Contact Information:
Marikki Laiho
M.D., Ph.D., Professor
Molecular Cancer Biology Program
Biomedicum Helsinki
Haartman Institute,
PO BOX 63 (Haartmaninkatu 3)
FI-00014 University of Helsinki
Finland
Tel: +358-9-1912 5540
Fax: +358-9-1912 5554
E-mail: firstname.surname@helsinki.fi
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Research
The underlying causes of cancer are lesions in critical genes governing cell growth and differentiation and maintenance of the integrity of the genome. Mutations in gene products controlling DNA damage responses result in predisposition to cancer due to defective damage checkpoints and increased genomic instability. The objective of our research is to provide new information on tumorigenesis pathways related to dysfunction of p53 and TGF-ß signaling routes and to apply this knowledge into translational research approaches. Two main lines of research are conducted: 1) Analysis of functions of cellular DNA damage response proteins especially that of p53. We address how p53 is regulated by its interaction partners Mdm2, nucleophosmin and PML and attempt to define how nucleolar proteins participate in the cellular damage response. 2) We address mechanisms how TGF-ß signaling pathways are altered in breast cancer and its crosstalk with other breast-specific signaling routes. The approaches taken are relevant in the cellular protective responses against DNA damage and are thus applicable in tumorigenesis models ensuing from checkpoint dysfunctions. Specific approaches in tumor types such as breast and prostate cancer and skin cancers are taken. The projects involve confocal imaging, functional genomics approaches, analytic and high content screening imaging techniques and utilize high-throughput drug screening applications in defined cellular models.
The research groupbelongs to the Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Cancer Biology.
Page updated
December 21, 2006
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