 Kasey Lyn Couts
| Title | Assistant Professor |
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| Institution | University of Colorado Denver - Anschutz Medical Campus |
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| Department | SOM-MED |
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| Email |  |
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 Biography | Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN | B.S. | 05/2004 | Biochemistry | | University of Colorado- Boulder, Boulder, CO | Ph.D. | 12/2010 | Biochemistry |
Overview My research interests are primarily focused on understanding the development and pathobiology underlying rare melanomas (such as mucosal, acral, and ocular melanomas) in order to 1) identify risk factors to improve prevention and early detection, 2) develop novel tumor/blood diagnostics for rare melanoma subtypes, 3) establish methods for halting progression and eliminating micro-metastatic disease, and 4) improve efficacy of current therapies (targeted and immunotherapies) and develop new treatment modalities which are effective for rare melanoma patients.
Research (Kasey Couts)Jul 1, 2019 - Jun 30, 2022 Patten-Davis Foundation
CU Center for Rare Melanomas
Role Description: Establish a first-of-its-kind joint research and clinical center for improving care of patients with rare, non-UV associated melanomas.
Role: Co-Director |
| (Kasey Couts)Mar 1, 2019 - Feb 28, 2020 CCTSI
The role of BRAF fusions in melanoma anti-tumor immune responses
Role Description: Determine how BRAF fusions promote anti-tumor immunotherapy responses in melanoma patients.
Role: Principle Investigator |
| (Kasey Couts)Jan 1, 2018 - Dec 31, 2018 American Cancer Society Institutional Seed Grant
Targeting cell cycle structural variants in acral and mucosal melanomas
Role Description: Investigate cell cycle structural variants and cell cycle based therapies in acral and mucosal melanomas.
Role: Principle Investigator |
| (Kasey Couts)Jul 1, 2017 - Dec 31, 2018 Cancer League of Colorado
Improving targeted therapy in melanomas with BRAF fusions
Role Description: Test novel combinatorial treatment strategies for BRAF fusions.
Role: Principle Investigator |
| (Kasey Couts)Apr 1, 2016 - Mar 31, 2017 CCTSI
Activating gene fusions as targets in malignant melanoma
Role Description: Characterize gene fusions in pan-negative melanomas using melanoma PDX models.
Role: Principle Investigator |
| (Kasey Couts)Jan 1, 2016 - Jun 1, 2017 Paul R. Ohara II Seed Grant Award
Gene fusions as actionable therapeutic targets in acral lentiginous melanomas
Role Description: Characterize and test efficacy of targeted inhibitors for gene fusions in acral melanomas.
Role: Principle Investigator |
Bibliographic
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Roy SF, Agim NG, Mir A, Couts KL, Vandergriff T, Robinson WA, Bastian BC, Frieden I, Yeh I. Congenital melanocytic nevi initiated by BRAF fusion oncogene with firmness, pruritus, and desmoplastic stroma. Br J Dermatol. 2025 Feb 27. PMID: 40036344.
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Yee EJ, Thielen ON, Truong R, Gilbert D, Michel K, Couts KL, Robinson WA, McCarter MD. Metastatic Melanoma to the Small Bowel and Colon: A Systematic Review of the Global Experience and Institutional Cohort Analysis Detailing a Rare Clinical Entity. J Surg Oncol. 2025 Mar; 131(4):671-684. PMID: 39463145.
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Nielsen AJ, Albert GK, Sanchez A, Chen J, Liu J, Davalos AS, Geng D, Bradeen X, Hintzsche JD, Robinson W, McCarter M, Amato C, Tobin R, Couts K, Wilky BA, Davila E. DNA-PK inhibition enhances neoantigen diversity and increases T cell responses to immunoresistant tumors. J Clin Invest. 2024 Oct 22; 134(24). PMID: 39436696.
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Turner JA, Van Gulick RJ, Robinson WA, Mughal T, Tobin RP, MacBeth ML, Holman B, Classon A, Bagby SM, Yacob BW, Hartman SJ, Silverman I, Vorwald VM, Gorden N, Gonzalez R, Gay LM, Ali SM, Benson A, Miller VA, Ross JS, Pitts TM, Rioth MJ, Lewis KD, Medina T, McCarter MD, Gonzalez R, Couts KL. Expanding the landscape of oncogenic drivers and treatment options in acral and mucosal melanomas by targeted genomic profiling. Int J Cancer. 2024 Nov 15; 155(10):1792-1807. PMID: 39001563.
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Tobin R, Katsnelson EN, Couts KL, Spengler A, Loh L, Gapin L, McCarter MD. YIA24-005: MAIT Cells are Reduced in Anorectal Mucosal Melanomas Compared to Cutaneous Melanoma GI Metastases. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2024 Apr 05; 22(2.5). PMID: 38579822.
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Mukherjee N, Katsnelson E, Brunetti TM, Michel K, Couts KL, Lambert KA, Robinson WA, McCarter MD, Norris DA, Tobin RP, Shellman YG. MCL1 inhibition targets Myeloid Derived Suppressors Cells, promotes antitumor immunity and enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. Cell Death Dis. 2024 03 08; 15(3):198. PMID: 38459020.
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Akturk HK, Michel K, Couts K, Karakus KE, Robinson W, Michels A. Routine Blood Glucose Monitoring Does Not Predict Onset of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2024 Mar 01; 47(3):e29-e30. PMID: 38232313.
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Katsnelson EN, Spengler A, Domenico J, Couts KL, Loh L, Gapin L, McCarter MD, Tobin RP. Dysfunctional states of unconventional T-cell subsets in cancer. J Leukoc Biol. 2024 01 05; 115(1):36-46. PMID: 37837379.
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Routy B, Jackson T, M?hlmann L, Baumgartner CK, Blaser M, Byrd A, Corvaia N, Couts K, Davar D, Derosa L, Hang HC, Hospers G, Isaksen M, Kroemer G, Malard F, McCoy KD, Meisel M, Pal S, Ronai Z, Segal E, Sepich-Poore GD, Shaikh F, Sweis RF, Trinchieri G, van den Brink M, Weersma RK, Whiteson K, Zhao L, McQuade J, Zarour H, Zitvogel L. Melanoma and microbiota: Current understanding and future directions. Cancer Cell. 2024 01 08; 42(1):16-34. PMID: 38157864.
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Wei AZ, Chen LN, Orloff M, Ariyan CE, Asgari M, Barker CA, Buchbinder E, Chandra S, Couts K, Frumovitz MM, Futreal A, Gershenwald JE, Hanna EY, Izar B, LeBlanc AK, Leitao MM, Lipson EJ, Liu D, McCarter M, McQuade JL, Najjar Y, Rapisuwon S, Selig S, Shoushtari AN, Yeh I, Schwartz GK, Guo J, Patel SP, Carvajal RD. Proceedings from the Melanoma Research Foundation Mucosal Melanoma Meeting (December 16, 2022, New York, USA). Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2023 11; 36(6):542-556. PMID: 37804122.
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Turner JA, Fredrickson MA, D'Antonio M, Katsnelson E, MacBeth M, Van Gulick R, Chimed TS, McCarter M, D'Alessandro A, Robinson WA, Couts KL, Pelanda R, Klarquist J, Tobin RP, Torres RM. Lysophosphatidic acid modulates CD8 T cell immunosurveillance and metabolism to impair anti-tumor immunity. Nat Commun. 2023 06 03; 14(1):3214. PMID: 37270644.
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Tobin RP, Cogswell DT, Cates VM, Davis DM, Borgers JSW, Van Gulick RJ, Katsnelson E, Couts KL, Jordan KR, Gao D, Davila E, Medina TM, Lewis KD, Gonzalez R, McFarland RW, Robinson WA, McCarter MD. Targeting MDSC Differentiation Using ATRA: A Phase I/II Clinical Trial Combining Pembrolizumab and All-Trans Retinoic Acid for Metastatic Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2023 04 03; 29(7):1209-1219. PMID: 36378549.
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Newell F, Johansson PA, Wilmott JS, Nones K, Lakis V, Pritchard AL, Lo SN, Rawson RV, Kazakoff SH, Colebatch AJ, Koufariotis LT, Ferguson PM, Wood S, Leonard C, Law MH, Brooks KM, Broit N, Palmer JM, Couts KL, Vergara IA, Long GV, Barbour AP, Nieweg OE, Shivalingam B, Robinson WA, Stretch JR, Spillane AJ, Saw RPM, Shannon KF, Thompson JF, Mann GJ, Pearson JV, Scolyer RA, Waddell N, Hayward NK. Comparative Genomics Provides Etiologic and Biological Insight into Melanoma Subtypes. Cancer Discov. 2022 12 02; 12(12):2856-2879. PMID: 36098958.
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Akturk HK, Couts KL, Baschal EE, Karakus KE, Van Gulick RJ, Turner JA, Pyle L, Robinson WA, Michels AW. Analysis of Human Leukocyte Antigen DR Alleles, Immune-Related Adverse Events, and Survival Associated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Use Among Patients With Advanced Malignant Melanoma. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 12 01; 5(12):e2246400. PMID: 36512357.
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Turner JA, Paton EL, Van Gulick R, Stefanoni D, Cendali F, Reisz J, Tobin RP, McCarter M, D'Alessandro A, Torres RM, Robinson WA, Couts KL, Schlaepfer IR. BRAF Modulates Lipid Use and Accumulation. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Apr 23; 14(9). PMID: 35565240.
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Vorwald VM, Davis DM, Van Gulick RJ, Torphy RJ, Borgers JS, Klarquist J, Couts KL, Amato CM, Cogswell DT, Fujita M, Castleman MJ, Davis T, Lozupone C, Medina TM, Robinson WA, Gapin L, McCarter MD, Tobin RP. Circulating CD8+ mucosal-associated invariant T cells correlate with improved treatment responses and overall survival in anti-PD-1-treated melanoma patients. Clin Transl Immunology. 2022; 11(1):e1367. PMID: 35028137.
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Mukherjee N, Dart CR, Amato CM, Honig-Frand A, Lambert JR, Lambert KA, Robinson WA, Tobin RP, McCarter MD, Couts KL, Fujita M, Norris DA, Shellman YG. Expression Differences in BCL2 Family Members between Uveal and Cutaneous Melanomas Account for Varying Sensitivity to BH3 Mimetics. J Invest Dermatol. 2022 07; 142(7):1912-1922.e7. PMID: 34942200.
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Borgers JSW, Tobin RP, Torphy RJ, Vorwald VM, Van Gulick RJ, Amato CM, Cogswell DT, Chimed TS, Couts KL, Van Bokhoven A, Raeburn CD, Lewis KD, Wisell J, McCarter MD, Mushtaq RR, Robinson WA. Melanoma Metastases to the Adrenal Gland Are Highly Resistant to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2021 Aug 04. PMID: 34348236.
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Dart CR, Mukherjee N, Amato CM, Goulding A, MacBeth M, Van Gulick R, Couts KL, Lambert JR, Norris DA, Robinson WA, Shellman YG. A Novel Regimen for Treating Melanoma: MCL1 Inhibitors and Azacitidine. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021 Jul 30; 14(8). PMID: 34451846.
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Holman BN, Van Gulick RJ, Amato CM, MacBeth ML, Davies KD, Aisner DL, Robinson WA, Couts KL. Clinical and molecular features of subungual melanomas are site-specific and distinct from acral melanomas. Melanoma Res. 2020 12; 30(6):562-573. PMID: 33156595.
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Mukherjee N, Skees J, Todd KJ, West DA, Lambert KA, Robinson WA, Amato CM, Couts KL, Van Gulick R, MacBeth M, Nassar K, Tan AC, Zhai Z, Fujita M, Bagby SM, Dart CR, Lambert JR, Norris DA, Shellman YG. MCL1 inhibitors S63845/MIK665 plus Navitoclax synergistically kill difficult-to-treat melanoma cells. Cell Death Dis. 2020 06 08; 11(6):443. PMID: 32513939.
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Borgers JSW, Tobin RP, Vorwald VM, Smith JM, Davis DM, Kimball AK, Clambey ET, Couts KL, McWilliams JA, Jordan KR, Torphy RJ, Schulick R, McCarter MD. High-Dimensional Analysis of Postsplenectomy Peripheral Immune Cell Changes. Immunohorizons. 2020 02 18; 4(2):82-92. PMID: 32071067.
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Tobin RP, Jordan KR, Kapoor P, Spongberg E, Davis D, Vorwald VM, Couts KL, Gao D, Smith DE, Borgers JSW, Robinson S, Amato C, Gonzalez R, Lewis KD, Robinson WA, Borges VF, McCarter MD. IL-6 and IL-8 Are Linked With Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Accumulation and Correlate With Poor Clinical Outcomes in Melanoma Patients. Front Oncol. 2019; 9:1223. PMID: 31781510.
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Turner JA, Bemis JGT, Bagby SM, Capasso A, Yacob BW, Chimed TS, Van Gulick R, Lee H, Tobin R, Tentler JJ, Pitts T, McCarter M, Robinson WA, Couts KL. BRAF fusions identified in melanomas have variable treatment responses and phenotypes. Oncogene. 2019 02; 38(8):1296-1308. PMID: 30254212.
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Mukherjee N, Strosnider A, Vagher B, Lambert KA, Slaven S, Robinson WA, Amato CM, Couts KL, Bemis JGT, Turner JA, Norris DA, Shellman YG. BH3 mimetics induce apoptosis independent of DRP-1 in melanoma. Cell Death Dis. 2018 09 05; 9(9):907. PMID: 30185782.
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Couts KL, McCoach CE, Murphy D, Christiansen J, Turner J, Lewis KD, Robinson WA, Doebele RC. Acral Lentiginous Melanoma Harboring a ROS1 Gene Fusion With Clinical Response to Entrectinib. JCO Precis Oncol. 2017 Nov; 1:1-7. PMID: 35172482.
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Couts KL, Bemis J, Turner JA, Bagby SM, Murphy D, Christiansen J, Hintzsche JD, Le A, Pitts TM, Wells K, Applegate A, Amato C, Multani P, Chow-Maneval E, Tentler JJ, Shellman YG, Rioth MJ, Tan AC, Gonzalez R, Medina T, Doebele RC, Robinson WA. ALK Inhibitor Response in Melanomas Expressing EML4-ALK Fusions and Alternate ALK Isoforms. Mol Cancer Ther. 2018 01; 17(1):222-231. PMID: 29054983.
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Hintzsche JD, Gorden NT, Amato CM, Kim J, Wuensch KE, Robinson SE, Applegate AJ, Couts KL, Medina TM, Wells KR, Wisell JA, McCarter MD, Box NF, Shellman YG, Gonzalez RC, Lewis KD, Tentler JJ, Tan AC, Robinson WA. Whole-exome sequencing identifies recurrent SF3B1 R625 mutation and comutation of NF1 and KIT in mucosal melanoma. Melanoma Res. 2017 06; 27(3):189-199. PMID: 28296713.
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Turner J, Couts K, Sheren J, Saichaemchan S, Ariyawutyakorn W, Avolio I, Cabral E, Glogowska M, Amato C, Robinson S, Hintzsche J, Applegate A, Seelenfreund E, Gonzalez R, Wells K, Bagby S, Tentler J, Tan AC, Wisell J, Varella-Garcia M, Robinson W. Kinase gene fusions in defined subsets of melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2017 01; 30(1):53-62. PMID: 27864876.
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Nguyen N, Couts KL, Luo Y, Fujita M. Understanding melanoma stem cells. Melanoma Manag. 2015; 2(2):179-188. PMID: 26594315.
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Lee T, Wang N, Houel S, Couts K, Old W, Ahn N. Dosage and temporal thresholds in microRNA proteomics. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2015 Feb; 14(2):289-302. PMID: 25467838.
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Couts KL, Anderson EM, Gross MM, Sullivan K, Ahn NG. Oncogenic B-Raf signaling in melanoma cells controls a network of microRNAs with combinatorial functions. Oncogene. 2013 Apr 11; 32(15):1959-70. PMID: 22751131.
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Argast GM, Croy CH, Couts KL, Zhang Z, Litman E, Chan DC, Ahn NG. Plexin B1 is repressed by oncogenic B-Raf signaling and functions as a tumor suppressor in melanoma cells. Oncogene. 2009 Jul 30; 28(30):2697-709. PMID: 19483722.
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Old WM, Shabb JB, Houel S, Wang H, Couts KL, Yen CY, Litman ES, Croy CH, Meyer-Arendt K, Miranda JG, Brown RA, Witze ES, Schweppe RE, Resing KA, Ahn NG. Functional proteomics identifies targets of phosphorylation by B-Raf signaling in melanoma. Mol Cell. 2009 Apr 10; 34(1):115-31. PMID: 19362540.
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Roberts EC, Hammond K, Traish AM, Resing KA, Ahn NG. Identification of G2/M targets for the MAP kinase pathway by functional proteomics. Proteomics. 2006 Aug; 6(16):4541-53. PMID: 16858730.
This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.
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| Year | Publications |
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| 2006 | 1 | | 2009 | 2 | | 2012 | 1 | | 2014 | 1 | | 2015 | 1 | | 2017 | 4 | | 2018 | 2 | | 2019 | 1 | | 2020 | 3 | | 2021 | 3 | | 2022 | 4 | | 2023 | 4 | | 2024 | 7 | | 2025 | 1 |
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