Tumor cell adhesion, invasion, metastasis The research in the McCarthy Laboratory focuses on understanding the importance of changes in the relationships between tumor cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix in tumor progression and metastasis. The research in the laboratory is organized into two major areas related to specific tumors. Melanoma, a malignant tumor of the skin, constitutes one of these research focus areas. Ongoing studies in the laboratory address the mechanisms by which an early progression antigen, termed Melanoma Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan (MCSP) enhances adhesion, survival, growth and invasion of primary and metastatic melanomas. MCSP is a transmembrane proteoglycan that can enhance the adhesion and invasion of melanoma cells. Projects related to MCSP-mediated signal transduction, tumor cell survival, and activation of specific proteases important for tumor invasion are currently in progress. Additionally, related studies in prostate cancer are also ongoing in the laboratory. These studies focus on understanding the mechanism by which specific chemotactic cytokines (termed chemokines) stimulate prostate tumor invasion. Research projects are also in progress to study the importance of hyaluronan synthesis in prostate tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis to bone and other organs.
