Cancer Research and Studies: Could UCF Find A Cure?

Cancer has or will touch the lives of most Americans. Research taking place at the University of Central Florida may one day lead to novel treatments or a potential cure. Here is some of the current cancer research taking place:

• Research in Dr. Karl X. Chai’s laboratory led to the discovery of a protein that limits the invasion of prostate and breast cancer cells. His research team is currently assessing the protein’s ability to stop metastasis in animal models. This team is also investigating how the protein functions. Some of their findings are being patented and may provide the basis for a new method to detect and treat invasive cancers.

• Dr. Ratna Chakrabarti’s research team is identifying genes responsible for two distinct forms of prostate cancer: slow growing and rapidly progressing. The group is using human genome microarray technology to identify candidate genes. Determining the genes that cause the two cancer types will greatly enhance our ability to diagnose the disease and design new drugs for treatment.

• Dr. Annette Khaled studies programmed cell death, a biological process that eliminates abnormal cells in healthy tissue. When this process is disrupted, abnormal cells proliferate and result in cancer. The Khaled team is trying to understand how changes in cell signals cause this disruption. Her research is expanding our understanding of the origins of cancer and may lead to novel treatments and methods for early detection.

• Dr. Mark Muller’s research focuses on enzymes called topoisomerases, nuclear proteins that participate in most, if not all, DNA transactions. His interest is in understanding the physiological function of these enzymes in chromosomes and in the lab deals with topoisomerases and cancer chemotherapy. Certain drugs interfere with the action of topoisomerases on DNA. Such drugs are effective in treating cancer and many topoisomerase active agents are used clinically to kill tumor cells. There is significant potential for new, anticancer drugs that target these enzymes.

• Dr. Thomas Selby is developing ways to use structure-based drug design targeted at cancer.

• Dr. Laurence vonKalm, Department of Biology, uses fruit fly genetics to discover genes whose human counterparts are involved in prostate, ovarian and kidney cancers. The power of fly genetics is likely to enhance our understanding of the basic signaling process that may be involved in certain cancers.