Sign
out: Genitourinary and head and neck pathology.
Research:
We are in the process of identifying molecular and
genetic changes of urologic cancers that correlate
with the cancer disease behaviors, both clinically
and pathologically. The long-term goal of these studies
is to develop new diagnostic methods and therapeutic
regiments for these cancers.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the
second leading cause of cancer death of men in the
US. We are interested in identifying the genes or
gene expression profiles associated with the development,
diagnosis and prognosis of prostate cancer. We use
laser capture micro dissection and DNA microarray
to approach this issue. The gene expression profiles
will be used to better predict the disease outcome
and guide treatment decision. The genes identified
by this approach may also be used for new therapeutic
targets. Most prostate cancer death is due to the
development of androgen independence. Androgen receptor
is responsible for cell growth in both androgen dependent
and independent prostate cancers. We are studying
two novel androgen receptor co-activators that may
be involved in the development of androgen independence
in prostate cancer. Characterizing these androgen
receptor co-activators may lead to new drug targets
for androgen independent prostate cancer.
Bladder cancer is responsible for more than 130,000
deaths annually worldwide and is the fifth most common
solid malignancy in the United States. The overall
5-year survival of muscle invasive bladder cancer
is 50%. We are studying new treatment modality that
is based on targeting specific oncogene product in
bladder cancer. The new molecular treatment method
blocks signal transduction pathway and suppresses
cancer cell proliferation.
Kidney cancer is difficult to screen and detect in
its early stage when surgical treatment is most effective.
We are studying serum and tissue markers that can
be used in screening and diagnosis of this cancer.
Our laboratory, supported by Urology, Pathology and
the MGH Cancer Center, enjoys extensive collaborations
with other members of the researcher community both
locally or around the World. We often provide clinical,
research and technical expertise as well as pathology
specimens to these collaborative studies.
|
