Cancer is a complex disease which is often characterized by deregulated intracellular signal transduction. Currently, my laboratory engages in characterizing the role of inflammatory signalling pathways in carcinogenesis. Epidemiological, clinical and experimental data suggest that a number of human malignancies can be attributed to toxic agents and irritants or to persistent infections of viral or bacterial etiology which cause chronic inflammatory imbalance in the affected tissue. We utilize chemical-induced carcinogenesis protocols in animal models to dissect the role of the various cell types present in the tumor and analyze the signals exchanged between these cells with emphasis on the TPL2 kinase. The practical benefits of this research will assist in the improved design of novel anti-cancer therapeutics and diagnostic tools to address prevention, early detection and improved management of human cancer. Of particular interest are studies in colitis-associated colon cancer which allowed us to identify pathways related to lipid metabolism mediating resistance to the disease. We will further explore the intracellular and extracellular roles of key proteins that regulate these pathways, such as apolipoproteins, in disease pathogenesis using mouse and Drosophila models and cell lines.

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Published on: 2006-05-15 (9001 reads)