[TCB Roster]

The Tumor Cell Biology [TCB] Study Section reviews applications focusing on signal transduction and growth factor regulation in neoplasias and tumor progression.

Specific areas covered by TCB include:

• Signal transduction mediated by protein kinases, phosphatases, and other proteins, including signaling mediated by hypoxia, inflammation, and nutrient sensing mechanisms.
  
  
• Signaling by cell surface receptors, growth factors, cytokines, and associated proteins. This includes analyses of the composition, formation and functioning of signaling complexes in tumor progression and in tumor cells.
  
  
• Analysis of interactions among signaling pathways in tumor cells and tumor progression.
  
  
• Pathways regulated by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes; how these genes alter signaling in neoplasms and the consequences of these alterations on tumor cell phenotype and physiology.
  
  
• Hormonal modulation of carcinogenesis, including endocrine signaling as it relates to tumorigenesis, steroid metabolism, and hormone receptors.
  
  
• Differentiation and transdifferentiation in neoplasias.
  
  

• Signal transduction mediated by the cytoskeleton as it relates to tumorigenesis and tumor progression.

TCB has the following shared interests within the ONC IRG:

• With Cancer Etiology [CE]: Applications that focus on signal transduction mediated by protein kinases and their signaling complexes in chemically or environmentally induced carcinogenesis could be assigned to CE. Studies dealing with their contribution to tumor growth and progression could be assigned to TCB.
  
  

• With Molecular Oncogenesis [MONC]: Applications that focus on the basic signal transduction mechanisms primarily related to cell cycle/checkpoints, growth factors, or oncogenes in oncogenic transformation could be assigned to MONC.  Other growth factor/signaling applications in neoplasias could be assigned to TCB.
  
  

• With Cancer Molecular Pathobiology [CAMP]: Applications that focus on the basic mechanisms primarily related to cell survival regulation, oncogenes and tumor suppressors in malignant cells could be assigned to CAMP.  Such studies on tumors and tumor progression could be assigned to TCB.
  
  

• With Chemo/Dietary Prevention [CDP]: Applications that focus on nutrient induced signaling pathways that modulate tumor growth could be assigned to TCB. If the emphasis is on cancer prevention the application could be assigned to CDP.
  
  

• With Cancer Biomarkers [CBSS]: Applications that focus on the development of novel biomarkers and diagnostic signatures could be assigned to CBSS. If related to tumor cell growth, then the application could be assigned to TCB.
  
  

• With Tumor Microenvironment [TME]:  Applications that focus on the effects of extracellular actions of growth factors and other cytokines could be assigned to TME, whereas those focusing on intracellular signaling could be assigned to TCB.
  
  

• With Tumor Progression and Metastasis [TPM]: Applications that focus on the effects of hypoxia on tumor cell invasion could be assigned to TPM, whereas those focusing on tumor growth and early stages of progression could be assigned to TCB.
  
  

• With Developmental Therapeutics [DT]: Studies relating to signal transduction, cell cycle, and differentiation in the context of drug development could be assigned to DT. If the study focuses on tumor cell growth and phenotype, then it could be assigned to TCB.

   

TCB has the following shared interests outside the ONC IRG:

• With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG: In general, studies of signaling in normal cells could be assigned to CB; studies of signaling processes in neoplasms and their progression could be assigned to TCB.  Proposals that combine studies of signaling in both normal cells and in neoplastic cells would be assigned to an IRG according to the main focus of the proposal.
  
  

• With the Genes, Genomes and Genetics [GGG] IRG: In general, studies of how genes alter signaling in normal cells and the consequences of those alterations could be assigned to GGG; studies of how genes alter signaling in neoplasms and the consequences of those alterations could be assigned to TCB.  Proposals that combine studies of gene alterations of signaling in both normal and neoplastic cells would be assigned to an IRG according to the main focus of the proposal.
  
  

• 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 tumors in reproductive organs could be assigned to TCB.  Studies of obesity or insulin resistance as a risk factor for cancer and if the focus is on mechanisms of metabolic fuel homeostasis or insulin action on cell growth could be assigned to EMNR; studies focusing on the mechanism of tumor progression could be assigned to TCB.
  
  

• With the Digestive Sciences [DIG] IRG:  Studies of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) as well as the pathology and treatment of polyps in the GI system could be assigned to the DIG IRG.  In general, cell biological studies of GI, liver, or pancreatic cancers could be assigned to TCB.  Studies of Barrett's Esophagus physiology could be assigned to DIG or TCB depending on the focus of the study. 
  
  

• With the Organ-system IRGs: In general, studies of signaling processes unique to cells in a specific organ system would be assigned to the organ-system IRG; studies of signaling directed toward understanding oncogenesis could be assigned to TCB.
  
  

• With the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience [BDCN] IRG: In general, studies of tumor physiology and pathology of the brain could be assigned to BDCN; studies for which a brain tumor is being used as a model system could be assigned to TCB.