Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase Contributes to Epithelial Homeostasis in Intestinal Inflammation Via Beclin-1 Mediated Autophagy / The Effect of NETs in Awakening Dormant Cancer Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment / The Effect of Simultaneous iNOS and COX2...

Cyclic GMP-AMP Synthase Contributes to Epithelial Homeostasis in Intestinal Inflammation Via Beclin-1 Mediated Autophagy

cGAS maintains intestinal epithelial homeostasis during human IBD and murine colitis by upregulating Beclin-1 mediated autophagy and preventing IEC death. Rescue of autophagy can attenuate the severity of colitis associated with cGAS deficiency.

Presenters: Dr. Sidrah Khan (advisor: Dr. Kevin Mollen)

The Effect of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Awakening Dormant Cancer Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

Recurrent cancer that spreads to distant sites is the leading cause of disease-related death among cancer patients. Cancer cells are likely to disseminate to other tissues during cancer progression and can become dormant and undetectable for many years.  Dormant cancer cells can evade immune surveillance and chemotherapy. Eventually, these cell can reawaken in response to signals, which are not yet fully understood. Dr. Kaltenmeier's group has shown that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can increase invasion, migration and alter metabolism of cancer cells. They therefore hypothesize that surgery induced neutrophil extracellular traps can further promote the awakening of dormant cancer cells at distant sites leading to new metastatic foci.

The Effect of Simultaneous iNOS and COX2 Inhibition in Hepatocellular Carcinoma – from Mice to Humans

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is closely associated with chronic inflammation, accumulation of genetic changes, alterations of the liver microenvironment, and generation of liver cancer stem cells (CSC). A series of studies suggests that continuous exposure to moderate to high concentrations of NO, produced by inducible NO synthase (iNOS), promotes neoplastic transformation and tumor initiation. In addition, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), produced by cells in the TME, has been shown to promote CSC-like activity, by increasing apoptotic resistance, proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. In this current project, Dr. Kaltenmeier's group investigated the role of iNOS and COX2 inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Presenter: Dr. Christof Kaltenmeier (mentors: Mentors: Drs. Timothy Billiar, Samer Tohme, Michele Molinari)