Brief Overview
Our lab focuses on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its contribution to cervical cancer. “High risk” strains of HPV, such as HPV-16, cause 95% of all cervical cancers. Studies done by students in the lab have shown that expression of HPV-16 E6 and E7 genes (the major transforming genes of the virus) can activate NF-kB and stimulate expression of NF-kB-responsive genes. NF-kB is involved in innate immune responses as it leads to increased cell proliferation and the inhibition of apoptosis (programmed cell death) when active. This can lead to malignant development and may contribute to the progression of cervical cancer.
This summer our focus was in two directions. First being to determine how the HPV 16 E6 and E7 genes work to alter NF-kB expression when expressed stably in the cell. The second goal was to compare the level of NF-Kb activity in normal cervical cells, HPV-immortalized cells, and tumor cells. The long term goal of both of these experiments is to understand whether NF-Kb is a potential target for therapy of HPV infection or cervical dysplasia.
This page is still under construction, thanks for your patience.
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