Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, tumor cell progression and metastasis constitute a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to tumor formation, progression and metastasis is a major challenge in cancer research.<br>Members of the Cancer Biology Track of MICaB graduate program utilize a multidisciplinary approach to study cancer. Research opportunities in many of the faculty laboratories address the genetics and biology of tumor formation, progression, invasion and metastasis. Faculty laboratories also focus on the development of new cancer therapies including developing new inhibitors of angiogenesis, improving immune-based therapies, and studying novel compounds that can inhibit the growth and/or survival of malignant tumors.<br><br>A major area of research emphasis in the Cancer Biology Track is the relationship between genetic changes and biochemical signaling pathways in the development of cancer. Recent years have witnessed an explosion of information regarding how external signals (e.g., growth factors) bind to cell surface receptors and subsequently transduce biochemical signals that ultimately lead to changes in cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, resistance/sensitivity to apoptosis, migration and invasion.