DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Prostate Cancer

DF/HCC Associations

Institutional Representative for CHB, Membership Committee

Research Abstract

The current work in our lab is devoted to identifying and characterizing the genes responsible for progression to the metastatic state. Using differential display to compare gene expression in non-metastatic and highly metastatic tumor cells, we have identified a panel of genes that are upregulated with the metastatic state. These include known genes, novel molecules, and new members of previously characterized protein families. Among the genes we have characterized are a novel collagen that may influence tumor cell adhesion, a protease- binding molecule that may modulate tumor invasion and an actin-binding molecule that can regulate tumor cell motility. We have been able to develop one of these molecules, the actin binding protein thymosin ?15 as a potential prognostic marker for human prostate cancer. Appearance of this marker in prostate cancer tissue at the time of diagnosis is indicative of future recurrence and distant metastasis. We believe that the identification of metastatic markers consequently can have significance in the development of predictive markers for several tumor types.

Publications

• Zetter BR.Angiogenesis and tumor metastasis.Annu Rev Med 1998;49:407-24.
  9509272
• Gold JS, Bao L, Ghoussoub RA, Zetter BR, Rimm DL.Localization and quantitation of expression of the cell motility-related protein thymosin beta15 in human breast tissue.Mod Pathol 1997 Nov;10(11):1106-12.
  9388061