M.D. - University of Virginia, 1949
Research Professor in Molecular and Cell Biology
Laboratory of Genetics
National Cancer Institute
NCI/NIH
9000 Rocville
Pike Bldg.37, Rm 2B03
Bethesda, MD 20892
Phone: (301)-496-2777
E-mail:
potter@helix.nih.gov
Research Interests: Pathogenesis of peritoneal plasma cell tumor development in BALB/c mice.
The major research effort in the Laboratory of Genetics focuses on the pathogenesis of plasma cell tumor development in mice. The model system most commonly used is the induction of plasma cell tumors by introducing materials such as paraffin oils, silicone gels, or solid plastic objects into the peritoneal cavities of genetically susceptible mice. These materials induce chronic inflammation on peritoneal surfaces and connective tissues. Plasmacytomas develop and progress in these microenvironments, which provide an experimental system for exploring the relationship of chronic inflammation and neoplastic development. Research efforts focus on three aspects of this complex problem. First, peritoneal plasmacytomagenesis takes place only in certain genetically susceptible strains of mice, such as BALB/cAn. Most other strains of mice are resistant. A major effort is to define the specific susceptibility/resistance genes that determine this susceptibility. Second, over 95% of peritoneal plasmacytomas have characteristics chromosomal rearrangements [T(12;15); T(6;15)] that activate the c-myc proto-oncogene. PCR methods for detecting the T(12;15) illegitimate recombination of c-myc and the Ig heavy chain locus have been developed and have shown that these translocations can be found in the lymphoid tissues of normal mice. Work is directed toward explaining the pathogenesis of chromosomal translocations. Thirdly, much current work concerns explaining how the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent and cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin inhibits peritoneal plasmacytoma formation in BALB/cAn mice. This involves the identification of the target cells (probably macrophages) and the specific factors involved in this dramatic inhibitor.
The major plasma cell neoplasm in humans is multiple myeloma. It can be preceded by a benign condition, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). While peritoneal plasmacytoma development in mice has notable differences from multiple myeloma, it nonetheless provides a model system for understanding the pathogenesis of plasma cell neoplasia. Hopefully, such a system will be useful for finding means to arrest the progression of these tumors or to prevent them entirely.
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