Impact of Anticancer Therapeutic and Chemopreventive Agents on Signal Transduction Pathways: Translational component of the HAST program

Research Team:  Band, Bentram, Bulun, Kim, Lupu, Pelling, Platanias, Rodriguez, Rosen, Woodruff

Targeted anticancer therapy is designed to interrupt abnormal signaling in cancer cells. It is now clear that additional biochemical pathways are impacted by these agents and often these can play critical roles in the sensitivity or resistance of cancer cells to targeted therapies. Recent success with hormonal and chemoprevention strategies against cancer has also highlighted the need to investigate the signaling mechanisms by which prevention strategies work so that safer agents can be found and potential side effects associated with chemoprevention can be avoided. Finally, elucidation of mechanisms by which anticancer agents impact germ cells has emerged as a key issue for younger women and children with cancer to preserve their fertility. Members of the HAST program are actively pursuing these themes. Mechanism of action of hormonal or chemical preventive agents (Bentram, Bulun, Kim, Lupu, Pelling, Rodriguez, Rosen), molecular basis of the activity of targeted therapeutic agents against cancer cells (Band, Bulun, Lupu, Platanias, Rosen, Woodruff) and strategies to preserve fertility based on an understanding of signal transduction pathways in ovarian development coupled with an understanding of anticancer agent impact on signaling pathways (Rodriguez, Mayo, Woodruff) are being pursued by the group. In addition, members of the program (Band, Pelling, Platanias, Rodriguez, Rosen, Woodruff) are involved in collaborative efforts with other programs of the Cancer Center to translate the conceptual knowledge in signal transduction into novel therapeutics and detection strategies using Nanotechnology solutions through the CCNE initiative of the NCI recently awarded to the Cancer Center. These new initiatives have been critically facilitated by the strong interactions provided by the HAST program.

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