One major scientific challenge in cancer research is to determine the underlying biological basis for malignancy, and the clinical challenge is to apply this basic research to the treatment of human cancer. To meet these challenges, clinicians, scientists, and their labs from the School of Medicine and from the Medical Center are focusing their efforts on understanding, treatment, care, and, one day, a cure of this most devastating of diseases.
Cancer has been an established focus of investigation at Loma Linda University (LLU) for many years, integrating basic cancer biology and translational biology with clinical programs. Currently within LLU there are laboratories involved in a wide variety of basic and clinical studies. The newly established laboratory of Dr. Wall is carrying out molecular and genetic characterizations of both human and experimental cancers. Special emphasis is placed on research into the early events in cancer development and in experimental systems for studying preneoplastic events. The laboratories of Dr. Daisy De Leon and Dr. Casiano are concerned with later stage processes in cancer--the factors that influence metastasis as well as the emergence of hormone independence, drug resistance, and signal transduction pathways leading to either cell survival or cell death. Researchers within the laboratory of Dr. Sowers are studying the molecular mechanisms which damage DNA damage and result in a mutation or chromosomal rearrangement that leads to cancer. Studies involve the molecular analysis of DNA replication, repair, and mutagenesis. Researchers within the laboratory of Dr. Duerksen-Hughes are investigating the mechanism where human papillomavirus (HPV) induces cervical cancer while the laboratories of Dr. Langridge and Dr. Fodor use virus vectored gene delivery systems to treat cancer and immune system deficiencies. The laboratories of Drs. Brantley, Neidigh, Sowers, and Wall are interested in drug discovery and development with the goal of advancing the treatment of cancer through discovery and development of new cancer drugs, understanding their properties, and translating the findings to Phase I clinical trials.
Growing emphasis is being placed on translational research, integrating basic laboratory methods into epidemiologically designed studies. The recent awarding of a health disparities P20 grant leading to the establishment of a new NIH funded Center for Health Disparities Research speaks to the strength of this emphasis. Health disparity researchers complement their research with that of faculty from the School of Allied Health Professions in a continuing attempt to identify the biologic and genetic basis of cancer onset and the validation of biological markers through their use in human epidemiological studies. The health disparities members, Drs. Carlos Casiano, Daisy De Leon, Susanne Montgomery, and Nathan Wall are focusing their research activities in ethnic variation in cancer, occupational and environmental exposures in cancer etiology, and cancer causation. The Loma Linda area provides an optimal mix of socioeconomic characteristics to undertake studies exploring issues of urban residence, industrial employment, and ethnic characteristics. This allows researchers to address issues pertaining to original research and practical application of knowledge of cancer patterns in the community. Its goal is to apply this knowledge of cancer trends to the benefit of community members and organizations.
Future research program plans are oriented toward the development of studies integrating the work of laboratory research staff and the research staff in epidemiology with clinical patient care and research at the Loma Linda University Medical Center. New methods are being developed to measure exposure to specific cancer-causing agents and to measure genetic susceptibility to cancer. Similarly, laboratory methods are being developed to detect markers and modulate mechanisms associated with resistance of tumors to drugs and radiation therapy. As these become available for application to studies in human populations, the combined expertise of the research staff in carcinogenesis, molecular biology, genetics, epidemiology, developmental therapeutics, and bioinformatics will be applied to research into the causes, prevention, and cure of cancer. Our community outreach program provides conduits to special population groups who are at the highest risk of developing cancer and therefore provides opportunities to extend research findings to true prevention programs. Loma Linda University is one of few institutions with the diversified research staff required for developing and applying these new methods of research to large, ethnically diverse populations.
Last Revised: Mon, Jun 12, 2006
