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Profile Detail

Gail C. Fraizer

Associate Professor
Education
  • Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley
  • M.P.H. University of California, Berkeley
Courses Taught
  • Elements of Genetics
  • Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer
  • Honors: Readings in Genetics
Current Research

Research Focus in the Fraizer Laboratory: Cancer, Mechanisms of tumorigenesis

Dr. Fraizer’s laboratory uses molecular and genetic approaches to delineate mechanisms of tumor development, including angiogenesis and metastasis.  Dr. Fraizer’s research has examined proliferation, migration and gene expression in urologic and hematologic tumors.  A major focus is the investigation of angiogenic and metastatic adaptation of prostate cancer cells. Our approach has been to examine regulators of androgen signaling including zinc finger transcription factors such as Sp1 and the Wilms' tumor gene (WT1). Research elucidating the mechanisms of WT1 and Sp1 mediated regulation of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in prostate cancer cells grew out of our microarray analyses of RNA obtained from Laser Capture microscopy of prostate tissues and from cultured prostate cancer cells. One long-term goal of the lab is to understand how WT1 and Sp1 alter androgen induction of VEGF. Another is to determine whether WT1 enhances motility by contributing to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process required for metastatic progression. These studies will contribute to identification of pathways utilized in prostate cancer progression/metastasis and may ultimately impact diagnosis and possibly therapy of prostate cancer. A more recent focus for the lab has been motivated by the long suspected but still unknown role of WT1 in hematopoietic cell transformation. We have recently discovered a potential link between WT1 and cell cycle regulators in acute leukemia. These studies could ultimately address the balance between proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic precursors. Overall the goal of Dr. Fraizer’s research is to delineate tumor mechanisms that provide potential targets for therapy.

Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities

Selected Publications: (undergraduate and graduate co-authors advised by Dr. Fraizer):

 

1. Brett, A., Pandey, S., Fraizer, G., “The Wilms’ tumor gene (WT1) regulates E-cadherin expression and migration of prostate cancer cells” Molecular Cancer (In press, 2012)

2. Jennifer Greggand Gail Fraizer, “Transcriptional Regulation of EGR1 by EGF and the ERK Signaling Pathway in Prostate Cancer Cells” Genes & Cancer 1947601911431885, first published on January 24, 2012 doi:10.1177/1947601911431885

3. Gregg JL, Brown KE, Mintz EM, Piontkivska H, Fraizer GC. Analysis of gene expression in prostate cancer epithelial and interstitial stromal cells using laser capture microdissection. BMC Cancer. 2010 Apr 28;10:165. PubMed PMID: 20426842; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2876079.

4. Joshi B, Chakrabarty A, Bruot C, Ainsworth H, Fraizer G, Wei QH. DNA-WT1protein interaction studied by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Anal Bioanal  Chem. 2010 Feb;396(4):1415-21. PubMed PMID: 20063154.

5. Eisermann K, Tandon S, Bazarov A, Brett A, Fraizer G, Piontkivska H. Evolutionary conservation of zinc finger transcription factor binding sites in promoters of genes co-expressed with WT1 in prostate cancer. BMC Genomics. 2008 Jul 16;9:337. PubMed PMID: 18631392; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2515153.

6. Ray S, Shyam S, Fraizer GC, Almasan A. S-phase checkpoints regulate Apo2 ligand/TRAIL and CPT-11-induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. Mol Cancer Ther. 2007 Apr;6(4):1368-78. PubMed PMID: 17431115.

7. Hanson J, Gorman J, Reese J, Fraizer G. Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF, gene promoter by the tumor suppressor, WT1. Front Biosci. 2007 Jan 1;12:2279-90. PubMed PMID: 17127464; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2562899.

8. Fraizer G, Leahy R, Priyadarshini S, Graham K, Delacerda J, Diaz M. Suppression of prostate tumor cell growth in vivo by WT1, the Wilms' tumor suppressor gene. Int J Oncol. 2004 Mar;24(3):461-71. PubMed PMID: 14767530.


Gail C. Fraizer
OFFICE
Department of Biological Sciences
Cunningham Hall Rm 251
OFFICE HOURS

Email for appointments

CONTACT INFO
Phone: 330-672-1398
gfraizer@kent.edu
COURSES TEACHING
Spring 2013
  • CLS 49021 - 001 Clin Chem : Applications
  • CLS 49022 - 001 Urinalysis : Theory
  • CLS 49023 - 001 Urinalysis : Applications
  • CLS 49030 - 001 Immunohematology : Theory
  • CLS 49031 - 001 Immunohematology : Applications
  • CLS 49032 - 001 Coagulation : Theo / App
  • CLS 49033 - 001 Clinical Hematology : Theory
  • CLS 49034 - 001 Clin Hematology : App
  • CLS 49040 - 001 Topics - Lab Management
  • CLS 49095 - 001 St : Medical Technology
  • BSCI 60198 - 005 Research
  • BSCI 80299 - 004 Dissertation Ii
Summer 2013
  • BSCI 60198 - 019 Research
  • BSCI 60199 - 013 Thesis I
  • BSCI 80198 - 030 Research
  • BSCI 80199 - 004 Dissertation I
  • BSCI 80299 - 005 Dissertation Ii
Fall 2013
  • ILS 32091 - 001 Ils Seminar Iii
  • BSCI 40150 - 001 Molecular Mechanisms / Cancer
  • BSCI 40600 - 007 Writing In Biological Sciences
  • CLS 49010 - 001 Clinical Microbiology : Theory
  • CLS 49011 - 001 Clin Microbiology : App
  • CLS 49012 - 001 Clinical Immunology : Theory
  • CLS 49013 - 001 Clin Immunology : App
  • CLS 49014 - 001 Clin Mycology : Theo And App
  • CLS 49015 - 001 Cl Parasitology : Theo And App
  • CLS 49020 - 001 Clinical Chemistry : Theory
  • CLS 49095 - 004 St : Medical Technology
  • BSCI 50150 - 001 Molecular Mechanisms / Cancer
  • BSCI 60198 - 005 Research
  • BSCI 60299 - 006 Thesis Ii
  • BSCI 70150 - 001 Molecular Mechanisms / Cancer
  • BSCI 80299 - 006 Dissertation Ii
EXPERTISE
  • Faculty Advisor
  • Program Director Clinical Lab Sciences