The insidiousness of cancer is the ability to develop and spread in the absence of a strong physiological response.  Many types of cancers form as a result of mutations that allow the now-transformed cells to ignore the cues coming from the surrounding environment and proliferate to form a tumor.  Many tumors are a mixed population of cells and some gain the capacity to metastasize to other sites in the body.  To be able to effectively fight cancer scientists need to understand the molecular processes that lead to transformation, the interactions that the tumor has with the surrounding environment to effectively "hijack" the body's defenses and nutrient supply system to aid in its growth, and the mechanisms involved in cell migration and invasion that contribute to metastasis.

The scientists at BBRI are utilizing a multi-pronged approach to understand tumor growth and dissemination.  Research focuses on the factors that contribute to the initial transformation step, the impact of transformation on changes in cell behavior which result in enhanced survival and growth, and how these facilitate the metastasis of the tumor to other sites in the body.  Directing our research efforts to these 3 main steps in cancer progression is critical in the development of novel effective cancer therapies.