Page 18 - Hormel Report 2023

Ann M. Bode, PhD
“Overcoming drug resistance is the single most important obstacle in effective sustainable cancer treatment. Discovering the mechanisms of how it occurs is crucially important in
preventing and treating this devastating disease.”
Ann M. Bode
18 | THE HORMEL INSTITUTE // UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Cancer Biomarkers and Drug Resistance
PROFESSOR
Our goal is to determine the molecular and cellular mechanisms of cancer develop- ment in order to facilitate the discovery of
effective compounds to overcome drug resis- tance in the treatment of cancer. Our primary project focuses on identifying targets for skin cancer prevention in order to develop highly effective inhibitors against these targets.
Current Research Projects
The incidence of sunlight-associated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is increasing at an alarming rate. The increased incidence is due, at least partially, to the fact that primary skin cancer prevention strategies, such as sunscreen use, have had limited success. This is highlighted by the fact that exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, a known carcinogen, is responsible for at least 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Reducing the incidence of cSCCs
would not only diminish their potentially severe morbidity and mortality, but also decrease the multibillion dollar health bill associated with surgical and medical treatments required.
Thus identifying the cellular and molecular signaling molecules in the development of cSCC
is extremely important. Although sun protection is recommended, active prevention interventions are generally not used until the development of actinic keratoses (AKs) or cSCCs. We still have an incomplete understanding of the regulatory interplay in multiple skin-specific mechanisms and pathways that drive skin carcinogenesis, including DNA damage responses and immune