Cancer Biology Program

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CANCER BIOLOGY PROGRAM: ABSTRACT The overall goal of the Cancer Biology (CB) program at the Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC) is to foster research in basic mechanisms that define normal and neoplastic cell growth to gain new insights into cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. CB is a new program in this CCSG application, representing an evolution of the previous Preclinical Translational Cancer Research (PTCR) program driven by a strategic reorganization of programmatic research at the SCC. Research is organized around three integrated aims that focus on 1) cancer cell signaling pathways, 2) tumor microenvironment and 3) mechanisms of chemoresistance. Specific attention is placed on conducting basic mechanisms research related to Community Outreach and Engagement (COE)-identified priority cancers that affect Oklahoma (the SCC catchment area). Program members bring a diverse range of transdisciplinary expertise in basic cancer mechanisms, including: the functions of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes; regulators of cell cycle and apoptosis; regulators of angiogenesis and metastasis; and aberrant signaling that leads to chemoresistance. The CB program seeks to channel these transdisciplinary interests in a collaborative, team-based approach. Focused interactions for members have helped foster collaboration and advance CB research. During the reporting period, the CB program conducted 135 interactive activities, including meetings, seminars, and training events. The CB program is led by Min Li, PhD and Resham Bhattacharya, PhD, who have complementary expertise in investigating basic mechanisms of cancer (Li) and translating discoveries into clinical trials (Bhattacharya). In 2021, the CB program had 39 total members (23 full, 16 associate), representing 11 different academic departments. Total peer-reviewed research funding was $6.38M, of which $2.15M was from NCI (annual, direct cost). More than a third (34%) of total peer-reviewed funding was from NCI, highlighting the cancer focus of this basic science-oriented program. Total research funding was $7.29M, with 58 active cancer-focused projects. CB members published 439 articles in peer-reviewed journals over the past five years. Of these, 24% were intra-programmatic and an exceptional 41% were inter-programmatic, underscoring the high degree of collaboration, both within the program and with members in the SCC’s Cancer Therapeutics (CT) and Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) programs. Multi-institutional publications (n=297) account for 68% of the total. The number and percentage of high-impact publications increased over the period, from 12 (14%) in 2017 to 24 (24%) in 2021, averaging 18% for the period. This significant increase in high-impact publications highlights the quality of science being conducted by CB members.