The Campbell lab is interested in how mammalian cells recognize and respond to xenobiotic-induced DNA damage. In particular, we're interested in DNA damage induced by anti-cancer agents. It is known that cells recognize this damage and respond by activating signal transduction pathways that dictate cellular responses such as: DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and/or activation of programmed cell death. Mutations in key genes regulating this process can alter this DNA damage response in ways that render cancer cells unresponsive to the cytotoxic effects of anti-cancer drugs, resulting in drug resistance and patient death. On the other hand, many anti-cancer drugs evoke catastrophic levels of cell killing within normal cell populations, including stem cells within the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive tissues, etc. Developing a greater understanding of this highly regulated and complex cellular response has the potential to significantly impact the field of cancer chemotherapy. This insight can be utilized to develop novel therapeutics that target tumor-specific mutations in ways that enhance chemotherapeutic efficacy. The long-term objective of these studies is to gain insight that can be used to improve the safety and efficacy of cancer chemotherapy.
