DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Research Abstract

Dr. Nanthakumar's research interest is focused on determining the role of specific hormones and growth factors in the development of digestive and barrier function of the intestine. Using in vitro and in vivo models, intestinal epithelial response to luminal and systemic factors during development have been evaluated. Current studies focused on the effect of prematurity, mother's milk and glucocorticoids in the pathophysiology of Necrotizing Enterocolitis using these models. Another focus of the laboratory is to understand the role of transcription factors in intestinal epithelial differentiation and lineage specification. Currently the role of caudal-related transcription factors; Cdx1 and Cdx2 have been investigated in the lineage determination, epithelial-mesenchymal interaction and the tumor suppressor function. Using various mutant mouse models and the human xenograft model, the stem cell biology and proliferative capacity of the developing gut have been studied with implication in normal development, neoplastic progression and potentially developing strategies for somatic gene therapy.

Publications

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