The Tumor Biology and Metastasis Branch (TBMB) supports a broad program of investigator-initiated research that seeks to understand the interactions of cancer cells with the host microenvironment in order to delineate the molecular mechanisms of tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion, progression and metastasis. This includes examination of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and the role played by cell adhesion molecules, cytoskeleton and the nuclear matrix, matrix-degrading enzymes, the pathology and biology of solid tumors and tumor-bearing animals, and developing the technology to facilitate these studies. Models utilized in these studies may include animals, tumor tissues/cells, their components or their products. The Branch also focuses on the role of steroid hormones and their receptors during tumor growth and progression.
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| PAS-06-466 | -The Role of Nuclear Receptors in Tissue and Organismal Aging (R21) |
| PA-04-071 | -Pathogenesis And Treatment Of Lympheda And Lympathic Diseases |
| PA-07-201 | -Characterization, Behavior & Plasticity of Pluripotent Stem Cells |
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| Name | Title |
| Mohla, Suresh, Ph.D. | Chief |
| Ault, Grace, Ph.D. | Program Director |
| Jhappan, Chamelli, Ph.D. | Program Director |
| Sathyamoorthy, Neeraja, Ph.D. | Program Director |
| Snyderwine, Elizabeth, Ph.D. | Program Director |
| Woodhouse, Elizabeth, Ph.D. | Program Director |
| Anderson, Retha | Extramural Support Asst. |
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| Cytoskeletal and Structural Nuclear Proteins |
The program area directed by Dr. Suresh Mohla supports research on cytoskeletal and structural nuclear proteins, cell adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix integrin interactions, epithelial-stromal interactions during tissue development, morphogenesis, tumor growth, matrix degradation, invasion and metastasis; the role of proteases in tumor growth and progression, tissue specific homing of tumor cells to distant organs; and the development of appropriate animal and cellular models of metastases.
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| Biology of Angiogenesis, Inducers and Inhibitors of Angiogenesis |
The program area supports research on the biology of angiogenesis, inducers and inhibitors of angiogenesis including growth factors.
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| Molecular Biology |
The molecular biology program area directed by Dr. Grace Ault supports research on the role of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in the metastatic cascade, growth factor-mediated signal transduction during matrix remodeling, tumor progression and metastasis, tumor cell motility, protease biology, and studies on gap junctional structures. Dr. Ault also manages the small business grants (SBIR/STTR) relevant to Tumor Biology and Metastasis.
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| Endocrinology and Glycobiology |
The program area directed by Dr. Neeraja Sathyamoorthy supports research in endocrinology and glycobiology. The endocrinology component includes studies on growth regulation by steroid hormones with special emphasis on gene expression and regulation, role of coactivators and corepressors, functional consequences of aberrant steroid receptors, steroid receptor-antagonist interactions, and mechanism of hormone independence. Studies on glycobiology focus on the role of proteoglycans in metastasis; tumor glycoproteins and functional consequences of aberrant glycosylation on cell adhesion, tumor progression and metastasis.
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| Conference Grants |
The program area directed by Ms. Christine Siemon includes conference grants relevant to Tumor Biology and Metastasis.
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