George M. Stancel, Ph.D. 1970, Michigan State University The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology Contact Information

Research Interests:

• Regulation of cell proliferation by estrogens
• Growth factors and cellular oncogenes as mediators of hormonally induced growth
• Regulation of transcription by estrogens
• Regulation of angiogenesis by estrogens and antiestrogens
• Regulation of uterine function by steroid hormones and antihormones
• Regulation of breast and uterine cancer cell proliferation by estrogens
• Developmental effects of exposure to environmental estrogens and other endocrine disruptors

Estrogens are naturally occurring hormones essential for mammalian reproduction. They regulate the proliferation of normal tissues such as the uterine endometrium and mammary epithelium. We are studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in hormone induced cell proliferation focusing on the regulation of peptide growth factors such as EGF and IGF's, cellular oncogenes such as c-fos and c-jun, and angiogenic factors such as VEGF by estrogens, antiestrogens, and related hormones such as progestins. Our experimental studies are conducted in both whole animal and cell culture systems so that we can correlate in vivo and in vitro events.

A tutorial in this laboratory would focus on control of gene expression (e.g., growth factors, oncogenes, etc.) by steroid hormones, techniques for measuring cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro, and various approaches to the study of development and function of the female reproductive tract.

Publications

Program Affiliation:

Program in Cell and Regulatory Biology (Pharmacology Track)