Targeting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in HNSCC

Institution:	University of California, Los Angeles
Investigator(s):	Maie St. John, MD, PhD
Award Cycle:	2007 (Cycle 16)	Grant #: 16KT-0046	Award: $270,000
Subject Area:	Cancer
Award Type:	New Investigator Awards

Abstracts

Initial Award Abstract

Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. This year nearly 70,000 new cases of HNSCC will be diagnosed. Eighty-five percent of these can be directly linked to tobacco use. Despite advances in treatment options, the survival rate for patients with advanced disease remains poor. The major cause of death in these patients is the spread of the cancer, known as metastasis. We are interested in understanding this process of metastasis in order to be able to prevent the spread of these tumors and therefore increase the survival of these patients. We are focusing our work on a molecule called E-cadherin. E-cadherin is the “glue” that keeps cells stuck together. When E-cadherin in tumor cells is lost, cells can break apart and are free to spread throughout the body. Tumor cells that lose E-cadherin become very dangerous and patients with these tumors frequently die of metastatic cancer. Additionally, when E-cadherin is present, cells are more sensitive to anti-cancer medications. We would like to use genetically modified cell lines to help us understand what controls the presence of E-cadherin, so we can come up with ways to prevent tumors from breaking apart and spreading. Studying E-cadherin will allow us to gain a better understanding of how cancer spreads. This will then enable us to increase the survival of patients with head and neck cancer.

Publications

Inflammation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance
Periodical: Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery			Index Medicus:
Authors: Kryan, K., Lee, J.M., Dohadwala, M., Gardner, B.K., Reckamp, K.L., Garon, E., St. John, M.				ART
Yr: 2008	Vol: 3	Nbr: 2	Abs:	Pg: 107-10

Proinflammatory Mediators Up-regulate Snail in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Periodical: Clinical Cancer Research			Index Medicus:
Authors: St. John, M., Dohadwala, M., Luo, J., and Dubinett, S.				ART
Yr: 2009	Vol: 15	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 6018-27

Snail Promotes CXCR2 ligand dependent tumor progression
Periodical: Clinical Cancer Research			Index Medicus:
Authors: Yanagawa, J., Walser, T., Zhu, L., Hong, L., Fishbein, M., Mah, V., Chia, D., Goodglick, L				ART
Yr: 2009	Vol: 15	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 6820-6829

The Role of Zeb1 in the Inflammation-Induced Promotion of EMT in Head & Neck Cancer
Periodical: Head and Neck			Index Medicus:
Authors: St. John, M., Dohadwala, M., Luo, J., Wang, G.				ART
Yr: 2010	Vol: 142	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 753-9

The role of HPV, p16, EGFR, and Snail in Perineural Invasion of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Periodical: Laryngoscope			Index Medicus:
Authors: St. John, M., Mendelsohn, A.H., Elashoff, D.				ART
Yr: 2010	Vol:	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg:

Inflammation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance
Periodical: Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery			Index Medicus:
Authors: Kryan, K., Lee, J.M., Dohadwala, M., Gardner, B.K., Reckamp, K.L., Garon, E., St. John, M.				ART
Yr: 2008	Vol: 3	Nbr: 2	Abs:	Pg: 107-10

Proinflammatory Mediators Up-regulate Snail in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Periodical: Clinical Cancer Research			Index Medicus:
Authors: St. John, M., Dohadwala, M., Luo, J., and Dubinett, S.				ART
Yr: 2009	Vol: 15	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 6018-27

Snail Promotes CXCR2 ligand dependent tumor progression
Periodical: Clinical Cancer Research			Index Medicus:
Authors: Yanagawa, J., Walser, T., Zhu, L., Hong, L., Fishbein, M., Mah, V., Chia, D., Goodglick, L				ART
Yr: 2009	Vol: 15	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 6820-6829

The Role of Zeb1 in the Inflammation-Induced Promotion of EMT in Head & Neck Cancer
Periodical: Head and Neck			Index Medicus:
Authors: St. John, M., Dohadwala, M., Luo, J., Wang, G.				ART
Yr: 2010	Vol: 142	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: 753-9

The role of HPV, p16, EGFR, and Snail in Perineural Invasion of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Periodical: Laryngoscope			Index Medicus:
Authors: St. John, M., Mendelsohn, A.H., Elashoff, D.				ART
Yr: 2010	Vol:	Nbr:	Abs:	Pg: