Basic Science Research

Dr Berman’s basic science research effort is focused on understanding the role of cell death in the development of metastatic disease in solid tumors. In the broad sense, it examines the alterations that occur in the normal apoptotic (programmed cell death) pathways during the progression from primary tumor to metastatic disease. More specifically, his research focuses on resistance to detachment-induced cell death (anoikis) and resistance to stress-induced cell death and the role that this resistance plays in the development of the metastatic phenotype (the appearance of metastatic cancer). For a tumor to successfully metastasize, a tumor sub-clone must traverse numerous steps in the metastatic cascade. One critical step is cell survival while in circulation (either in the blood or lymphatic system). During this step in the metastatic cascade, tumor cells are detached from their normal extracellular matrix and usual cell adhesion relationships. Normal physiology dictates that a cell detached from its usual matrix should undergo apoptosis, a process known as “anoikis” or detachment-induced apoptosis. Similarly, tumor cells are exposed to various environmental stresses during the metastatic cascade. His hypothesis is that in order for a tumor cell to leave the normal microenvironment and survive in the circulatory or lymphatic system, metastatic solid tumor sub-clones must acquire specific mechanisms to suppress apoptosis in response to environmental stress and in response to being detached from their normal extracellular matrix. His current research primarily focuses on colorectal and breast cancer.

Clinical Research

Dr Berman’s clinical research focuses on melanoma and gastrointestinal tract malignancies. Understanding patterns of spread and recurrence of these tumors is a specific interest of his clinical research.