SIGNALS

Sending the right Signals

For additional information on cell signaling pathway research, see Current Projects.

Cells divide and duplicate their DNA over and over again with remarkable precision. A complicated series of signals tells cells when to divide and when to stop growing. Sometimes – perhaps once in a billion times – there is a malfunction that damages a cell. When the signaling pathways are working correctly, the damaged cell recognizes that it is defective and either undergoes repair (usually of damaged DNA) or triggers a suicide process called apoptosis (programmed cell death).

These responses to damage can become defective in several ways. First, cells might lose the ability to sense the damage. Second, even if the damage is detected, the repair pathways might be altered. Finally, cells might lose the ability to trigger cell death after sensing the damage. Any of these changes can contribute to the development of cancer.

Many chemotherapeutic drugs kill cancer cells by damaging DNA or other cellular components, resulting in signals that trigger apoptosis. Therefore, alterations in signaling pathways that contribute to cancer development can also affect cancer therapy.

The study of signaling pathways involved in proliferation, repair and apoptosis has been a major emphasis of the Developmental Therapeutics Program. In addition to providing new insight into the nature of malignant cells, this research provides opportunities to better understand the nature of cellular responses to anticancer agents, to identify potential new targets for chemotherapy and to take advantage of these targets for more targeted therapies.