Raymond White
Oncological Sciences
Adjunct Distinguished Professor

Contribution to Society

The discovery of genes associated with tumor development is leading to a new understanding of the basic processes that govern the life and death of cells and, by extension, human health itself. Expanding this understanding will open doors to new therapies for cancer, and, ultimately, may provide strategies for preventing this increasingly common threat to human health.

Research Summary

Our research in the past has focused on discovering genes that control cell growth. Linkage analysis with DNA from patients whose families carry inherited predispositions to cancer set the stage for our positional cloning of two genes: the APC gene which is responsible for an inherited form of colon cancer, and the NF1 gene responsible for neurofibromatosis type 1. Our long-term goals are to use our genetic clues to explore the fundamental molecular changes that define the earliest stages of cancer development. We will use our knowledge of the molecular biology of the precancerous state to develop new strategies for early intervention and for cancer prevention.

Recent Publications

Lui J, Stevens J, Rote CA, Yost HJ, Hu Y, Neufeld KL, White R, Matsunami N. (2001) Siah-1 mediates a novel Beta-catenin degradation pathway linking p53 to the adenomatous polypsois coli protein. Mol Cell. 7(5):927-36.

Zhang F, White RL, Neufeld KL. (2001) Cell density and phosphorylation control the subcellular localization of adenomatous polyposis coli protein. Mol Cell Biol. 21(23):8143-56.

Neufeld KL, Zhang F, Cullen BR, White RL. (2000) APC-mediated downregulation of beta-catenin activity involves nuclear sequestration and nuclear export. EMBO Rep. 1(6):519-23.

Zhang F, White RL, Neufeld KL. (2000) Phosphorylation near nuclear localization signal regulates nuclear import of adenomatous polyposis coli protein. PNAS 97(23):12577-82.

Neufeld KL, Nix DA, Bogerd H, Kang Y, Beckerle MC, Cullen BR, White RL. (2000) Adenomatous polyposis coli protein contains two nuclear export signals and shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. PNAS 97(22):12085-90.

Satterwhite DJ, White RL, Matsunami N, Neufeld KL. (2000) Inhibition of topoisomerase IIalpha expression by transforming growth factor-beta1 is abrogated by the papillomavirus E7 protein. Cancer Res. 60(24):6989-94.

Satterwhite DJ, Matsunami N, White RL. (2000) TGF-beta1 inhibits BRCA1 expression through a pathway that requires pRb. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 24;276(2):686-92.

Spancake K, Anderson C, Weaver V, Matsunami N, Bisselll M, White R (1999) E7-transduced himan breast epithelial cells show partial differentiation in three-dimensional culture. Cancer Research 59:6042-6045

White RL. (1999) Colon polyps: a damaged developmental system and a precursor to cancer. Cytogenet Cell Genet. 86(2):95-8. Review.

White R (1999) Technology and the Evolution of Human Genetics. Experimental Cell Research Volume 253, pp 305-307

Hsu L-C, White R (1998) BRCA1 is associated with the centrosome during mitosis. PNAS October Vol. 95, pp 12983-12988

White RL. (1998) Excess risk of colon cancer associated with a polymorphism of the APC gene? Cancer Res. 58(18):4038-9.

White RL. (1998) Tumor suppressing pathways. Cell. 92(5):591-2. Review.