Basic and Translational Research
Surgical oncology faculty members are involved in significant basic science and translational laboratory research programs, supported by the National Institutes of Health and a variety of other funding agencies. The types of cancer research conducted here include:

• Development of novel adenoviral vector gene therapy treatments for cancer

• Genetic studies of melanoma, breast, thyroid, GI, and lung cancers
• Innovative studies to explore how nipple aspirate fluid might hold the key to early breast cancer detection and to determine molecular markers of the best response to chemotherapy
• Studies of lymphangiogenesis in melanoma
• Studies to evaluate patient decision-making in breast, lung, and colorectal cancer
• Molecular staging of melanoma
• Investigation of oxidative stress in the progression of Barrett's esophagus to adenocarcinoma
• Nanoparticles and thyroid cancer
• The role of estrogen in thyroid cell proliferation
• The role of ethnic background in thyroid cancer
• Development of a large prospective parathyroid database
• Studies evaluating the impact of psychological and physiological stress on breast cancer
• Laboratory-based studies evaluating the impact of smoking on breast cancer development
• Collaborative work evaluating the impact of diet on estrogen metabolism in breast cancer
• Studies evaluating methods of tailoring therapy for breast cancer patients
• Novel agents for sentinel lymph node biopsy
• Studies evaluating accelerated partial breast radiation in breast cancer

• The Sunbelt Melanoma Trial is the world's largest study of melanoma. It involves 79 centers with more than 3600 patients from around the United States and Canada. Visit AboutMelanoma.com for more information.
• The University of Louisville Breast Cancer Sentinel Lymph Node Study, a 4000-patient study that has allowed this minimally invasive procedure for breast cancer to be adopted as a standard alternative to complete axillary lymph node dissection. Visit AboutBreastHealth.com for more information.
• The National Registry of Image-Guided Breast Biopsy is a 3000-patient study of minimally invasive alternatives to open surgical breast biopsy.
• The NAFTA Trial is a 2000-patient study of hormonal therapy for breast cancer.
• A multicenter study of radiofrequency ablation plus hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy for colorectal metastases. Visit AboutLiverTumors.com for more information.
• National clinical trials evaluating aromatase inhibitors, breast density, and bone density in post-menopausal breast cancer patients

Laboratory Investigators:
Yanbin Dong, Hong Ying Hao, Jorge G. Gomez-Gutierrez, Yan Li, Akhil Kumar