Christophe P. Nicot, Ph.D.

Professional Background

Director, Center for Viral Pathogenesis

Postdoctoral Education: PhD, University of Bordeaux, France, 1995
National Cancer Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

Research

Overview

The oncogenic human retrovirus HTLV-I is the etiological agent of an aggressive and fatal T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) disease. ATL is associated with a poor clinical prognosis and treatment of patients using conventional chemotherapy has limited benefit given that HTLV-I cells are resistant to conventional anti-cancer, apoptosis-inducing agents. In addition to ATLL, HTLV-I is also the etiological agent of an inflammatory neuro-degenerative disorder called Tropical Spastic Paraparesis/ HTLV-I-Associated Myelopathy (TSP/HAM). My laboratory studies early and late molecular events associated with cellular transformation and leukemogenesis. We are especially interested in genome instability, telomerase reactivation, RNA export and signaling pathways involved in T-cell transformation and/or virus replication. We also study new therapeutic approaches for treatment of ATL.