[MONC Roster]

The Molecular Oncogenesis [MONC] Study Section reviews applications that focus on the early molecular events that lead to oncogenic transformation such as the identification of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, alterations in signaling, growth, and cell cycle control pathways, and protein stability/degradation mechanisms. Applications dealing with normal developmental processes as they pertain to oncogenic transformation are also considered.

Specific areas covered by MONC include:

• Identification of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes or alterations in their expression or function that may contribute to oncogenic transformation.
• Alterations in signal transduction pathways that may modulate or lead to oncogenic transformation.
• Proteasome-mediated degradation: Mechanisms and/or alterations of protein stability that could contribute to transformation, including post-translation modification such as ubiquitylation or sumoylation.
• Cell cycle regulation and dysregulation that may contribute to early oncogenic transformation.
• Mechanisms of immortalization as a prerequisite for oncogenic transformation.
• Biology of progenitor cells, including the identification and characterization of cancer stem cells that may be involved in oncogenic transformation.
  
  

MONC has the following shared interests within the ONC IRG:

• With Cancer Etiology [CE]: In general, studies investigating basic mechanisms and processes leading to oncogenic transformation could be assigned to MONC. Applications in which the emphasis is on tumor etiology, specifically as modulated by environmental or chemical factors, could be assigned to CE.
• With Cancer Genetics [CG]: Applications that focus on understanding signaling pathways that modulate genomic instability could be assigned to MONC.  Applications that focus on genetic analysis could be assigned to CG.
• With Cancer Molecular Pathobiology [CAMP]:  In general, studies on the basic signaling mechanisms contributing to oncogenic transformation could be assigned to MONC. Studies that focus on transcriptional regulation in the oncogenic transformation process could be assigned to CAMP. Studies that focus on the identification and/or characterization of cancer stem cells could be assigned to MONC. Studies that focus on the role of stem cells could be assigned to CAMP.
• With Tumor Cell Biology [TCB]: Applications with an emphasis on basic cell cycle control or signal transduction pathways related to oncogenic transformation could be assigned to MONC.  Applications in which the emphasis is on cell cycle control and growth factors signal transduction pathways in tumors and tumor progression could be assigned to TCB.
• With Chemo/Dietary Prevention [CDP]: Applications with an emphasis on cancer prevention could be assigned to CDP. Applications with an emphasis on the basic mechanism of oncogenesis could be assigned to MONC.
  
  

MONC has the following shared interests outside the ONC IRG:

• With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB] IRG: In general, applications that focus on understanding the function of biological molecules and their interactions in normal or non-tumorigenic cells could be assigned to BCMB. Applications that focus on the function of biological molecules during oncogenic transformation could be assigned to MONC.
• With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG: In general, applications that focus on normal cellular biological processes could be assigned to CB and applications that focus on processes associated with oncogenic transformation could be assigned to MONC. Studies that evaluate both normal cell biological processes and processes critical for transformation would be assigned to an IRG according to the main focus of the proposed research.
• With Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: In general, applications that focus on biological processes associated with normal development and aging could be assigned to BDA. Applications that focus on development and aging as they relate to early events in oncogenesis could be assigned to MONC.
• With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG: In general, studies that focus on pre-neoplastic, dysplastic, hyperplastic disorders of the reproductive organs or that focus on cancers originating in endocrine glands could be assigned to EMNR. Studies with an emphasis on the basic biology or on the signaling pathways that modulate the early oncogenic events in these organs could be assigned to MONC.
• With the Organ-System IRGs: In general, studies of biological processes in normal or non-tumorigenic cells could be assigned to the appropriate organ-system IRG and studies directed at understanding the process of organ-specific oncogenic transformation could be assigned to MONC.