Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests
- Mechanisms of tumor-suppressor gene action
- Role of the immune system in tumor suppression
- Genome engineering in the mouse
- Chemical genetic strategies to modulate tumor suppression


Key Words: mouse modeling, tumor suppressors, tumor immunology, tumor microenvironment, lung cancer

Current Research In The Feldser Laboratory
The Feldser lab uses genetically engineered mouse models to study tumor progression and metastasis of common forms of human cancer. These models faithfully recapitulate many aspects of the histopathological progression of their human counterparts. Tumors initiate as lesions within the appropriate tissue microenvironment from single cells due to induced activation of latent oncogenes and/or deletion of key tumor suppressor genes. These lesions evolve through multiple cellular states toward malignant and metastatic disease. Our research is dedicated to deconstructing the multistep process of tumorigenesis. The major emphasis of our laboratory is to uncover the pathways that are disabled by mutational inactivation of tumor-suppressor genes as well as those pathways stimulated by aberrant oncogene activation. We focus on mouse models in order to employ novel genetic tools to regulate gene function in developing cancerous lesions as well as to track cancer growth and dissemination via bioluminescent and fluorescent techniques. We couple cellular, genomic and biochemical analyses to our powerful in vivo tools to discern the mechanics of tumor progression and metastasis with the goal of identifying new therapeutic strategies to eradicate malignant cells.

Rotation Projects
- Studies of the physiological role of p53, Rb, and Kras in lung cancer
- Oncogene signal amplification in tumor initiation and progression
- Validation of novel methods to regulate gene function in the mouse
- Characterization of chemical regulators of tumor suppressors

Please contact Dr. Feldser to discuss specific rotation projects.