James Connor, MS, PhD - Penn State Cancer Institute
Researcher Profile
James Connor, MS, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience and Anatomy and Vice Chair for Research, Department of Neurosurgery
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Penn State Neuroscience Institute
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Penn State Neuroscience Institute
Scientific Program:Experimental Therapeutics
Recent Publications
2026
Palsa, K, Sahu, AP, Rye, DB, Trotti, LM, Elcheva, IA, Spiegelman, VS & Connor, JR 2026, 'Cerebrospinal Fluid from Restless Legs Syndrome Patients Reduces Iron Uptake in Blood–Brain Barrier Endothelial Cells by Disrupting the Regulation of Transferrin Receptors', Annals of Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.78221
Palsa, K, Helmuth, TB, Sahu, AP, Zhao, Y, Serpa, RO, Neely, EB, Elcheva, IA, Spiegelman, VS & Connor, JR 2026, 'Extracellular vesicles released from blood-brain barrier endothelial cells mediate brain iron accumulation during LPS-induced brain inflammation', Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 302, no. 5, 111399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2026.111399
Tufano, E & Connor, JR 2026, 'Ferritin in motion: How systemic iron balance and tumor trafficking shape glioblastoma', Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Reviews on Cancer, vol. 1881, no. 3, 189573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbcan.2026.189573
Wang, SZ, Timken, JP, Hong, ES, Kaur, S, Newby, E, Kay, KE, Mulkearns-Hubert, EE, Silver, DJ, Lee, J, Rubin, JB, Connor, JR, Deleyrolle, LP, Tiek, D, Dhawan, A & Lathia, JD 2026, 'Lipocalin 2 orchestrates resistance to ferroptosis via AXL', Cell Reports, vol. 45, no. 3, 116965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2026.116965
Goletiani, C, McEchron, MD, Neely, E & Connor, JR 2026, 'Loss of Thy1 in Cortico-Striatal Pathways Alters Response to Dopamine and Gabapentin', ASN Neuro, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 2615452. https://doi.org/10.1080/17590914.2026.2615452
Helmuth, TB, Palsa, K, Sahu, AP, Neely, EB, Kumari, R, Slagle-Webb, B, Simon, S & Connor, JR 2026, 'Neuroprotection From Intracerebral Hemorrhage Following Pharmacological Inhibition of GSK3β Depends on HFE Gene Status', Journal of neurochemistry, vol. 170, no. 3, e70393. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.70393
Serpa, RO, Tufano, E, Palsa, K, Helmuth, TB, Mills-Huffnagle, S, Kant, M & Connor, JR 2026, 'Sex and Diet Biased Effect of L-DOPA on Iron Accumulation in the Ventral Midbrain', Journal of neurochemistry, vol. 170, no. 3, e70389. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.70389
Tufano, E, Palsa, K, Serpa, RO, Helmuth, TB, Remit-Berthet, G, Mills-Huffnagle, S, Kant, M, Sahu, A & Connor, JR 2026, 'Systemic iron availability differentially shapes tumor and brain iron handling in a sex-dependent manner in glioblastoma', PloS one, vol. 21, no. 4 April, e0347520. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0347520
Sahu, AP, Palsa, K, Shenoy, G, Slagle-Webb, B & Connor, JR 2026, 'Tumor-associated macrophages promote ferroptosis resistance in glioblastoma by stimulating iron-loaded extracellular vesicle release', Journal of neuro-oncology, vol. 177, no. 2, 99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-026-05556-w
2025
Nolt, M, Neely, E, Kheirabadi, S, Jaberi, A, Sheikhi, A & Connor, J 2025, 'A Common Mutation in the Homeostatic Iron Regulatory Gene Alters Astrocyte Migration and Redox Profile', FASEB BioAdvances, vol. 7, no. 8, e70042. https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2025-00188
Shenoy, G, Sahu, A, Kuhn, M, Khristov, V, Heebner, M, Wilding, H, Clegg, T, Bhanja, D, Wade, Q, Liermann, LJ, Wang, D, Smith, N, Remite-Berthet, G, Khunsriraksakul, C, Palsa, K, Slagle-Webb, B, Mansouri, SA, Zacharia, BE, Proctor, EA & Connor, J 2025, 'Analysis of transition metal content in glioblastoma reveals association between iron and survival', Translational Oncology, vol. 55, 102376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranon.2025.102376
Coe, CL, Lubach, GR, Amaral, WZ, Phillips, GJ, Lyte, M, Georgieff, MK, Rao, RB & Connor, JR 2025, 'Infantile Anemia and Iron Treatments Affect the Gut Microbiome of Young Rhesus Monkeys', Microorganisms, vol. 13, no. 10, 2256. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102256
the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 2025, 'Linking genetics to MRI-DTI: HFE polymorphism delays Alzheimer's disease white matter degeneration in APOE4 carriers', Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 107, no. 3, pp. 1114-1128. https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877251363211
Wade, QW & Connor, JR 2025, 'What Does Iron Mean to an Oligodendrocyte?', Glia, vol. 73, no. 9, pp. 1784-1804. https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.70043
2024
Marshall Moscon, S, Neely, E, Proctor, EA & Connor, J 2024, 'A common variant in the iron regulatory gene (Hfe) alters the metabolic and transcriptional landscape in brain regions vulnerable to neurodegeneration', Journal of neurochemistry, vol. 168, no. 9, pp. 3132-3153. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.16171
Shenoy, G, Slagle-Webb, B, Khunsriraksakul, C, Pandya Shesh, B, Luo, J, Khristov, V, Smith, N, Mansouri, A, Zacharia, BE, Holder, S, Lathia, JD, Barnholtz-Sloan, JS & Connor, JR 2024, 'Analysis of anemia and iron supplementation among glioblastoma patients reveals sex-biased association between anemia and survival', Scientific reports, vol. 14, no. 1, 2389. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52492-8
Palsa, K, Neely, EB, Baringer, SL, Helmuth, TB, Simpson, IA & Connor, JR 2024, 'Brain iron acquisition depends on age and sex in iron-deficient mice', FASEB Journal, vol. 38, no. 1, e23331. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202301596RR
Shehaj, A, Khristov, V, Mareboina, M, Tufano, E, Abdeen, A, Rizk, E & Connor, J 2024, 'Genetic Biomarkers in Astrocytoma: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential', World Neurosurgery, vol. 189, pp. 339-350.e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2024.06.009
Marshall Moscon, SL & Connor, JR 2024, 'HFE Mutations in Neurodegenerative Disease as a Model of Hormesis', International journal of molecular sciences, vol. 25, no. 6, 3334. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063334
Troike, KM, Wang, SZ, Silver, DJ, Lee, J, Mulkearns-Hubert, EE, Hajdari, N, Ghosh, PK, Kay, KE, Beilis, JL, Mitchell, SE, Bishop, CW, Hong, ES, Artomov, M, Hubert, CG, Rajappa, P, Connor, JR, Fox, PL, Kristensen, BW & Lathia, JD 2024, 'Homeostatic iron regulatory protein drives glioblastoma growth via tumor cell-intrinsic and sex-specific responses', Neuro-Oncology Advances, vol. 6, no. 1, vdad154. https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdad154
Nolt, M & Connor, J 2024, 'Implications of Iron in Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis as Potential Players in TBI Morbidity and Mortality', ASN Neuro, vol. 16, no. 1, 2394352. https://doi.org/10.1080/17590914.2024.2394352
McWilliams, S, Hill, O, Ipsiroglu, OS, Clemens, S, Weber, AM, Chen, M, Connor, J, Felt, BT, Manconi, M, Mattman, A, Silvestri, R, Simakajornboon, N, Smith, SM & Stockler, S 2024, 'Iron Deficiency and Sleep/Wake Behaviors: A Scoping Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines—How to Overcome the Current Conundrum?', Nutrients, vol. 16, no. 15, 2559. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16152559
Levi, UI, Bintu, MM, Daniella, OC, Oyenike, OAF, Agbonu, AO, Adedamola, AM, Ndidi, E, Saka, SF, Gela, BV, Mbagwu, SI, Edem, EE, Olukayode, OJ & James, C 2024, 'Neurobehavioral deficits, histoarchitectural alterations, parvalbumin neuronal damage and glial activation in the brain of male Wistar rat exposed to Landfill leachate', Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, vol. 136, 102377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchemneu.2023.102377
Ebea-Ugwuanyi, PO, Vidyasagar, S, Connor, JR, Frazer, DM, Knutson, MD & Collins, JF 2024, 'Oral iron therapy: Current concepts and future prospects for improving efficacy and outcomes', British Journal of Haematology, vol. 204, no. 3, pp. 759-773. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.19268
2023
Shenoy, G & Connor, JR 2023, 'A closer look at the role of iron in glioblastoma', Neuro-oncology, vol. 25, no. 12, pp. 2136-2149. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noad136
Shesh, B & Connor, JR 2023, 'A novel view of ferritin in cancer', Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Reviews on Cancer, vol. 1878, no. 4, 188917. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188917
Baringer, SL, Lukacher, AS, Palsa, K, Kim, H, Lippmann, ES, Spiegelman, VS, Simpson, IA & Connor, JR 2023, 'Amyloid-β exposed astrocytes induce iron transport from endothelial cells at the blood–brain barrier by altering the ratio of apo- and holo-transferrin', Journal of neurochemistry, vol. 167, no. 2, pp. 248-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15954
Baringer, SL, Palsa, K, Spiegelman, VS, Simpson, IA & Connor, JR 2023, 'Apo- and holo-transferrin differentially interact with hephaestin and ferroportin in a novel mechanism of cellular iron release regulation', Journal of Biomedical Science, vol. 30, no. 1, 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-023-00934-2
Baringer, SL, Simpson, IA & Connor, JR 2023, 'Brain iron acquisition: An overview of homeostatic regulation and disease dysregulation', Journal of neurochemistry, vol. 165, no. 5, pp. 625-642. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.15819
Helmuth, TB, Kumari, R, Palsa, K, Neely, EB, Slagle-Webb, B, Simon, SD & Connor, JR 2023, 'Common Mutation in the HFE Gene Modifies Recovery After Intracerebral Hemorrhage', Stroke, vol. 54, no. 11, pp. 2886-2894. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.043799
Palsa, K, Baringer, SL, Shenoy, G, Spiegelman, VS, Simpson, IA & Connor, JR 2023, 'Exosomes are involved in iron transport from human blood–brain barrier endothelial cells and are modified by endothelial cell iron status', Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 299, no. 2, 102868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102868
Palsa, K, Connor, JR, Flanagan, J & Hines, EA 2023, 'H-ferritin in sows' colostrum- and milk-derived extracellular vesicles: a novel iron delivery concept', Journal of animal science, vol. 101, skad013. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad013
Shenoy, G, Kheirabadi, S, Ataie, Z, Sahu, AP, Palsa, K, Wade, Q, Khunsriraksakul, C, Khristov, V, Slagle-Webb, B, Lathia, JD, Wang, HG, Sheikhi, A & Connor, JR 2023, 'Iron inhibits glioblastoma cell migration and polarization', FASEB Journal, vol. 37, no. 12, e23307. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202202157RR
Bhanja, D, Wilding, H, Baroz, A, Trifoi, M, Shenoy, G, Slagle-Webb, B, Hayes, D, Soudagar, Y, Connor, J & Mansouri, A 2023, 'Photodynamic Therapy for Glioblastoma: Illuminating the Path toward Clinical Applicability', Cancers, vol. 15, no. 13, 3427. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15133427
Pandya Shesh, B, Walter, V, Palsa, K, Slagle-Webb, B, Neely, E, Schell, T & Connor, JR 2023, 'Sexually dimorphic effect of H-ferritin genetic manipulation on survival and tumor microenvironment in a mouse model of glioblastoma', Journal of neuro-oncology, vol. 164, no. 3, pp. 569-586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-023-04415-2
Pandya Shesh, B, Slagle-Webb, B, Shenoy, G, Khristov, V, Zacharia, BE & Connor, JR 2023, 'Uptake of H-ferritin by Glioblastoma stem cells and its impact on their invasion capacity', Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, vol. 149, no. 12, pp. 9691-9703. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-023-04864-2
2022
Du, G, Wang, E, Sica, C, Chen, H, De Jesus, S, Lewis, MM, Kong, L, Connor, J, Mailman, RB & Huang, X 2022, 'Dynamics of Nigral Iron Accumulation in Parkinson's Disease: From Diagnosis to Late Stage', Movement Disorders, vol. 37, no. 8, pp. 1654-1662. https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.29062
Wang, GM, Cioffi, G, Patil, N, Waite, KA, Lanese, R, Ostrom, QT, Kruchko, C, Berens, ME, Connor, JR, Lathia, JD, Rubin, JB & Barnholtz-Sloan, JS 2022, 'Importance of the intersection of age and sex to understand variation in incidence and survival for primary malignant gliomas', Neuro-oncology, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 302-310. https://doi.org/10.1093/neuonc/noab199
Bhanja, D, Neighbors, J, Connor, J, Zadeh, G & Mansouri, A 2022, 'Neuropharmacological Study of Posaconazole for Glioblastoma: A Phase 0 Clinical Trial Protocol', Neurosurgery, vol. 91, no. 4, pp. 658-665. https://doi.org/10.1227/neu.0000000000002071
Khristov, V, Nesterova, D, Trifoi, M, Clegg, T, Daya, A, Barrett, T, Tufano, E, Shenoy, G, Pandya, B, Beselia, G, Smith, N, Mrowczynski, O, Zacharia, B, Waite, K, Lathia, J, Barnholtz-Sloan, J & Connor, J 2022, 'Plasma IL13Rα2 as a novel liquid biopsy biomarker for glioblastoma', Journal of neuro-oncology, vol. 160, no. 3, pp. 743-752. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-022-04196-0
Baringer, SL, Neely, EB, Palsa, K, Simpson, IA & Connor, JR 2022, 'Regulation of brain iron uptake by apo- and holo-transferrin is dependent on sex and delivery protein', Fluids and Barriers of the CNS, vol. 19, no. 1, 49. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-022-00345-9
Khristov, V, Lin, A, Freedman, Z, Staub, J, Shenoy, G, Mrowczynski, O, Rizk, E, Zacharia, B & Connor, J 2023, 'Tumor-Derived Biomarkers in Liquid Biopsy of Glioblastoma', World Neurosurgery, vol. 170, pp. 182-194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2022.11.012