Understanding the genetic changes that cause Cancer

Cancer is the prototypic genetic disease. For most sporadic cancers, mutations that arise in cells during life (somatic mutations) are responsible for change from normal responses to growth signals to uncontrolled growth and metastasis. NCGR is working with the International Mesothelioma Program (PI David J. Sugarbaker, MD) to understand the causative factors in the development of the asbestos-associated lung cancer, mesothelioma, and to translate these findings into improved therapy.