Newswise — The Center for Translational Cancer Research at the University of Delaware involves individuals from the University of Delaware, including the Delaware Biotechnology Institute; A. I. duPont Hospital for Children/Nemours; and Christiana Care Health System/Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, who share a common vision to improve cancer research and delivery. Translational cancer research defines a means of transferring basic discoveries in the laboratory into new clinical interventions for the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, or prevention of cancer with a direct benefit to the patient.
The following researchers are affiliated with the center.
Daniel D. Carson, Ph.D.Role of extracellular matrix proteins and mucins in cancer growth, metastasis and disease progression with a focus on cancers of the female reproductive system including uterine and breast cancer.
Junghuei Chen, Ph.D.Genetic instability and cancer. Chromosome remodeling activity of human genes Rad54 (hRad54) and Rad51 (hRad51) in cancer biology, interactions of tumor suppressor, p53, with both human Rad51 and human Rad54 that have been postulated to modulate homologous recombination in response to DNA damage.
Carlton R. Cooper, Ph.D.The role of cell adhesion in prostate cancer preferential metastasis to bone. Angiogeneis (new blood vessel formation) in tumor biology. New anti-cancer drugs that target migration of blood vessels into tumors.
George R. Dodge, Ph.D.Role of extracellular matrix and their proteases in cancer, cell migration and apoptosis.
Randall L. Duncan, Ph.D.We are examining the role of ion channels in aberrant proliferation and apoptosis, as well as tumorigenic and metastatic potential, in prostate cancer. Voltage sensitive sodium, calcium and potassium channels have all been linked to increased tumorigenesis and metastatsis in prostate cancer. We postulate that these channels are synchronized to alter signaling mechanisms within the prostate cancer cell.
Mary C. Farach-Carson, Ph.D.Bone metastasis of prostate cancer, bone cancers (osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma) role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans and extracellular matrix in growth factor responses of cancer cells, 3-D cell culture models for testing anti-tumor agents, calcium channels in cancer-related bone pain.
Deni Galileo, Ph.D.Brain cancer, particularly highly invasive gliomas that arise within the brain and metastatic cancers that arise elsewhere, such as breast cancer metastases, and move to the brain. Methods to grow human brain cancer cells in developing chicken eggs, where they can be visualized and used for testing novel anti-cancer drugs. Use of quantitative time-lapse microscopy and cell motility analysis system to look at how cancer cells move in real time.
Pamela J. Green, Ph.D.RNA biology in cancer cells including mRNA stability, the function of ribonucleases and noncoding RNAs. Collaborative study of vertebrate small RNAs, such as microRNAs, that function to turn off specific genes, is relevant to the understanding and future treatment of cancer.
George Hadjipanayis, Ph.D., and Michael Bonder, Ph.D.Within the Magnetics Lab in the Department of Physics and Astronomy we are developing magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery and the detection and treatment of cancer. Investigations as a function of particle size and saturation magnetization are being carried out on polymer-coated nanoparticles to understand the role these play in establishing effective MRI contrast agents and the ability to locally heat cancer cells for hyperthermia treatments. Drug delivery studies focus on the functionalization of the nanoparticles with bio-molecules and their manipulation with magnetic field gradients.
Stan Ivey, Ph.D. (Delaware State University Affiliate Member)The effect glycosylation has on human P-glycoprotein; possible role ofsialic acids. Using lasers to detect blood biomarkers for the earlydetection of ovarian cancer.
Xinqiao Jia, Ph.D.Tissue engineering replacement tissues for head and neck cancers and tissues damaged by radiation therapy including salivary gland and vocal cord.
Kristi L. Kiick, Ph.D.Design of noncovalently assembled, heparinized hydrogels. Controlled delivery of growth factors, macromolecules, and drugs for cancer chemotherapy, wound treatment, and tissue regeneration.
Paula Klemm, DNSc, RN, OCNInternet support for cancer patients and caregivers. Psychosocial adjustment to illness.
Eric Kmiec, Ph.D.Use of small DNA molecules to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (cell death) in targeted cancer cells. We have discovered unique interspersed sequences existing as single strands of DNA that activate checkpoint proteins and ultimately lead to the inhibition of cell division.
John T. Koh, Ph.D.Molecular design and synthesis of bioactive compounds targeting nuclear receptors. Chemical rescue of nuclear receptor mutations associated with anti-androgen withdrawal syndrome (prostate cancer), resistance to thyroid hormone and rickets. Chemical tools for the study of hormone signaling by estrogen and thyroid hormone.
Leslie J. Krueger, Ph.D., FACMGGlobal genetic response to therapeutic exposure in cellular models of childhood lymphoma. The focus is on non-toxic, biologically active agents that are related to the evolutionary conserved "energy" short circuit paths. Using gene expression, microRNAs and proteomics whole genome platforms, we examine the complex interaction of the cellular environment, Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis agent) and the targeted white blood cell in models of lymphoma remission and relapse. A second area examines the "mammalian target of rapamycin" (mTOR) pathway in breast cancer, including the upstream and downstream major genes which alter tumor outcome such as the pTEN tumor suppressor gene. Finally, in chimeric human breast cancer xenografts transplanted into athymic mice, we study the effects of systemic and local therapy on tumor growth and neovascularization.
Rob Mason, Ph.D.Sensitivity of childhood cancer to protease inhibitors, in particular cancers of the nervous system. Development of specific protease inhibitors and silencing RNA that target proteases as cancer therapies. Development and testing of tumor-specific drugs. Use of state of the art proteomic technologies to identify new mechanisms to selectively kill cancer cells. Biomarkers to aid diagnosis of pediatric disease progression.
Mary Ann McLane, Ph.D.Molecular mechanisms involved in cancer metastasis. Melanoma. Use of disintegrins obtained from snake venom to prevent metastasis of malignant melanoma to lung tissue.
Ulhas P. Naik, Ph.D.Tumor angiogenesis and tumor metastasis using cell and in vivo models, focusing on breast and prostate cancer.
Babatunde Ogunnaike, Ph.D.Development of multi-scale computational model of cancer that will be effective for analysis, explanation, prediction, prognosis, and rational drug design. To use process and control systems engineering perspective to design an effective control system to personalize cancer treatment using individual clinical data.
Balaji Panchapakesan, Ph.D.The Delaware Nanotech laboratory focusses on the developement of nanotech related tools for detection and treatment of cancer. Nanotube based devices that can detect surface receptors in cancer cells and nanobombs that can kill cancer cells are the primary focus of Delaware Nanotech laboratory in their quest for early detection and treatment of cancer.
Darrin Pochan, Ph.D.Design and characterization of noncovalent peptide or polypeptide hydrogels for use in surgical repair, wound treatment, or tissue replacement after surgical resection of cancer. Polymer nanoparticles for cancer therapy delivery.
John F. Rabolt, Ph.D.Three dimensional models for cancer cell growth and pharmacological testing including electrospunpolymer nanofibers, tissue engineering scaffolds, polymer surfaces and interfaces, nanostructures.
Ayyappan K. Rajasekaran, Ph.D.Our laboratory studies the role of Na,K-ATPase in epithelial cell development and cancer. We are particularly interested in the biogenesis of tight junctions and desmosomes as well as the role of the Na,K-ATPase in cell signaling, epithelial morphogenesis and cancer. Additional projects focus on the biology of prostate specific membrane antigen with an emphasis on its intracellular trafficking and function.
Sigrid Rajasekaran, Ph.D.We are interested in the link between obesity and cancer, an area of particular importance in the epidemic of childhood and adult obesity. Emphasis is on the regulation of metabolic pathways by intracellular ions in obesity and cancer. A second area of interest involves studies of intracellular ion homeostasis and their dependence on regulation of signaling pathways. Translational projects will evaluate the therapeutic and diagnostic potential of measurement of intracellular sodium levels in cancer cells.
Joel Schneider, Ph.D.Design of functional peptides and proteins with antimicrobial activity for use in surgical repair and wound treatment. Hydrogels for tissue replacement after surgical resection of cancer.
Robert A. Sikes, Ph.D.Human prostate cancer progression, metastatic cell interaction with bone and therapeutic intervention.
Daniel Simmons, Ph.D.Malignant transformation by papillomaviruses. screened a number of drugs obtained from Bill Gmeiner for their ability to inhibit SV40 DNA replication and Y fork movement.
Kenneth van Golen, Ph.D.Determining the role of the Rho GTPases in the control of tumor cell progression and metastasis. We are particularly interested in the role the Rho proteins in prostate cancer bone metastasis; focusing on their differential activation in the microcirculation, transdendothelial cell migration and invasion into the bone. Our other interest is in understanding the role of RhoC GTPase in the progression of pancreatic cancer with a focus on expression in pre-invasive PanIN lesions to metastatic diseases. Finally, we are interested in exploiting the unique Rho GTPase profile of inflammatory breast cancer (an extremely aggressive form of locally advanced breast cancer) to develop novel therapies.
Dionisios G Vlachos, Ph.D.Multiscale modeling to understand cellular signaling pathways, and specifically dysregulations leading to cancer. To understand how the spatial and temporal aspects of the cellular signaling processes influence the stimulus-response relationship, focusing on epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) that belongs to the family of receptor tyrosine kinases, also known as ErbB receptors. These receptors trigger a rich network of signaling pathways and regulate cell functions, such as proliferation, differentiation and migration, and play a key role in the genesis of several tumors.
Zhihao Zhuang, Ph.D.Understand how cells cope with DNA lesion and avoid cancerous cell transformation. Investigate the in-depth molecular mechanism of translesion DNA synthesis (TLS), particularly its regulation by monoubiquitination and deubiquitination enzymes. Study protein machineries with essential roles in DNA damage response and cell-cycle checkpoint control. One example is the clamp loader and the related clamp loader-like complexes, which remodel protein targets at the cost of ATP hydrolysis. Understand the molecular mechanism of DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair pathway and its relation to the disease Fanconi anemia.
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