Responsible Center: NASA JSC
Grant Monitor: Simonsen, Lisa
Center Contact: lisa.c.simonsen@nasa.gov
Unique ID: 9036
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Solicitation / Funding Source: 2012 Space Radiobiology NNJ12ZSA001N
Grant/Contract No.: Internal Project
Project Type: GROUND
Flight Program:
TechPort: No |
No. of Post Docs: 2
No. of PhD Candidates:
No. of Master's Candidates:
No. of Bachelor's Candidates:
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No. of PhD Degrees:
No. of Master's Degrees:
No. of Bachelor's Degrees:
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Human Research Program Elements: |
(1) SR:Space Radiation
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Human Research Program Risks: |
(1) Cancer:Risk of Radiation Carcinogenesis
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Human Research Program Gaps: |
(1) Cancer-202:Evaluate the contribution of genetic background/diversity on carcinogenesis risk.
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Flight Assignment/Project Notes: |
NOTE: Extended to 11/30/14 per PI; original end date was 9/30/13 (Ed., 7/31/13) |
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Task Description: |
Establishing the scientific basis of radiation cancer risk is a primary goal for the NASA Space Radiation Program. There are large uncertainties in approaches to extrapolate experimental or human epidemiology data from high to low doses, and from high LET to low LET radiation. In this proposed study, we will use the cell transformation (pre-malignance) assay, which occurs much earlier than carcinogenesis after radiation exposure, to elucidate mechanisms and to provide important quantitative data on radiation quality effects related to cancer risks from low doses of HZE particles. We proposed two aims to test our hypothesis that p63 plays an important role in HZE particle-induced human cell pre-malignant transformation. Aim1: Investigate how p63 promotes HZE particle-induced human epithelial cell transformation through the JAG1/Wnt4#Myc pathway. Aim2: Investigate how p63 promotes HZE particle-induced human epithelial cell transformation through the CD95#JNK#Jun pathway. The results from this proposal are expected to reveal the importance of p63 in HZE particle-induced human epithelial cell transformation. Since majority of human tumors are derived from epithelial cells, the results from this proposal will make important contribution to the mechanism of HZE particle-induced carcinogenesis and therefore, providing valuable information for estimating the risk of space radiation-induced carcinogenesis and for further protection from such risk. |
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Research Impact/Earth Benefits: |
The results from this proposed work will reveal the important role of p63 in HZE particle-induced human epithelial cell transformation. Since the majority of human tumors (more than 90%) are derived from epithelial cells, the results from this proposal will make an important contribution to the understanding of how low doses of HZE particles can promote carcinogenesis and, therefore, provide valuable information for estimating the risk of space radiation-induced carcinogenesis and for further attempting to reduce such risk. |