Nicholas Cacalano, Ph.D.
Research performed at: UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Specialty/Research Area: General Cancer, Signal Transduction
Career Summary: Dr. Cacalano is Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at UCLA. He is also a member of the
JCCC signal transduction and Therapeutics Program Area, where he heads a research laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in 1991 from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (New York, N.Y.). He did postdoctoral work at
DNAX Research Institute from 1996–2001. His research focuses on the basic mechanisms of
signal transduction and its role in the growth of cancer cells.
Year STOP CANCER Award was received: 2003
RCDA
Description of research performed: Dr. Cacalano's research into
signal transduction seeks to understand how normal
signaling between substances and cells becomes corrupted in cancer, as well as how knowledge of
signaling pathways can be exploited to assess resistance to radiation treatment and identify targets for molecular therapies.
Results of research: Dr. Cacalano's laboratory team has identified the role of Suppressor of Cytokine
signaling, and in particular the
biomarkers known as SOSC1 and SOCS3, in determining the extent of
DNA damage response to radiation therapy. The researchers have been able to identify factors that can make normal and tumor cells resistant or susceptible to radiation.