Funding outcome

Our research team is investigating the link between inflammation and cancer. One model utilized is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) predisposition to colorectal cancer (CRC) and lymphoma. RASSF1A is important to controlling inflammation and inhibition of colitis, a form of IBD. Using targeted therapy to activators of inflammation, we can interfere with the appearance of colitis within the colon of IBD patients. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a cancer of the lymphatic system whereby cells grow uncontrollably. Majority of the HL neoplasms are surrounded by >95% inflammatory cells. The cells are thought to promote tumor formation and need to be eliminated in order to efficiently treat patients. We know that RASSF1A is missing in> 26% of IBD patients and in> 65% of HL patients to suggest importance in the appearance of both diseases. 1A loss will lead to uncontrolled inflammation and HL if the inflammation is not regulated. In this project I would like to characterize specific unexplored features of HL and to use therapeutics to inhibit/kill HL cells. I will specifically try to understand protein-protein interactions of a crucial protein known as RIPK2 and how these interactions influence the pathogenesis and progression of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.