Contact:
Karl Krueger, Ph.D.
Program Director, Cancer Biomarkers Research Group
Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Boulevard, EPN Room 3137, MSC 7362
Bethesda, MD 20892-7362
Rockville, MD 20852
Telephone: 301-594-1044
FAX: 301-402-8990
E-mail: kruegerk@mail.nih.gov
Objective of Project:
The Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP), National Cancer Institute (NCI), invites new R01 and R21 applications focused on identifying protein biomarkers correlated with cancers whose etiologies are attributed to infectious agents. Infection-associated cancers in humans are increasing at an alarming rate, and research is needed to identify infected individuals who are at increased risk of developing cancer and to detect early stage cancers in infected individuals. It is important to identify subpopulations of exposed individuals who are likely to develop cancer. It is also important to develop sensitive and specific screening tools to monitor for early stage cancers in members of infected populations. Identifying these subpopulations has proven difficult, and molecular markers provide a potential tool to identify the at-risk subpopulation and the presence of early stage cancers. These molecular markers must be able to distinguish infections per se from infections that contribute to the development of cancer. It is likely that such distinctions will require the identification of differential expression patterns of multiple proteomic markers, i.e., generating molecular signatures that are specific for risk of developing cancer. These molecular signatures must permit reliable and accurate identification of at-risk individuals at stages that are early enough to allow for effective interventions.
Description of Project:
Cancer-associated infectious agents likely act, at least in part, by predisposing the cell to genetic changes that contribute to the progressive steps affecting host cell protein expression and leading to cancer. Therefore, it is important to identify proteomic changes in either tissues or body fluids that occur during the progression to cancer in infected cells. Proteomic signatures or biomarkers that either distinguish individuals infected with these viruses who are at high risk of developing cancer, or detect early stages of cancer in infected individuals, will hopefully result in early detection and reduced mortality. Proteomic analyses should also provide valuable insights into the mechanisms by which infectious agents promote cancer and may help identify potential targets for early detection and cancer prevention.