2008 UALC
Randolph Hastings, MD, PhD
Veterans Medical Research Foundation
Research Project:
Determinants of Lepidic Growth in Bronchioalveolar Carcinoma
Summary:
Bronchioalveolar carcinoma is typically non-invasive, compared to the more aggressive lung adenocarcinoma. Dr. Hastings is investigating a specific protein expressed in adenocarcinomas, but not BAC, that may be involved in the growth patterns of BAC versus adenocarcinoma. If successful, this work could identify a new therapeutic target to make lung cancers less invasive and improve patient survival.
More Content:
Final Report
Dr. Hastings has shown that inhibition of integrin alpha2 or alpha3 subunits could be one of the mechanisms by which PTHrP reduces lung carcinoma invasiveness and improves patient survival. However, he was unable to show that PTHrP affects the pattern of lung carcinoma growth, despite the effects seen on cellular adhesion.
Notable Accomplishments
Dr. Hastings has published his work in the American Journal of Physiology: Lung Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and Cancer Biology & Therapy, Clinical Lung Cancer, and Cancer Letters.