This Laboratory is concerned with five areas of research: (1) molecular and physiological control mechanisms in normal and neoplastic cells designed to obtain information on the molecular mechanisms involved in neoplastic transformation, including a search for and cloning of viral genomes and genome products in human tumor tissues; (2) the identification, isolation, and demonstration of biological activity of viral information in human leukemic cells and cells from patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); (3) search for biochemical markers of minimal neoplastic disease and the development of practically useful microtests for the detection of such markers; (4) cell differentiation in vitro. (This relates to a major interest of the Laboratory: Does the phenotypic abnormality of leukemia in man result from a block in leukocyte maturation?) (5) Based on new information in the literature and from studies within this laboratory, new approaches to cancer chemotherapy are evaluated in in vitro and in vivo systems. This is the ultimate goal of the Laboratory.
