Read Content Only

Surgical Oncology

Research Summary

Our research involves two areas:

Molecular biology of early colon carcinogenesis and response to chemoprevention drugs. These studies involve animal models and studies of both archived and fresh (endoscopic biopsy) intestinal tissues. Current projects include the role of estrogen in inhibiting intestinal tumor formation; understanding regulatory controls over colonic stem cells; understanding effect of inflammation on intestinal stem cell proliferation and NSAID response; evaluation of drugs targeting cell survival pathways in the colon.

Gastrointestinal cancer biomarker development and validation. These studies involve large, clinically annotated tissue collections from the Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib (APC) Trial and from Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB). In addition, we are involved in designing and conducting prospective, randomized clinical trials to validate promising treatment-defining biomarkers.

Back to the top

Equipment & Techniques

Tissue immunohistochemistry, whole organ culture (colon), analysis of protein-protein interactions in whole tissues, animal models of colon cancer (Min/+ mouse)

High-throughput tissue immunohistochemistry, analysis of somatic and germline genome by MASA and microsatellite genotyping, clinical trials design and infrastructure

Back to the top

Funding

1. NIH-NCI K05CA131504 (PI: Bertagnolli, 01/2008 - 12/2012) -- “Characterizing Disease and Treatment Response in Colon Cancer”

2. NIH-NCI P50CA127003 (PI: Bertagnolli, 08/2007 - 06/2012) -- “DF/HCC Spore in Gastrointestinal Cancer”

3. Strang Cancer Prevention Center N01-CN-95015-MAO (PI: Bertagnolli, 07/2004 - 06/2011) -- “Phase II Clinical Trial of Celecoxib (or NSAID) for Prevention of Sporadic ColorectalAdenomas”

4. NSABB 263-MQ-418403 (PI: Bertagnolli, 06/2007 - 06/2008) -- "Measurement of 18q LOH in Colon Cancer Specimens”

Back to the top