Rundhaug, Joyce

Rundhaug, Joyce Ph.D.

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Research Interests

Mouse skin carcinogenesis, cyclooxygenases, prostaglandins, malignant progression, matrix metalloproteinases

Current Research

Along with Dr. Susan M. Fischer, I have been working on various aspects of cyclooxygenases (COXs) and their role in carcinogenesis and as targets for cancer chemoprevention. The COXs catalyze the first step in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. The expression of COX-2 in particular has been shown to be up-regulated in a number of cancers. We have used COX-2 transgenic mice and COX knockout mice to show that in mouse skin COX-2 and its primary product, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), promote both chemically-induced and ultraviolet light-induced carcinogenesis. PGE2 signals through four G protein-coupled receptors, EP1-EP4. Transgenic mice overexpressing EP1, EP2, or EP4 also show enhanced susceptibility to skin carcinogenesis. In addition, I have done some studies on the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in mouse skin carcinogenesis. The MMPs degrade various components of extracellular matrix and have been shown to be involved in invasion and metastasis. I have shown up-regulation of MMP-9 and MMP-13 expression during mouse skin carcinogenesis.

Selected Publications

  1. Fischer SM, Pavone A, Mikulec C, Langenbach R, Rundhaug JE. Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is critical for chronic UV-induced murine skin carcinogenesis, Mol Carcinog, 46 (5), 363-71, 2007
  2. Rundhaug JE, Mikulec C, Pavone A, Fischer SM. A role for cyclooxygenase-2 in ultraviolet light-induced skin carcinogenesis, Mol Carcinog, 46 (8), 692-8, 2007
  3. Rundhaug JE, Pavone A, Kim E, Fischer SM. The effect of cyclooxygenase-2 overexpression on skin carcinogenesis is context dependent, Mol Carcinog, 46 (12), 981-92, 2007
  4. Kim E, Rundhaug JE, Benavides F, Yang P, Newman RA, Fischer SM. An antitumorigenic role for murine 8S-lipoxygenase in skin carcinogenesis, Oncogene, 24 (7), 1174-87, 2005
  5. Rundhaug JE. Matrix metalloproteinases and angiogenesis, J Cell Mol Med, 9 (2), 267-85, 2005
  6. Rundhaug JE, Hawkins KA, Pavone A, Gaddis S, Kil H, Klein RD, Berton TR, McCauley E, Johnson DG, Lubet RA, Fischer SM, Aldaz CM. SAGE profiling of UV-induced mouse skin squamous cell carcinomas, comparison with acute UV irradiation effects, Mol Carcinog, 42 (1), 40-52, 2005

Contact Information


Mailing Address: P.O. Box 389, Smithville, Texas 78957
Physical Address: 1808 Park Road 1C, Smithville, Texas 78957
Phone: (512) 237-9485