Cell Growth and Survival

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The Cell Growth and Survival (CGS) Program is focused on the signaling pathways that regulate the growth, survival and death of normal and neoplastic cells. The goal of this research is to develop novel strategies that exploit this understanding to improve anti-cancer therapy. The CGS Program currently has 27 scientific members from 10 departments in the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Changes in membership of the CGS program since the previous review in 2000 reflect specific, targeted recruiting to improve integration of the major themes of the program. These changes are now paying dividends in terms of scientific productivity. This program has undergone substantial growth in its total funding, from $2.44M to S4.38M direct costs in annual peer-reviewed funding. In addition, the extent of scientific collaboration has increased markedly during the present funding period, centered on the major themes of the Program. CGS Program members published 242 peer-reviewed articles in 2001-2005. Of these, 20% had at least two CGS program members as coauthors, compared to 5% in the review in 2000. In 2004, Dr. Douglas Lyles, Professor and Chair of Biochemistry, was appointed as Director of the CGS Program (the previous director, Dr. Thorburn, left to assume a cancer center leadership position at University of Colorado). Dr. Lyles has been a member of the CCCWFU for 26 years. His research on virus assembly and virus-host interactions has led to new ideas for the development of novel oncolytic viruses for the treatment of cancer. He assumed the chairmanship of the Department of Biochemistry in 2004 with a strong commitment to recruit new faculty in cancer research and to continue to strengthen the substantial existing relationship between the Department of Biochemistry and the CCCWFU. Dr. Lyles' appointment has further integrated efforts in faculty development within this program. The following sections highlight selected major themes in the CGS program. Several novel contributions from the CGS Program to the national cancer effort have emerged as themes since the previous review. They are: 1) a fascinating synergy between vitamin D and dietary soy isoflavones in regulation of proliferation in prostate and breast cancer; 2) explorations of the effects of dietary lipids on cancer cell proliferation and metastasis; 3) a novel role of reactive oxygen species as signaling molecules in cell proliferation; 4) translational control and endoplasmic reticulum stress in hypoxia, 5) the genetic control of innate anti-tumor immune mechanisms; and 6) the antagonistic relationship of antiviral and proliferative signaling and the development of novel oncolytic viruses. These themes directly reflect the value-added as a result of the CCCWFU: thematic development and faculty recruiting by the Cancer Center leadership; shepherding the development of these themes by the Program Director; a high degree of collaboration within the CGS and with other Programs, major participation in the Centers of Excellence, and effective use of shared facilities.