Cell Growth and Survival
The Cell Growth and Survival (CGS) Program is focused on the signaling pathways that regulate the growth, survival and death of normal and neoplastic cells. The goal of this research is to develop novel strategiesthat exploit this understanding to improve anti-cancer therapy. The CGS Program currently has 27 scientificmembers from 10 departments in the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Changes in membershipof the CGS program since the previous review in 2000 reflect specific, targeted recruiting to improveintegration of the major themes of the program. These changes are now paying dividends in terms ofscientific productivity. This program has undergone substantial growth in its total funding. In addition, the extent of scientific collaboration hasincreased markedly during the present funding period, centered on the major themes of the Program. Several novel contributions from the CGS Program to the national cancer effort have emerged asthemes since the previous review. They are:
1) a fascinating synergy between vitamin D and dietary soyisoflavones in regulation of proliferation in prostate and breast cancer;
2) explorations of the effects of dietarylipids on cancer cell proliferation and metastasis;
3) a novel role of reactive oxygen species as signalingmolecules in cell proliferation;
4) translational control and endoplasmic reticulum stress in hypoxia,
5) thegenetic control of innate anti-tumor immune mechanisms; and
6) the antagonistic relationship of antiviral andproliferative signaling and the development of novel oncolytic viruses.