Dennis K. Watson, Ph.D.

Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Leader, HCC Cancer Genes and Molecular Regulation Program

Office:
Hollings Cancer Center
Room 332

Laboratories:
Hollings Cancer Center
Rooms 321,327, 343, 344

Office Phone: 843-792-3962
Office Fax: 843-792-3940

 

Visit Dr. Watson's LAB

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Malignancies can result from mutations in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, including genes that encode for transcription factors. Such aberrations result in the disruption of signal-transduction pathways that insure proper functioning of cellular processes. Disruption in the normal functions of trans-acting factors can lead to cancer as well as abnormal development. My research is focused in two areas: (1) Molecular biology of gene regulation. To define the functional role of the ETS gene family of transcription factors during cellular proliferation and differentiation and transformation. (2) Molecular genetics of cancer. To identify and functionally characterize genes critical for carcinogenic transformation, metastasis, and progression.

FUNDING: Work in the laboratory is supported in part by grants P01 CA78582 and R01 CA123159.  

EDUCATION

BS 1972 University of Southern California
Ph.D. 1980 Johns Hopkins University

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Spyropoulos, D.D., Pharr, P., Lavenburg, K.R., Jackers, P., Papas, T.S., Ogawa, M. and Watson, D.K.: Hemorrhage, impaired hematocytopenia and lethality in mouse embryos carrying a targeted disruption of the Fli1 transcription factor. Mol and Cell Biol. 20:5643-52, 2000. (abstract)

Kawada, H., Ito, T., Pharr, P.N., Spyropoulos, D.D., Watson, D.K. and Ogawa, M.: Defective megakaryopoiesis and abnormal erythroid development in Fli-1 gene targeted mice. Int. J. Hematol. 73:463-8, 2001. (abstract)

Feldman, R.J., Sementchenko, V.I., Gayed, M., Fraig, M.M. and Watson, D.K.: Pdef expression in human breast cancer is correlated with invasive potential and altered gene expression, Cancer Research: 63: 4626-4631, 2003. (abstract)

Yordy, J. S., Li, R., Sementchenko, V. I., Pei, H., Muise-Helmericks. R. C. and Watson, D. K.: SP100 Expression Modulates ETS1 Transcriptional Activity and Inhibits Cell Invasion, Oncogene 23: 6654-6665, 2004. (abstract)

Jackers, P., Szalai, G., Moussa, O., and Watson, D.K. Ets-dependent regulation of target gene expression during megakaryopoiesis, J. Biol. Chem, 279: 52183-52190, 2004. (abstract)

Masuya, M., Moussa, O., Abe, T., Deguchi, T., Higuchi, T., Spyropoulos, D. D., Watson, D. K., Ogawa, M.: Dysregulation of granulocyte, monocyte, erythrocyte and NK cell in Fli-1 gene targeted mice, Blood, 105: 95-102, 2005. (abstract)

Yordy, J.S., Moussa, O., Pei, H., Chaussabel, D., Li, R., and Watson, D.K., SP100 inhibits ETS1 activity in primary endothelial cells, Oncogene 24: 916-931, 2005. (abstract)

Fraser, M.M., Watson, P.M., Fraig, M., Kelley, J.R., Nelsen, P., Boylan, A., Cole, D.J. and Watson, D.K.: CaSm mediated transformation is associated with alterations in mRNA stability and gene expression.  Cancer Research 65: 6228-6236, 2005. (abstract)

Pei, H., Li, C., Adereth, Y., Hsu, T., Watson, D. K. and Li, R.  Caspase-1 is a direct target gene of ETS1 and plays a role in ETS1-induced apoptosis, Cancer Research, 65: 7205-7213, 2005. (abstract)

Seth, A. and Watson, D.K.: Ets Transcription Factors and their Emerging Roles in Human Cancer, European J. Cancer, 41:2462-2478, 2005. (abstract)

Moussa O. M., Yordy, J. S., Abou-Elenin H., Sinha, D., Bissada, N. K., Halushka, P.V., Ghoneim, M. A. and Watson, D. K.: Prognostic and Functional Significance of Thromboxane A2 Synthase Gene Overexpression In Invasive Bladder Cancer, Cancer Research 65: 11581-11587, 2005. (abstract)

Yan, Y., Rubinchik, S., Wood, A.L., Gillanders, W.E., Dong, J-Y., Watson, D.K., and Cole, D.J.: Bystander effect contributes to the antitumor efficacy of CaSm antisense gene therapy in a preclinical model of advanced pancreatic cancer, Molecular Therapy 13, 357-365, 2006. (abstract)

Moussa, O. M., Abou-Enein, H., Bissada, N. K., Keane, T., Ghoneim, M. A., Watson, D.K.: Evaluation of survivin reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) for non-invasive detection of bladder cancer, J. Urology 175: 2312-2316, 2006. (abstract)

Forough, R., Weylie, B., Collins, C., Parker, J.L., Zhu, J., Barhoumi, R. and Watson, D.K.: Transcription factor Ets-1 regulates fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) mediated angiogenesis in vivo: Role of Ets-1 in regulation of PI3K/AKT/MMP-1 pathway, Journal of Vascular Research, 43:327–337, 2006. (abstract)

Pang, L., Xue, H.-H., Szalai, G., Wang, X., Wang, Y., Watson, D.K., Leonard, W.J., Blobel, G., and Poncz, M.: Maturation stage-specific regulation of megakaryocytic genes by pointed-domain Ets proteins, Blood, 108:2198-2206, 2006. (Epub)

Szalai, G., LaRue, A. C., and Watson, D.K.: Molecular mechanisms of megakaryopoiesis, Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (CMLS), 63:2460-2476, 2006. (Epub)

Turner, D., Moussa, O., Sauane, M., Fisher, P.B., and Watson, D.K.: PDEF is a mediator of metastatic potential through the inhibition of migration and invasion in breast cancer, Cancer Research 67: 1618-25, 2007. (Epub)

Watson, D. K., Abate-Shen, C., and Gelmann, E.: Molecular Pathogenesis of Prostate Cancer,  American Society of Clinical Oncology 2007 Education Book, 43rd ASCO Annual Meeting, 267-271, 2007.

Higuchi. T., Bartel, F., Masuya, M., Deguchi, T., Henderson, K., Li, R., Muise-Helmericks, R., Ogawa, M., Kern, M., Watson, D.K., and Spyropoulos, D. D.: Thymomegaly, Microsplenia and defective homeostatic proliferation of peripheral lymphocytes p51-Ets1 Isoform-Specific Null Mice, Molecular and Cellular Biology 27: 3353–3366, 2007. (Epub)

Markiewicz, M., Asano, Y., Znoyko, S., Gong, Y., Watson, D. K., and Trojanowska, M.:      Distinct effects of gonadectomy in male and female mice on collagen fibrillogenesis in mouse skin, Journal of Dermatological Science, 47:217-226, 2007. (Epub)

Turner, D. P., Findlay, V. J., Moussa, O., and Watson, D. K.: Defining ETS Transcription Regulatory Networks and their Contribution to Breast Cancer Progression Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 102: 549-559, 2007. (Epub)

Moussa, O., Riker, M., Klein, J., Fraig, M., Halushka, P. V. and Watson, D. K.:  Inhibition of Thromboxane Synthase Activity Modulates Bladder Cancer Cell Responses to Chemotherapeutic Agents, Oncogene, 27: 55-62, 2008 (Epub)

Turner, D.P. and Watson, D.K.: ETS Transcription Factors - Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes that Drive Prostate Cancer, Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy, 8: 33-42, 2008. (Epub)

Watson, P. M., Miller, S. W., Fraig, M.M., Cole, D.J., Watson, D.K., and Boylan, A.M.   CaSm (LSm-1) over-expression found in lung cancer and mesothelioma is required for transformed phenotypes, American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 38:671-678, 2008

Moussa, O., Ashton, A., Fraig, M., Garrett-Mayer, E., Ghoneim, M. A., Halushka, P. V., and Watson, D. K.: Thromboxane (TP) beta receptors in human bladder cancer:  Role in pathogenesis and prognosis in bladder cancer, Cancer Research, 68: 4097-104, 2008

Zhang, X.K., Moussa, O., LaRue, A., Bradshaw, S., Molano, I., Spyropoulos, D.D.,    Gilkeson, G., Watson, D.K.: The Fli-1 Transcription Factor Modulates Marginal Zone B Cell and Follicular B Cell Development in Mice, J. Immunology 181: 1644–1654, 2008.

Turner, D.P, Findlay, V.J., Kirven, A.D., Moussa, O, and Watson, D.K.: Global gene expression analysis identifies PDEF transcriptional networks regulating cancer cell migration during metastatic progression, Molecular Biology of the Cell 19: 3745-3757.

Findlay, V. J., Moussa, O., Turner, D. P., and Watson, D. K.: MicroRNA-mediated inhibition of PDEF mRNA translation affects PDEF regulatory networks in human breast cancer, Cancer Research, in press.

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