Research / Clinical Summary

Mark Ginsberg, MD Professor, Medicine Tumor Growth, Invasion & Metastasis Program Contact by Email

Recent developments in my research have focused on fundamental problems in the pathogenesis of cancer, specifically as this relates to cell adhesion and migration mechanisms mediated by integrin adhesion receptors. Integrin activation regulates the assembly of the extracellular matrix, cell adhesion and migration. Activation of Ras/Raf-1 signaling blocks integrin activation explaining phenotypic features of transformed cells. We have discovered that PEA-15, abrogates the effect of Ras/Raf-1 on integrin activation. This anti-apoptic protein also modulates ERK MAP kinase that is a target of many oncogenes. Our recent studies have focused on the structure of PEA-15 and its role in malignant transformation.