The laboratory is headed by Professor M. Radhakrishna Pillai and includes three Program Faculty Scientists, a Bioinformatics Project Leader, a Biostatistician, PhD Students and Research Fellows. The laboratory is also privileged to host Dr Rakesh Kumar, Visiting Distinguished Professor of Biotechnology. The laboratory also has an important component in the Viral Disease Biology Program that studies Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) and tumorigenesis and manages a HPV Vaccine Efficacy Center funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the World Health Organization and International Agency for Research against Cancer. (click here for details).

Our laboratory’s focus is developing fundamental scientific discoveries in the laboratory or from population studies for better strategies to eventually manage cancer better, reduce cancer incidence, morbidity and mortality. Our research programs have a good balance between computational, theoretical and “wet” laboratory protocols. We therefore work in research partnerships with teams comprising clinical oncologists, pathologists, biologists, chemists, engineers and bioinformaticians. All studies involving patients, tumor tissue and population studies are done through a joint Program of Excellence in Translational Research (PETR) with the Regional Cancer Centre.

Research Programs

1. Identification of cellular and molecular pathways that predict the progression of oral dysplasia to invasive cancer
2. Molecular ecology, molecular genetics and natural history of anterior tongue cancer in young adults without (or insignificant) tobacco exposure: can a distinct clinical entity be defined?
3. Cancer primodial or "stem like" cells.
   (In Collaboration with Dr. T.R Santosh Kumar)
4. Zinc finger nucleases and HPV associated Cancer
5. Computational biology for design of optimum vaccine candidates and development of quantum dot based diagnostics for classical swine fever virus".
6. Clinical and patho-biological effects of curcumin on oral leukoplakia: A double blind placebo controlled randomized trial.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Cell Biology of tumorigenesis : elucidating the roles of infection, inflammation and immunity
• Human papillomaviruses and Cancer
• Tumor Stem Cells
• Viruses and Disease Pathogenesis

ONGOING FUNDED EXTRA-MURAL RESEARCH GRANTS

1. Clinical and patho-biological effects of curcumin on oral leukoplakia: A double blind placebo controlled randomized trial. (Department of Biotechnology, 2006 – 2010).
2. Molecular ecology, molecular genetics and natural history of anterior tongue cancer in young adults without (or insignificant) tobacco exposure: can a distinct clinical entity be defined? (Department of Biotechnology, 2007 – 2010).
3. Development of novel sensitizers based on NIR dyes (Department of Science & Technology, 2007 – 2012).
4. Computational biology for design of optimum vaccine candidates and development of quantum dot based diagnostics for classical swine fever virus. (Department of Biotechnology, 2008 – 2013).
5. Accurate and satisfactory analysis of all high risk HPV types and some of the low risks including HPV 6 and 11 antibody titers for the 2-versus 3 dose HPV vaccination clinical trial in India. Joint Program between Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology and International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2009 - 2014.
6. Computational prediction of DNA methylation patterns in the cancer genome. (Advaitha Informatics, 2010 – 2011).
7. Establishment of a National Virology Network Laboratory (Indian Council of Medical Research, 2011 – 2016).
8. HPV Ahead: Role of Human Papilloma Virus injection in the etiology of head and neck cancer in India and Europe (The European Commission , 2011-2014)

1. Differentiation of UCB stem cells into lineage specific cell types for therapeutic applications. (Department of Biotechnology, (2008 – 2011).
2. Tumor primordial cells in colorectal cancer: implications for surgical margins and minimal residual disease. (Department of Biotechnology, (2008 – 2011).
3. Prospecting Zingiber zerumpet for molecular resources. Department of Biotechnology, (2010-2013)

RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED & COMPLETED

1. The University of Arizona Small Grants Program: Acquisi­tion of PCFIA technology- The Fluorescence Analyzer and Concentrator.
2. Role of cytostructural alterations in cervical carcinogenesis. Indian Council of Medical Research, 1992-1994.
3. Clinical application of tumor growth fraction associated markers. Indian Council of Medical Research, 1993-1996.
4. Growth factors in human tissue: relevance to tumor progression. Council for Scientific & Industrial Research, 1993-1996
5. Human papillomavirus infection and epidermal growth factor in cervical carcinogenesis, Dept. of Science and Technology, 1992-1994.
6. Detection and assessment of molecular markers associated with multidrug resistance in high-grade Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Indian Council for Medical Research, 1993-1996.
7. Human papillomavirus infection and tissue pathology. Dept. of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, 1993-1996.
8. Development of a cell kinetic model to predict response to radiation therapy in cervical carcinoma. International Atomic Energy Agency, 1993-1996.
9. Growth factors in pancreatic malignancy. Kerala State Committee for Science, Technology & Environment, 1993-1996
10. Cellular manifestations of p53 and bcl-2 expression in ovarian cancer. Indian Council for Medical Research, 1996-1998.
11. The mutant p53 protein in breast cancer. Kerala State Committee for Science, Technology & Environment, 1996-1999.
12. Radiosensitivity, treatment outcome and ras gene mutation in rectal carcinoma. Dept. of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, 1996-1999.
13. Tumor response to radiation therapy in carcinoma of the uterine cervix : the role of ras gene mutation. Indian Council for Medical Research, 1996-2000.
14. Programmed tumor cell death and proliferative fraction ratio in the staging of thyroid cancer. Indian Council for Medical Research, 1997-1999.
15. Molecular regulation of programmed cell death. Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, 1997-2000.
16. Telomere dynamics, telomerase activation and epithelial tumor progression. Council for Scientific & Industrial Research, Govt. of India, 1997-2000.
17. Cellular immortality and apoptosis during tumor progression in the uterine cervix. Indian Council for Medical Research, 1999-2001.
18. Programmed tumor cell death and proliferative fraction ratio in the staging of breast cancer. Kerala State Committee for Science, Technology & Environment, 1999-2001.
19. Cellular immortality and de novo apoptosis in tumor tissue: significance for response to radiotherapy for cervical cancer.Dept. of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, 1999-2002.
20. Susceptibility to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia : influence of CYP1A1, CYP2D6, GSTM1 & GSTT1 genetic polymorphisms. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1999-2003.
21. Significance of programmed cell death in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Dept of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, 1999-2003.
22. Genotyping of the CYP1A1 and GSTM1 genes in tobacco associated oral cancer. Indian Council for Medical Research, 2000-2003.
23. Metalloproteinase gene activation during tumor progression in the oral mucosa. Indian Council for Medical Research, 2000-2003.
24. The role of telomere fragment lengths and telomerase activation during tumor progression in the uterine cervix. Kerala State Committee for Science, Technology & Environment, 1999-2003.
25. Estrogen receptor gene polymorphism in Indian breast cancer and response to tamoxifen treatment. Kerala State Committee for Science, Technology & Environment, 1999-2003.
26. Chemotherapy response in osteosarcoma: role of intrinsic cellular factors. Indian Council for Medical Research, 2001 - 2003.
27. Polymorphism in CYP1A1, GSTM1 and XRCC1 genes and susceptibility in oral cancer. Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, 2001 - 2004.
28. Human papillomavirus E6, E7 and p53 gene polymorphism in Indian cervical carcinoma. Indian Council for Medical Research, 2002 - 2004.
29. Cellular and molecular manifestations of natural plant compounds on human papillomavirus infected cells. Indian Council for Medical Research, 2002 - 2004.
30. Fund for Improvement of Science & Technology Infrastructure in Universities and Higher Educational Institutions. Dept of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, 2000 - 2005.
31. Ras gene mutation and tumor response to radiation therapy. Kerala State Committee for Science, Technology & Environment, 2003 - 2005.
32. Cellular pharmacology of anti-tumor and anti-viral activity of curcumin against cervical cancer. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 2003 - 2006.
33. Molecular markers for the detection and progression of cervical cancer. Department of Biotechnology, 2003 - 2006.
34. The nutri-genomics of cervical cancer. Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, 2004 - 2007.
35. Folate receptor, heterogenous ribonucleoprotein, human papillomavirus and epithelial tumor progression. Indian Council of Medical Research, 2005 - 2007.
36. Development of human papillomavirus vaccine prototype/s – Molecular epidemiology of HPV types prevalent in India and identification of HPV-16 L1 & E6 variants. Department of Biotechnology, 2005 - 2008.
37. Molecular analysis of surgical margins in oral carcinoma. Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, 2005 - 2008.
38. Molecular evidence for Plumbagin as an anti-tumor and radiosensitizing agent in cervical cancer. Dept. of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, 2005 - 2008.
39. Pre-clinical development and molecular pharmacology of arsenic as an anti-tumor anti-viral agent in human papillomavirus associated cervical cancer. Dept of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, 2006 - 2009.
40. Virtual Screening (Vs) and laboratory validation of antihuman papillomavirus compounds. Department of Biotechnology, 2006 - 2009.
41. In silico identification and analysis of (CHIKV) inhibitors from natural product libraries based on E1 envelop protein structure. Department of Biotechnology, 2008 - 2009.
42. Targeted anti-cancer lead discovery: Virtual screening of chemical libraries enriched in natural products. Department of Information Technology, 2007 - 2010.
43. Prospective identification and clinical significance of tumor progenitor cells in oral and breast cancer. Department of Biotechnology, 2007 - 2010.

Current Research News

Development of a web resource (www.tarmir.rgcb.res.in) for analysis of combined micro-RNA- mRNA expression data sets

International WHO Centre for Vaccine Efficacy

1. India's first clinical trial on the HPV vaccine GardasilTM: 2 doses Vs 3 doses providing the same protective efficiency – 20,000 eligible girls from 6 national centers, followed up for 5 years after marriage.
   (The world's first "non pharmaceutical" clinical trial- funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)
2. RGCB will be the command center – central laboratory for genotyping & antibody titers, pathology & cytology, epidemiology and data analysis & management.
3. State of the art laboratory for Clinical Pathology & Molecular Diagnostics.
4. State of the art data management facility (Bar coding, sorting & analysis, SAS platform, etc)

PhD MENTORSHIP

Ongoing PhD Theses at Regional Cancer Centre

1. Dr. Paul Sebastian: Molecular ecology, molecular genetics and natural history of anterior tongue cancer in young adults without (or insignificant) tobacco exposure: can a distinct clinical entity be defined?
2. Dr. K. Ramadas: Molecular Epidemiology and treatment outcome in oral cancer
3. Dr Priya M: Molecular biomarkers to evaluate pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
4. Dr Elizabeth Iype: Biomarkers and treatment outcome for laryngeal cancer.

1. Ms. Reshmi G: Computational and functional analysis of microRNAs in cervical cancer
2. Ms. Indhu Hariharan: Cell death and cell signaling pathways induced by sodium meta arsenite: significance as an anti-neoplastic agent.

1. Ms. Vinitha Richard: Cancer stem cells in oral tumorigenesis.
2. Ms. Sumitra Shankar: Targeted excision of the Human Papillomavirus E6 gene by artificial Zinc Finger Nuclease.

1. Ms. Hezlin Marzook: MTA1 Regulation of an E3 Ligase RNF144A in Human Breast Cancer.
2. Mr. Devindran R:Mechanism of MTA1 Overexpression-linked invasion: MTA1 Regulation of HMMR Expression and Function

Ph. D's AWARDED

1. Pathobiological factors in cervical cancer.
   Dr. S. Lakshmi, 1998
2. Histogenesis of carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
   Dr. S Asha Nair, 1998
3. Programmed cell death in breast cancer.
   Dr. A. Lakshmi Kesari, 2000
4. Cellular and molecular profile of Non Hodgkin’s lymphoma in India.
   Dr. R. Radhakrishnan, 2000
5. Programmed cell death, chemotherapy response and prognosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
   Dr. G. Srinivas, 2002
6. Molecular manifestations of tumor progression in the uterine cervix.
   Dr. Pradip Nair, 2002
7. Viral and host gene polymorphism in Indian cervical cancer.
   Dr. Sreevidya. S, 2003
8. Genetic polymorphisms of cancer susceptibility genes in Indian breast cancer.
   Dr Priya Chacko, 2004
9. Influence of Genetic Polymorphisms on susceptibility to and treatment outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
   Dr Thomas Joseph, 2004
10. Matrix Metalloproteinases in oral cancer.
    Dr. Bindhu. O. S, 2005
11. Molecular screening of curcumin and cleistanthin A as potential anti-human papillomavirus bioactive agents.
    Dr. Divya Chandrasekhar, 2007
12. Apoptosis, radiosensitization and tumor cell response to radiation therapy in cervical cancer.
    Dr. Sreekala Nair, 2008
13. Computational analysis of structure-function relations of human smads and its clinical relevance in cervical cancer.
    Dr. Ramkumar Hariharan, 2008
14. Significance of DNA repair genes in oral cancer.
    Dr. Surya Ramachandran, 2009
15. Clinical significance of Nuclear Factor Kappa B on epithelial tumorigenesis and minimal residual disease
    Dr Santhi WS, 2011
16. The nutrigenomics of HPV associated tumor progression in the uterine cervix.
    Dr.Preethi NR