Such biomarkers are anticipated to facilitate the identification of asymptomatic individuals at high risk for cancer, and decrease the prohibitive cost and duration of both preclinical and clinical investigations. The ideal biomarker of cancer risk is an early alteration during the premalignant phase of neoplasia which predicts with high sensitivity and specificity the future progression and invasive potential of malignant cells. The goal of this laboratory is to develop efficacious regimens for the clinical prevention of cancer.
Translational studies continue to focus on the chemoprevention of colon, lung and oral cancer.
Mutations in the APC gene, the gatekeeper of colorectal cancer, are associated with the initiation of colorectal adenomas. One of the important tumor suppressor activities of APC is the regulation of b catenin degradation. Mutations in the APC gene can cause b -catenin to accumulate in the cytoplasm and translocate to the nucleus. Increased nuclear localization of b -catenin accompanies the progression of colorectal adenomas to carcinomas. Its ability to inhibit chemically induced colon tumors, and cause regression of precancerous colonic lesions in familial adenomatous polyposis patients, has been demonstrated by others.