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The overall goal of this program is to develop novel, efficacious therapeutic regimens for the prevention of human cancer. The major focus continues to be on the identification of early molecular alterations that may serve as biomarkers of cancer risk and targets for therapeutic intervention in colorectal and lung carcinogenesis. Current efforts focus on four areas of basic research, which include: 1) identification of molecular targets for early intervention; 2) selection of the most promising chemopreventive agents for analysis and elucidation of their mechanism of action; 3) establishment of biomarkers of cancer risk to facilitate the selection of those asymptomatic high-risk individuals who would benefit most from a preventive intervention; and 4) the development of validated intermediate endpoints of carcinogenesis and their use as biomarkers of therapeutic response. Application of state-of-the-art genomic and imaging technology to the analysis of well-defined mouse models continues to provide unique insight into the molecular basis of the carcinogenic process and potential strategies for tumor inhibition.

1. Meireles SI, Esteves GH, Hirata R Jr, Peri S, Devarajan K, Slifker M, Mosier SL, Peng J, Vadhanam MV, Hurst HE, Neves EJ, Reis LF, Gairola CG, Gupta RC, Clapper ML. Early changes in gene expression induced by tobacco smoke: evidence for the importance of estrogen within lung tissue. Cancer Prev Res. In press.
2. Hensley HH, Merkel CE, Chang W-CL, Devarajan K, Cooper HS, Clapper ML. Endoscopic imaging and size estimation of colorectal adenomas in the Multiple Intestinal Neoplasia mouse. Gastrointest Endosc. 2009;69(3)Suppl:742-9. PubMed
3. Clapper ML, Gary, MA, Coudry RA, Litwin S, Chang W-CL, Devarajan K, Lubet RA, Cooper HS. 5 aminosalicylic acid inhibits colitis-associated colorectal dysplasias in the mouse model of azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2008;14:1341-7. PubMed
4. Chang W-CL, Coudry RA, Clapper ML, Zhang X, Williams K, Spittle CS, Li T, Cooper HS. Loss of p53 enhances the induction of colitis-associated neoplasia by dextran sulfate sodium. Carcinogenesis. 2007;28:2375-81. PubMed
5. Cooper HS, Chang W-C, Coudry R, Gary M, Everley L, Spittle CS, Wang H, Litwin S, Clapper ML. Generation of a unique strain of multiple intestinal neoplasia (Apc+/Min-FCCC) mice with significantly increased numbers of colorectal adenomas. Mol Carcinog. 2005; 44:31-41. PubMed