My laboratory is investigating the molecular mechanisms by which androgens regulate gene expression in target tissues, particularly the prostate, which is prone to develop adenocarcinomas. It is well known that prostate cancer development requires androgens and that tumors regress following the withdrawal of androgens. However, most tumors return in an androgen insensitive state and kill the patient.

Our laboratory is studying the regulation of the androgen receptor gene in prostate cancer cells and other androgen-regulated cells. We are also studying the critical growth-promoting genes and apoptotic-inducing genes, such as the Early Growth Response (EGR1) gene and Forkhead (FOXO1), that are themselves regulated by androgens. We hope to identify the growth-promoting and cell-surviving pathways that become uncoupled from their androgen dependency during prostate cancer progression and to determine their role in prostate cancer.

Research Projects

Novel Markers for Prostate Cancer

NIH/NCI, R01 CA 70892-01, Year 1?5, Period:04/01/96-02/28/01

The major goals of this project are to develop a novel seromarker for prostate cancer. And hK2 is the new prostate-specific marker for detecting prostate cancer to be developed in this project.

Kallikrein Gene Expression in Prostate Cells

NIH/NIDDK, R01 DK 41995, Years 8?11. Period: Dec. 31, 1998 - Nov. 30, 2002

The major goals of this project are to define tissue specific regulatory mechanism of expression of two prostate-specific kallikrein gene (i.e., PSA and hK2) at transcription levels.

T.J. Martell Foundation

FNDT-2, Period: May 21, 1999?May 20, 2001

A novel molecular target for prostate cancer gene therapy.