We are interested in examining abnormalities in cell cycle control in non-small cell lung cancer in order to find opportunities for therapeutic intervention. The majority of these tumors express wild type alleles of Rb, the product of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene. In order for these cells to proliferate, they inactivate the Rb protein by phosphorylation using several endogenous enzymes called cyclin dependent kinases (cdks). Inhibiting these enzymes should lead to restoration of Rb activity and growth control. Dr. Geoffrey Shapiro initiated work on cdk antagonists in lung cancer while working in the Rollins lab and is now continuing that work in his own lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Meanwhile, our interests now focus on an understudied cell cycle regulator, cyclin C.

Publications

• Shapiro GI, Edwards CD, Ewen ME, Rollins BJ. p16INK4A participates in a G1 arrest checkpoint in response to DNA damage. Mol Cell Biol 1998; 18:378-87.

• Shapiro GI, Supko JG, Patterson A, Lynch C, Lucca J, Zacarola PF, Muzikansky A, Wright JJ, Lynch TJ, Rollins BJ. A phase II trial of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor flavopiridol in patients with previously untreated stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Clin. Cancer Res.2001; 7:1590-9.

• Rollins BJ. Inflammatory chemokines in cancer growth and progression. Eur J Ca 2006; 42:760-7.

Barrett J Rollins, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Barrett J Rollins, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Barrett J Rollins, MD, PhD, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute