Daniel W. Rosenberg, Ph.D.
 Investigator,
Center for Molecular Medicine
Professor of Medicine, Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology
Co-Director, Colon Cancer Prevention
Program
Email:
rosenberg@nso2.uchc.edu
Phone: 860-679-8704
Fax: 860-679-7639
Research Interests
Understanding the mechanisms that govern the formation of
precancerous colon lesions, referred to as aberrant crypt
foci, and their conversion to fully malignant tumors is a
long-term goal of my laboratory. We use chemical carcinogens
(indirect-acting methylating agents) to produce colon tumors
in sensitive inbred mouse lines that are similar to those
associated with 'sporadic' (non-familial) forms of human
colon cancer. Our mouse model thus provides us with an
experimental system for studying the earliest molecular
events associated with this disease. It is also known that
heritable characteristics of inbred mice lead either to
susceptibility or resistance to formation of colon tumors
following exposure to chemical carcinogens. We have shown
that benign hyperplastic foci are produced in the distal
colons of resistant mouse lines, but these lesions rarely
acquire dysplastic features nor progress to carcinomas. We
are combining a molecular pathologic approach, using laser
capture microscopy, together with gene expression profiling
and comparative genomic hybridization, to study the
functional characteristics that distinguish hyperplastic and
dysplastic lesions. Together with our ongoing studies of
specific signaling pathways that are known to contribute to
tumor progression, our genetic approach will enable us to
predict the tumorigenic potential of human precancerous
lesions and to identify candidate genes that may play a role
in the pathogenesis of human cancers.
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