Research Abstract
The Libermann laboratory focuses on a group of novel Ets family transcription factors that they identified within the past several years. These Ets family members are expressed selectively in various types of epithelia, and their expression is deranged in several types of carcinoma. The laboratory uses gene knockout and over-expression approaches, combined with genomic and proteomic strategies, to elucidate the consequences of Ets protein dysregulation and the targets of these transcription factors, respectively. The laboratory also studies the mechanism of regulation of IL6 expression in prostate carcinogenesis and its potential role in directing androgen resistance and/or bone metastasis.
The laboratory is furthermore applying various cutting edge technologies for proteomics, transcriptional profiling and genotyping in order to define and compare protein and gene profiles and genomic DNA in kidney, ovarian, prostate and breast cancer tissues, correlate protein and gene profiles and mutations with biological activities and disease, define disease mechanisms at a molecular level and predict clinical outcome and response to therapy. Further studies in the lab are focused on mechanisms of action of anti-cancer drugs on prostate, renal, ovarian and breast cancer cells using transcriptional profiling and genotyping approaches in order to identify putative novel points of entry for rational drug design, target validation, and identification of potential genes involved in adverse drug responses or drug resistance.
Dr. Libermann is the Director of the DF/HCC Cancer Proteomics Core and of the BIDMC Genomics Center, which provide core assistance to medical center investigators in the use of various proteomics and expression technologies.