V Foundation funded researchers and their stories - a continuing series
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| by Elsa R. Flores, Ph.D.
Volume 5/Number 1
|  | | Elsa R. Flores, Ph.D. | My interest in cancer research began as a child when I watched my grandmother lose her battle to colon cancer. Although I did not understand what was happening to her body at the time, I thought it was a terrible disease and a horrible and frightening way to die.
As an undergraduate student at M.I.T., I became interested in biochemical engineering and the design of drug delivery systems; however, I still had a strong interest in cancer research and for that reason decided to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of cancer biology.
My decision was also partially influenced by the fact that my aunt (my grandmother’s youngest daughter) was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in college. During my years in graduate school, my aunt was very ill and often asked me questions about her treatment that I could not answer. I found this to be very frustrating and realized that in the future I wanted my research to really make a difference in patients’ lives.
For this reason as a postdoctoral fellow, I chose to pursue research at M.I.T. in the laboratory of Tyler Jacks, a leader in the development of mouse models to study human cancer. There, I studied two newly discovered genes, p63 and p73, and showed that they have tumor suppressive functions.
In November 2004, I started my lab at U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. M.D. Anderson is an extremely rich environment where I will be able to contribute to a better understanding of the genes involved in tumor suppression. I also have the opportunity to interact with clinical and basic scientists that are working together to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms that lead to the formation of a tumor and to create targeted therapies to treat patients.
My scientific interests involve understanding the genetic alterations of a tumor and how these changes affect the interplay of families of genes that lead to the formation of that tumor. The goal is to use this knowledge to design more targeted therapies for cancer patients.
My studies have involved the elucidation of the functions of the p53 family members, p63 and p73, in anti-tumorigneic pathways using molecular, biochemical and in vivo approaches. p53 is mutated in about 50 percent of human cancers.
A few years ago, two p53 family members, p63 and p73, were identified. Much excitement erupted over their potential roles as tumor suppressor genes because of their high homology to p53. These relatively new genes are very complex; many isoforms exist. Studies to date have shown that p63 and p73 can induce apoptosis indicating that they may be important cellular sensors and regulators. However, prior to my work, it was not known how p63 and p73 might impinge on p53 function or whether they play a role in tumor suppression. Using mice mutant for the p53 family members, I found that p63 and p73 are required for p53 dependent apoptosis in response to DNA damage. Additionally, I found that p63 and p73 are tumor suppressor genes and may be involved in progression and metastasis.
I often think of my aunt when I am in the lab. Even though I never had anything to say to help her or save her life, I often remember what she said when I received my Ph.D., “Elsa has done us proud.” I sure hope that I do... | ..............................................................................................................................
Editor's Note: | | Elsa R. Flores, Ph.D., is a 2005 V Scholar at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. |
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My V Grant - Funded Researchers Tell Their Stories