Theme 1: Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations in Cancer

Theme 2: Redox Dysregulation and Oxidative Stress in Cancer

Theme 3: DNA Damage and Repair in Cancer
 

These major research themes collectively address critical aspects of cancer biology, positioning the CC Program at the forefront of discovery to reduce the burden of cancer in Vermont and northern New York.

The CC program members’ expertise have synergy in the area of epigenetics and genetics, with a collective objective to explore multiple facets of epigenetic regulation in normal and cancer cells. Investigators collaborate on multiple cancer research projects that explore molecular mechanisms that safeguard from cancer initiation and progression, study the functions of epigenetic regulators mutated in cancer, define the epigenetic programming imposed through aberrant signal transduction cascades in cancer, and validate epigenetic targets for potential therapeutic intervention and biomarker development. By identifying key drivers of cancer development, the program aims to elucidate fundamental mechanisms of cancer and potential targets for precision therapies.

All tumors exist in an increased oxidative environment. Tumors have to adapt to deal with the increased production of oxidants, referred to as oxidative stress, by reconfiguring their metabolism. Through comprehensive studies of sources of oxidants, perturbations of metabolic pathways and high resolution mapping of oxidant-induced modifications to proteins, this theme seeks to understand how redox dysregulation contributes to cancer phenotypes. An additional goal is to exploit these insights to develop novel redox-based therapeutic approaches, capitalizing on structural insights, and chemical moieties to precisely target effectors or sites of oxidative modifications, some of which have been implemented in in FDA-approved drugs.

The CC program benefits from collective expertise of structural biologists and biochemists that study DNA damage repair mechanisms in cancer. Focusing on multiple DNA repair pathways, these investigators study the structural and molecular mechanisms driving oncogenesis through DNA damage and repair processes. By elucidating these mechanisms, the program aims to develop strategies that target cancer cells' vulnerabilities while preserving healthy tissues.