, Cao Y, Pannunzio NR*, Masri S*. (*Co-corresponding) (2025) The diverse roles of the circadian clock in cancer. Nature Cancer. May; 6(5):753-767 PMID: 40419761
Ren D, Niu C, Htun N, Zhang X, He J, Li R, Liu Q, Lee V, Edwards RA, Zhou GG, Lehrich BM, Liu DH, Nguyen A, Chan J, Pannunzio NR, Kuan EC, Wang BY. (2025) Exploring Molecular Characteristics and Therapeutic Strategies for Primary Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma With Distant Metastasis. Laboratory Investigation. Dec; 105(12):104238 PMID: 40914252
Moldenhauer MR, Mahadevan A, Hom C, Nguyen ATM, Rangel V, Hasson S, Hsu NH, Ubbaonu C, Nathan D, Chandan VS, Shen KV, Damozonio EM, Zhou GG, Chichili T, Le A, Masri S, Dayyani F, Qiao F, Valerin JB*, Pannunzio NR*. (*Co-corresponding) (2026) The germline MLH1 c.2054 C>T mutation disrupts DNA mismatch repair and is detectable by digital PCR. Cancer Letters. Jun 10:656:218669. PMID: 42269807
Folkerts ML, Hom C, Nguyen ATM, ShenKV, Monterroso AM, Damozonio EM, Rangel V, Ortega P, Masri S, Adachi N, Buisson R, Meek K, Pannunzio NR. (2026) Targeting Artemis Sensitizes Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells to Topoisomerase 2 Poisons by Disrupting DNA-PKcs-Dependent Repair. Communications Biology. (Accepted).
Zhou M, Van C, Molendijk J, Chang IY, Johnson C, Velez LM, Yeo RX, Bae H, Le J, Larson N, Pulido R, Nascimento-Filho CHV, Hevener A, Sparks LM, Justice JN, Kershaw EE, Marazzi I, Pannunzio NR, Nicholas D, Parker B, Jang C, Masri S, Seldin M. (2024) Leveraging Genetic Correlation Structure to Target Discrete Signaling Mechanisms Across Metabolic Tissues. Elife. Jan 15;12:RP88863. doi: 10.7554/eLife.88863. PMID: 38224289
Fortin BM, Pfeiffer SM, Insua-RodrÃguez J, Alshetaiwi H, Moshensky A, Song WA, Mahieu AL, Chun SK, Lewis AN, Hsu A, Adam I, Eng OS, Pannunzio NR, Seldin MM, Marazzi I, Marangoni F, Lawson DA, Kessenbrock K, Masri S. (2024) Circadian control of tumor immunosuppression affects efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. Nature Immunology. 2024 May 28. doi: 10.1038/s41590-024-01859-0. PMID: 38806707
Kelliher JL, Folkerts ML, Shen KV, Song W, Tengler K, Stiefel CM, Lee SO, Dray E, Zhao W, Koss B, Pannunzio NR*, Leung JW*. (*Co-corresponding) (2024) Evolved histone tail regulates 53BP1 recruitment at damaged chromatin. Nature Communications. May 31;15(1):4634. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-49071-w. PMID: 38821984
Rangel V, Sterrenberg J, Garawi A, Mezcord V, Folkerts M, Caulderon S, Wang J, Soyfer E, Eng O, Valerin J, Tanjasiri S, Quintero-Rivera F, Masri S, Seldin M, Frock R, Fleischman A, Pannunzio NR. (2024) Increased AID Results in Mutations at the CRLF2 Locus Implicated in Latin American ALL Health Disparities. Nature Communications. Jul 27;15(1):6331 PMID: 39068148
Fortin BM, Mahieu AL, Fellows RC, Pannunzio NR, Masri S. (2023) Circadian clocks in health and disease: Dissecting the roles of the biological pacemaker in cancer. F1000 Research. May 16:12:116. PMID: 39282509
Fellows RC, Chun SK, Larson N, Fortin BM, Mahieu AL, Song WA, Seldin MM, Pannunzio NR, Masri S. (2024) Disruption of the intestinal clock drives dysbiosis and impaired barrier function in colorectal cancer. Science Advances. Sep 27;10(39) PMID: 39331712
Fortin BM, Mahieu AL, Fellows RC, Kang Y, Lewis AN, Ead AS, Lamia KA, Cao Y, Pannunzio NR*, Masri S*. (*Co-corresponding) (2025) The diverse roles of the circadian clock in cancer. Nature Cancer. May; 6(5):753-767 PMID: 40419761
Ren D, Niu C, Htun N, Zhang X, He J, Li R, Liu Q, Lee V, Edwards RA, Zhou GG, Lehrich BM, Liu DH, Nguyen A, Chan J, Pannunzio NR, Kuan EC, Wang BY. (2025) Exploring Molecular Characteristics and Therapeutic Strategies for Primary Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma With Distant Metastasis. Laboratory Investigation. Dec; 105(12):104238 PMID: 40914252
Moldenhauer MR, Mahadevan A, Hom C, Nguyen ATM, Rangel V, Hasson S, Hsu NH, Ubbaonu C, Nathan D, Chandan VS, Shen KV, Damozonio EM, Zhou GG, Chichili T, Le A, Masri S, Dayyani F, Qiao F, Valerin JB*, Pannunzio NR*. (*Co-corresponding) (2026) The germline MLH1 c.2054 C>T mutation disrupts DNA mismatch repair and is detectable by digital PCR. Cancer Letters. Jun 10:656:218669. PMID: 42269807
Folkerts ML, Hom C, Nguyen ATM, ShenKV, Monterroso AM, Damozonio EM, Rangel V, Ortega P, Masri S, Adachi N, Buisson R, Meek K, Pannunzio NR. (2026) Targeting Artemis Sensitizes Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells to Topoisomerase 2 Poisons by Disrupting DNA-PKcs-Dependent Repair. Communications Biology. (Accepted).
Graduate Programs
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences
Research Centers
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Institute for Immunology
Cancer Research Institute
Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=6597
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=6597
Last updated
06/25/2026
06/25/2026