Howard Sussman
Academic Appointments
- Professor, Pathology
Key Documents
Contact Information
- Academic Offices
Personal Information Email Tel (650) 723-6071 Tel (650) 723-6073
Professional Overview
Scientific Focus
Current Research Interests
The general problem with which we are concerned is the elucidation of cellular mechanisms of gene regulation which are related to the neoplastic process in humans. The phenomenon of ectopic protein synthesis in human cancer offers a good experimental model for investigating this problem. The ectopic synthesis of placental proteins by non-trophoblastic neoplasms is of special interest because of the frequent association of similar characteristics in neoplastic cells and embryonic cells. We are investigating the mechanisms associated with the derepression of the genes synthesizing embryonic proteins and those involved in neoplastic transformation:
1. Studies on the regulation of ectopic gene expression in neoplastic breast cells. In these studies we examine the effects of steroid hormones and cholcalciferol analogs on the expression of ectopically produced placental alkaline phosphatase and the eutopic breast-class isoenzyme in human breast cancer cell lines in which embryonic genes are ectopically (non-phenotype) expressed.
2. Studies on a set of nuclear proteins which bind to the regulating sequences controlling the transcription of the placental alkaline phosphatase in response to 1,25,(OH)2D3, which down-regulates the gene and down-regulates cell division.
Publications
- Representational fragment amplification: exponential amplification of fragmented cDNA enables multimillion-fold expression testing. Clin Chem. 2006; (11): 2164-8
- Panel of genes transcriptionally up-regulated in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix identified by representational difference analysis, confirmed by macroarray, and validated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Clin Chem. 2005; (1): 27-34
- Selective downregulation of neutrophils by a phosphatidic acid generation inhibitor in a porcine sepsis model. J Surg Res. 1999; (2): 147-55
- Cross-linking hybridization assay for direct detection of factor V Leiden mutation. Clin Chem. 1997; (9): 1703-8
- Plasma concentrations after rectal administration of acetaminophen in preterm neonates. Paediatr Anaesth. 1997; (6): 457-9
- Restoration of the G1 checkpoint and the apoptotic pathway mediated by wild-type p53 sensitizes squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck to radiotherapy. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1997; (5): 507-12
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