The Virginia Harris Cockrell Cancer Research Center at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis:

Carcinogenesis refers to the multistep process of normal cells becoming cancer cells. Research in this area involves defining the molecular mechanisms that drive cell proliferation, differentiation, survival and genome maintenance as well as identifying new cancer targets and strategies for prevention and treatment. This research depends heavily on the development of genetically engineered animal models.

Genome Integrity - DNA Replication, Recombination and Repair:

Cellular DNA is constantly attacked by both internal and external insults. Some internal forces are important for normal cellular processes that lead to genetic diversity, whereas others are abnormal such as damage resulting from UV, radiation and chemical damage. Regardless of source, DNA damage must be properly repaired; misrepair of the damage could lead to cancer causing mutations. Therefore, understanding how cells respond to and repair DNA damage is essential for understanding the causes of cancer and developing new treatments. Research in this area focuses on the mechanisms of cellular responses to DNA damage and repair as well as its disruption during cancer development.

Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics:

Epigenetic changes are heritable phenotypic changes that are not due to changes in DNA sequence, but by changes in chromatin structure. Epigenetic alterations are fundamental to normal development and are frequently dysregulated in cancer. Research in the area includes understanding how histone modifications, DNA methylation and other epigenetic changes influence cellular processes in order develop  drug therapies targeting chromatin.

Cancer Stem Cells and Programmed Cell Death:

Defining basic biological mechanisms that operate during cancer and during normal development is fundamental to relating these processes to oncogenesis. Understanding cell survival within the context of cancer also requires an understanding cell death, for example death through apoptosis and how cancer cells that have accumulated significant DNA damage survive. Ongoing studies in this area aim to define not only the role of regulated cell death, but also the roles of epigenetic regulators, RNA processing, stem cells, and signaling cascades in normal development and in the establishment and progression of cancer.