Carcinogenesis, Biomarkers & Epidemiology Program

Overview | Leaders | Research | Publications | Activities

 

Scientific Accomplishments

A large number of scientific accomplishments from the Program have been published over recent years. These include the following, representative of all Specific Aims of the Program:

  • Dr. Chung elucidated the roles of cyclic DNA adducts from lipid peroxidation in the apoptosis induced by omega-3 versus omega-6 fatty acids in human colon carcinogenesis (Chung et al. 2003).
  • Dr. Chung discovered and characterized target protein binding as a mechanism of apoptosis induction by cancer preventive isothiocyanate compounds (Conaway et al. 2005; Mi et al. 2007, 2008).
  • Drs. Kellar and Xiao defined the expanding roles of human brain nicotinic receptor subtypes in relation to addiction and carcinogenesis (Avila et al. 2003; Fitch et al. 2003; Xiao & Kellar 2004; Mao et al. 2007; Cox et al. 2008).
  • Dr. Shields, Keller, Johnson and co-workers established the chemical yields and toxicology for low-nicotine and nicotine-free cigarettes, and how nicotine exerts biological effects within cigarette smoke condensate (Chen 2008).
  • Discovery of the amplification of the BP1 gene in breast cancer and its association with progression and invasion was made by Dr. Cavalli (Cavalli 2008).
  • Proteomic patterns identified as promising markers for early liver cancer detection, as reported by Drs. Goldman and Ressom, in collaboration with Dr. Seillier-Moiseiwitsch for testing in Dr. Loffredo's case-control study of hepatocellular carcinoma (Orvisky et al. 2006; Goldman et al. 2007; Ressom et al. 2006, 2007, 2008).
  • New methodologies for signal processing and statistical analysis of proteomics data were developed, tested and reported by Dr. Ressom (Orvisky et al. 2006; Ressom et al. 2006, 2007, 2008).
  • New methods for aligning gene sequences and protein images were developed and reported by Drs. Seillier-Moiseiwitsch and Bebu as a critical step in the analysis and processing of 2-D gel data (Graham et al. 2005; Potra et al. 2006).
  • Dr. Byrne and colleagues identified factors associated with mammographic breast density, which in turn have shed light on breast carcinogenesis (Benichou et al. 2003; Diorio et al. 2005; Tamimi et al. 2007); such findings led to the incorporation of breast density into the Gail model for breast cancer risk prediction (Chen et al. 2006).
  • Collaborative clinical-basic science research on breast cancer biomarkers revealed the utility of collecting and analyzing nipple aspirate fluid and ductal lavage specimens (Isaacs, Haddad et al. 2004).
  • Mechanisms of cancer prevention by green tea and isothiocyanate compounds have been discovered and characterized by Dr. Chung (Chung, Schwartz et al. 2003; Schwartz et al. 2005).
  • Previously unknown genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus in Egypt (which has the world's highest population prevalence of HCV) was discovered, and found to be associated with evidence of accelerated liver carcinogenesis by Dr. Loffredo and colleagues (Abdel-Hamid et al. 2007).
  • Dr. Loffredo reported the elevated risks of hepatocellular carcinoma and of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Egypt (Cowgill et al. 2004; Ezzat et al. 2005; Anwar et al. 2008).
  • Dr. Shields and others, in collaboration with Drs. Lerman and Audrain (formerly of the Lombardi), conducted groundbreaking research on genetic variations in dopaminergic pathway genes in relation to tobacco smoking initiation nicotine addiction, and cessation (Audrain et al. 2004, 2006, 2007; Hu et al. 2006; Lerman et al. 2003, 2004, 2006; Redden et al. 2005).
  • Drs. Shields, Kallakury and Furth reported a high incidence of hypermethylation in p16 and BRCA1, and a relationship to family history in healthy women undergoing reduction mammoplasty (Dumitrescu, manuscript submitted).
  • Women who smoked cigarettes and carried heritable genetic variations in the N-acetytransferase 2 gene (NAT2) were found to be at increased risk for breast cancer, in a major pooled analysis across studies, as reported by Dr. Shields and colleagues (Ambrosone et al. 2008).
  • Drs. Zheng, Shields, and Loffredo described the risks of lung cancer due to mutagen sensitivity and cell cycle checkpoint biomarkers, especially for lung cancer in black women (Zheng et al. 2003, 2005) Drs. Shields, Zheng and Adams-Campbell developed and demonstrated that mutagen sensitivity and cell cycle checkpoint biomarkers is a risk factor in lung and breast cancer (Zheng et al. 2003; Natarajan et al. 2006; Wu et al. 2006; Lin et al. 2007) (Zheng et al. 2003, 2005).
  • Dr. Jeanine Genkinger applied meta-analytical and pooling techniques across multiple international studies of dietary fats, dairy products, alcohol drinking, and fruits and vegetables in relation to the risk of ovarian and pancreatic cancers (Koushik et al. 2006; Genkinger et al. 2006a, 2006b, 2009).

 

Learn more about the key areas of research in the Cancer Genetics and Epidemiology Program.