Grant: Operating Grant

There are many mechanisms known to contribute to cancer formation, one of which is related to a group of enzymes called tyrosine kinases. In normal cells, tyrosine kinases are known to play key roles in regulating many important cellular functions. In some cancer cells, tyrosine kinases are known to be over-active, thereby deregulating a wide range of cellular processes and often leading to uncontrolled cell growth and tumor formation. Our research group has been studying such a cancer-forming tyrosine kinase called NPM-ALK for the past 9 years. Recently, we discovered that NPM-ALK can induce genetic instability, by interfering with a critical cellular function called DNA mismatch repair, a mechanism normally used to safeguard the integrity of our genes. The main purpose of this study is to further investigate this novel mechanism by which cancer formation is promoted. We aim to develop new therapeutic approaches based on the new information derived from this study.