Todd Kroll, MD, PhD
Contact
The University of Chicago5841 S. Maryland Avenue AMB P-323 (MC1089)
Chicago IL 60637-1470
Phone: (773) 702-3017
Fax: (773) 834-5251
tkroll@bsd.uchicago.edu
Committee Membership
Committee on Cancer BiologyCommittee on Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition
Molecular Pathogenesis and Molecular Medicine
Clinical Interest
Diagnostic surgical pathology of endocrine and genitourinary organs.Research Interests
Our research laboratory is investigating the molecular mechanisms through which gene rearrangements that encode abnormal fusion proteins promote cancer development in epithelial cells (carcinoma). We are investigating the activities of novel fusion proteins that we have cloned from human thyroid carcinoma tissues. The fusion proteins are formed in vivo by rearrangement of the gene encoding the nuclear receptor PPARg . PPARg is a transcription factor that is regulated by hydrophobic ligands and it has been implicated in cell growth control. Wild-type activities of PPARg and other cell signaling pathways are disrupted by the PPARg fusion proteins. Ligands for PPARg include natural fatty acid and arachidonic acid metabolites and synthetic thiazolidinediones that are used currently in treatment of type 2 diabetes. PPARg also controls aspects of adipogenesis, fatty acid storage, cholesterol efflux, insulin sensitization and glucose uptake, indicating that PPARg is a multi-functional regulator of metabolism, differentiation and cell proliferation.Selected Publications
- Kroll TG, Sarraf P, Pecciarini L, Chen CJ, Mueller E, Spiegelman BM, Fletcher JA. PAX8-PPARg1 fusion oncogene in human thyroid carcinoma [corrected] Science. 2000 Aug 25;289(5483):1357-60. Erratum in: Science 2000 Sep 1;289(5484):1474.
- Kroll TG. Molecular rearrangements and morphology in thyroid cancer. Am J Pathol. 2002 Jun;160(6):1941-4.
- French CA, Alexander EK, Cibas ES, Nose V, Laguette J, Faquin W, Garber J, Moore F Jr, Fletcher JA, Larsen PR, Kroll TG. Genetic and biological subgroups of low-stage follicular thyroid cancer. Am J Pathol. 2003 Apr;162(4):1053-60.
- Nikiforova M, Lynch R, Biddinger P, Dorn G, Tallini G, Kroll T, and Nikiforov Y. RAS Point Mutations and PAX8-PPARg Rearrangement in Thyroid Tumors: Evidence for Distinct Molecular Pathways in the Development of Thyroid Follicular Carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol and Metab 2003, 88:2318-2326.
- Powell J, Wang X-LI, Allard B, Sahin M, Wang, X, Hay I, Hiddinga H, Deshpande S, Kroll T, Grebe S, Eberhardt N, and McIver B. The PAX8-PPARg Fusion Oncoprotein Transforms Immortalized Human Thyrocytes Through a Mechanism Probably Involving Wild-type PPARg. Oncogene 2004, 23:3634-3641.
- Kroll T. Molecular events in follicular thyroid tumors. In: The molecular basis of thyroid cancer. NR Farid (editor). KLuwer Academic Press, Boston, 2004 (in press).
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The University of Chicago · 5841 S. Maryland Avenue · Chicago, IL 60637
773.702.0647 · webmaster@pathology.bsd.uchicago.edu