The goal of our work is to uncover the logic that governs mammalian cell growth and differentiation in molecular terms. Understanding the mechanisms underlying cell growth regulation should shed light on the nature of cell transformation and provide a molecular framework for the development of new anti-cancer therapies. Our study should also provide new insights into biomedical fields such as immunology, vascular medicine, transplantation, and regeneration medicine.
Cancer is characterized by dysregulated cell proliferation.
Recent studies have clearly shown that cellular transformation is triggered by a loss of the negative regulators of cell growth. In normal cells, such cellular brakes halt the cell cycle in the absence of adequate growth stimuli. Intriguingly, the RB family of tumor suppressor proteins is substantially involved in the process of cell senescence as well.