Lillian Lin-Smith, PhD

(Publications before 2026 appeared under the name Li-Ling Lin)

Endometrial cancer remains a major clinical challenge, with marked differences in disease progression and immune responsiveness among patients. An underexplored determinant of this heterogeneity is the spatial organization of the tumor microenvironment, which can locally restrict antitumor immunity even when immune cells are present. Dr. Lillian Lin-Smith’s research asks how PAI-1 signaling builds these immunosuppressive niches and promotes tumor progression.

Her prior work established PAI-1-dependent effects on epithelial junctions and collagen remodeling in obesity-associated endometrial cancer, reported in two first-author papers in Cell Reports. Her current studies examine how this pathway shapes tissue architecture, including fibrovascular cores and macrophage fusion, and whether targeting PAI-1 signaling can restore immune access. Her research integrates spatial multi-omics profiling with mechanistic studies in human cell models and analyses of clinically annotated endometrial cancer tissues. Her long-term goal is to identify structural and molecular points of intervention for more precise immunotherapy in endometrial cancer.