The CSHL Cancer Center is committed to transforming discoveries in fundamental biological processes and in human genetics into insights into the biology, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. CSHL scientists are studying a number of human cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and brain cancer. Numerous significant findings have emerged from the CSHL cancer research program in areas such as DNA replication, cell cycle progression, RNA splicing, protein structure/function, gene transcription, and cancer gene discovery. In addition, building on initial work identifying the ras oncogene and characterizing its signaling pathway(s), the signal transduction program continues to identify important molecules contributing to cancer cell behavior and tumor progression.

CSHL is also a world-leader in the development and application of innovative technologies that have had a significant impact in molecular biology and medicine. Many of these arise directly from efforts studying basic biological processes. For example, work aimed at understanding the biology of small RNAs has led not only to the demonstration that these molecules can be oncogenic, but also to the development of powerful RNA interference (RNAi) technologies. Using these technologies, researchers are able to rapidly identify genes suspected to have a role in human cancer. Combined with CSHL’s outstanding program in human genetics and the development of mouse models, RNAi technology has enabled researchers to produce tumors with different genotypes identified in human patients for the purpose of studying how specific gene combinations influence tumorigenesis and treatment responses to conventional and ‘targeted’ therapeutics.

The CSHL Cancer Center is organized into three Scientific Programs.  The Gene Regulation & Cell Proliferation Program focuses on the regulation of gene expression, cell division cycle control and chromosome structure in normal and cancer cells. The Signal Transduction Program focuses on signal transduction pathways and cell architecture in normal and cancer cells. The Cancer Genetics Program  focuses on understanding the genetic basis of cancer, cancer progression and development of resistance to chemotherapy.

CSHL provides a dynamic and interactive research environment for this research, and many of the projects are collaborative, drawing from the strengths across various Scientific Program areas. The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center also supports ten Shared Resources that facilitate cancer research and technology development. In addition, CSHL promotes rapid dissemination of scientific information and technology through an extensive education and teaching program. The internationally recognized CSHL Meetings & Courses Program attracts more than 8,000 scientists to the Lab each year, including several large annual meetings related directly to cancer research. In addition, the Watson School of Biological Sciences offers a novel curriculum to train graduate students to become scientists and true scholars. The CSHL Press, Banbury Conference Center and DNA Learning Center also provide valuable educational components to the research program at CSHL.

We believe that the new technology and expertise of CSHL investigators combined with a dynamic and supportive research environment places us in a unique position to produce breakthroughs that will have an immediate impact on the understanding and treatment of cancer. The CSHL Cancer Center will continue to foster collaboration and innovation in its research programs, with a focus on transforming basic discoveries into new therapeutic and diagnostic advances.