Dr. Langenfeld s Lab Focuses On The Genes That Regulate...

The research in Dr. Langenfeld’s lab focuses on the genes that regulate lung cancer. The experiment looks closely at the non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and immortalized bronchial epithelial cells. Careful study of the carcinoma and epithelial cells has revealed that the mRNA of bone morphogenetic proteins 2 and 4 (BMP-2/4) was highly expressed in the carcinoma. Past studies have shown that BMP-2/4 have certain properties that allow them to activate the differentiation, growth, and migration of cancerous cells in the embryo. After studying these morphogens in lung carcinoma is was revealed that the BMP-2, in its mature state, is significantly more expressed in NSCLC than BMP-4 in cancerous lung tissue, but did not show much effect in normal lung tissue or benign lung tumors. The BMP-2 that was exposed in vitro to the A549 and H7249 human lung cancer lines stimulated significant migration and invasiveness. In vivo trials showed that the growth of tumors of A549 cells in n ude mice was highly enhanced. Tumor growth in NSCLC was attempted to be reduced with recombinant through the exposure to noggin or the anti-BMP-2 antibody. Results showed a significant reduction in the tumor growth[1]. After the identification of BMP-2, its detailed role in cancer needed to be established. Further focused analysis determined that BMP-2 enhances tumors through the process of neovascularization. Specifically, BMP-2 activates the formation of new blood vessels in the A549 cells. There