[TPM Roster]

The Tumor Progression and Metastasis [TPM] Study Section reviews grant applications that deal with basic mechanisms of cancer progression and metastasis.  Special emphasis is placed on angiogenesis, hypoxia, invasion, migration/motility and tumor cell extravasation, intravasation, survival, adhesion and growth.  Studies focusing on proteases, wound healing and extracellular matrix remodeling, cell adhesion molecules/integrins will also be assigned to this study section.  These include in vitro and animal studies of malignancies. 

Specific areas covered by TPM:

• Mechanisms and contributions of angiogenesis and lymphoid components in both pre-malignant and malignant stages of tumor progression (including the roles of hypoxia, angiogenic factors and their receptors).
  
  
• Studies of tumor cell invasion, migration, and motility (including tumor cell intravasation and extravasation).
  
  
• Studies on the basic biology of metastasis (including adhesion, growth, and modification of the extracellular matrix environment).
  
  
• Studies of the role of proteases and remodeling of extracellular matrix as it relates to tumor progression and metastasis.
  
  
• Studies of the mechanisms and roles of wound healing as they relate to tumor progression.
  
  
• The contribution of cell membrane specializations (e.g., caveolae and lipid rafts).
  
  
• The role of carbohydrate modifications as they relate to invasion/progression.
  
  
• Studies of the role of steroid hormones and the mechanisms of hormone independence in tumor progression. 
  
  
• Developmental processes related to tumor progression, such as stem cell targets for organ-specific cancers. 

TPM has the following shared interests within the ONC IRG:

• With Cancer Etiology [CE] regarding signal transduction, protein degradation, cell cycle checkpoint, apoptosis, etc.:  Studies relating to causal processes of cancer could be assigned to CE while those relating to transformation or progression could be assigned to TPM.
  
  
• With Tumor Microenvironment [TME] as it relates to angiogenesis: Studies focused on angiogenesis in tumor progression could be assigned to TPM, while studies focused on the role of angiogenesis in tumor progression in the context of the tumor microenvironment could be assigned to TME.
  
  
• With Tumor Microenvironment [TME]: Studies of proteolysis as it relates to cell-matrix or cell-cell interactions could be assigned to TME; studies of proteolysis as it affects tumor metastasis and invasion could be assigned to TPM. 
  
  
• With Cancer Biomarkers [CBSS] in the discovery and evaluation of markers for angiogenesis, invasion and other aspects of cancer metastasis that may serve as clinical biomarkers: When the focus is on identification of markers for clinical application, the study could be assigned to CBSS; when the focus is on understanding the role of metastasis, the study could be assigned to TPM.
  
  
• With Radiation Therapeutics and Biology [RTB], Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology [DMP], and Developmental Therapeutics [DT]: Studies of potential therapeutic agents targeting the angiogenic pathway may be assigned to RTB, DMP, or DT. 

TPM has the following shared interests outside the ONC IRG:

• With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB] and Cell Biology [CB] IRGs:  In general, studies of extracellular matrix and proteolysis dealing with normal cell function could be assigned to BCMB or CB; if they relate solely to neoplastic progression they could be assigned to TPM.
  
   
• With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: In general, studies of developmental mechanisms and processes could be assigned to BDA; studies directly related to tumor metastasis could be assigned to TPM.
  
  
• With the Hematology [HEME] IRG: In general, studies of red blood cell disorders/malignancies could be assigned to HEME; studies of lymphoma and leukemia progression and metastasis could be assigned to TPM.
  
  
• With the Cardiovascular Sciences [CVS] IRG: In general, studies of angiogenesis that are focused on developmentally related processes or reactivation of embryonic processes could be assigned to CVS; studies focused on tumor progression and metastasis could be assigned to TPM.
  
  
• With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG:  In general, studies of endometrial hyperplasia; trophoblast neoplasia; germ cell tumors; pituitary adenomas; as well as thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal tumors could be assigned to EMNR; studies of the role of hormones on the progression and metastasis of other tumors and studies of tumors of reproductive organs could be assigned to TPM.  Studies of the relation between insulin/IGF signaling and tumor progression and metastasis could be assigned to EMNR or to TPM depending on the focus of the study. 
  
  
• With the Musculoskeletal, Oral, and Skin Sciences [MOSS] IRG: In general, studies of the effect of musculoskeletal tumors on the overall musculoskeletal system or which provide understanding of the development of the musculoskeletal system could be assigned to MOSS; studies of musculoskeletal, skin, and oral tumors and metastasis could be assigned to TPM.
  
  
• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: In general, studies of CNS-unique physiological factors on tumor progression and invasion could be assigned to BDCN; studies of oncological mechanisms on the progression and invasion of CNS tumors could be assigned to TPM.