RESEARCH INTEREST

My research interests are in prostate cancer initiation and progression, involvement of genetic and epigenetic factors in these processes, and human variation in prostate cancer susceptibility.

Carcinogenesis is associated with alterations in gene regulation, genomic rearrangements, and gene mutations. I am interested in epigenetic level of gene regulation, - heritable gene regulation mediated by structure and remodeling of chromatin. It has recently become clear that chromatin structure is dynamic, regulated by multiple extra- and intra-cellular signals, and is directly involved in regulation of gene expression via spatial organization and modifications of both deoxynucleotides in genomic DNA and histone and non-histone chromatin proteins. Chromatin remodeling contributes to aberrant expression on many cancer-associated genes and may be important during early stages of cancer preceding mutations and genomic rearrangements in genomic DNA. Using suitable model systems including primary, immortalized, and transformed human cells, we will be able to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in normal cell signaling and perturbed signaling along carcinogenesis as they relate to modification of chromatin structure and gene expression.

Another area of my research interest is finding out the underlying biological reasons for inter-individual variability in prostate cancer susceptibility. Observed significant difference in prostate cancer frequency and aggressiveness among people of African American descent, Caucasians, and Asians is thought to be due to both socio-economic factors, environmental factors, and biological factors. To date, most of prostate cancer research was done using clinical samples of Caucasian origin. Little is known about inter-individual variation in prostate cancer susceptibility just as in other diseases. Meanwhile, it becomes clear that there is tremendous variability among individuals in specific biochemical responses, resistances, and susceptibilities that lead to disease initiation and progression and to responsiveness to drugs. To address this issue in prostate cancer, we will develop prostate cancer cell resource from African American patients, a first collection of such nature in the world. We will then be able to interrogate causal relationship between genotype and cell signaling and biochemical perturbations that are the basis of prostate cancer for each individual patient. In the future, this will enable researchers and clinicians to develop specialized diagnostics and treatments to combat the disease.

I am also in charge of research core facilities and technology development in the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, the facilities that are available to use by the whole biology and chemistry community at CAU. Modern biology relies on increasingly sophisticated technologies and instruments that enable researchers to find answers to increasingly more sophisticated questions. Researchers in CCRTD have access to the state-of-the-art instrumentation including cell biology laboratory, modern microscopes, gene expression analysis instruments and more. To enhance our research, we are soon adding histology instrumentation and laser capture capability.

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