Studying cancer prevention mechanisms in regenerative animals (R-6824)

A delicate balance exists between the process of carcinogenesis and tissue regeneration. Regeneration-competent tissues and animals are able to prevent and counteract growth abnormalities and seem to be very resilient to chemical carcinogenesis. Therefore, we believe that regeneration processes offer a unique parallel context for modern cancer research. The underlying mechanisms on how regenerative animals can bypass carcinogenesis are still not known, but both processes share a lot of common molecular pathways. The majority of the already identified mechanisms is involved in successful and coordinated cell functioning and reproduction. The current project aims to identify and characterize new biomolecules by studying regenerative animals (i.e. planarians) while exposing them to carcinogenic compounds. We will focus on how regenerative forces contribute to the mechanisms planarians possess to circumvent the carcinogenic process.

Keywords:STEM CELLS AND REGENERATION

Disciplines:Evolutionary biology