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Desmoid tumors (DTs) are rare tumors that can be inherited or occur spontaneously. Although they do not metastasize, DTs can invade surrounding structures and cause pain, bowel obstruction, bleeding, and death. Recently, progress has been made in research efforts to understand DT biology. However, there is still no cure or reliable treatment for these tumors. Dr. Cho’s laboratory is interested in understanding how DT cells “talk” to their surrounding environment to promote tumor survival, invasion, and growth. There is data to show that hyaluronic acid (HA) is a prominent component of the cellular matrix surrounding DTs. Dr. Cho believes that HA is critical in recruiting inflammatory cells that are necessary for DT formation and proliferation. This proposal will test the effects of anti-hyaluronic acid drugs in desmoid tumor cell lines obtained from human patients as well as animal models of this disease. It will also investigate whether HA promotes desmoid growth by recruiting specialized bone marrow progenitor cells that contribute to DT proliferation and invasion. This study will gain an understanding of how DTs manipulate their host environment to enhance tumorigenesis and may identify a novel target for therapy. The overall goal is to identify treatments for DT patients and improve survival and quality of life.
