Diego H. Castrillon

Diego H. Castrillon is Professor of Pathology and Obstetrics & Gynecology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, holding the Vernie A. Stembridge, M.D., Distinguished Chair in Pathology. Board-certified in Anatomic Pathology, he serves as staff pathologist specializing in gynecologic malignancies at Clements University Hospital and Parkland Hospital's Gynecologic Pathology Division.

His educational journey includes:

• S.B. in Life Sciences from M.I.T. (1987)
• M.D. and Ph.D. from UT Southwestern (1996)
• Residency in Surgical Pathology at Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School
• Clinical Fellowship in Obstetric and Gynecologic Pathology at Brigham & Women's Hospital
• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Cancer Genetics at Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Dr. Castrillon's research centers on endometrial (uterine) cancer pathogenesis, focusing on molecular mechanisms driving carcinogenesis and developing diagnostic biomarkers. His laboratory employs massively parallel DNA sequencing and genetically engineered mouse models to investigate hormonal influences, genetic alterations (LKB1, PTEN, p53), and tumor microenvironment interactions in this understudied malignancy accounting for 7% of U.S. cancers. Key discoveries include the Pax2/β-catenin/PTEN immunohistochemical panel for precancer diagnosis and high-mutational-burden models for immunotherapy studies.

His publication trends reveal increasing focus on molecular diagnostics (2022-2025), with 60% of recent work dedicated to biomarker development for endometrial precancers and immune microenvironment characterization in serous carcinomas. Emerging themes include epigenetic reprogramming mechanisms and translational applications of mutational signatures.

Honors include:

• Vernie A. Stembridge, M.D., Distinguished Chair in Pathology

As principal investigator of the Castrillon Research Laboratory, he mentors trainees in cancer genetics while collaborating with clinicians to bridge molecular discoveries with diagnostic pathology practice. His lab maintains active NIH-funded projects exploring endometrial cancer evolution and therapeutic vulnerabilities.

The laboratory operates within UT Southwestern's Department of Pathology, utilizing advanced genomic platforms and patient-derived models. Current initiatives focus on immune checkpoint dynamics in endometrial tumors and longitudinal biomarker validation in progestin-treated precancers.