As part of a nationwide effort to cure cancer, Janice Buss, associate professor of microbiology, and graduate assistant Michelle Booden are studying a family of genes that can cause the disease to spread.

Buss and Booden’s research pinpoints the “Ras” family of genes and the proteins with which they pair in the human body. When a Ras gene pairs with a “good” protein, cell growth will be normal.

If a Ras gene happens to pair up with a “bad” protein, malignant cell growth may occur.

This is particularly important in the research of colon and pancreatic cancers, Buss said, as the occurrence of the Ras gene is high in these diseases.

The Ras gene is found in about 50 percent of colon cancers and about 95 percent of pancreatic cancers; it is found in nearly 30 percent of all cancers, she said.

Buss’ research of the Ras genes began more than 12 years ago at the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation in San Diego, Calif. Buss received her undergraduate degree from ISU and completed her graduate work at the University of California at San Diego.

“I chose this field because it seemed the best way to apply my training, as well as the fact that it answered an important question,” Buss said.

Booden finished her undergraduate study at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., but came to ISU for her graduate career so she could work with Buss.

Booden will complete her doctorate in May, but until then, she will continue spending between 60 to 70 hours each week in the lab.

“Those hours are normal for me, though they aren’t always at normal times,” Booden said.

Though much of the information known about the Ras family of genes is based on lab results, changing technology also is helping the two scientists to learn more about the genes, Buss said.

She and Booden agreed that although recent advancements in technology haven’t affected their lab, developments in other labs have been beneficial to their research.

Using very powerful microscopes, scientists have been able to create a picture of the Ras gene, which helps Buss and her team better understand their subject, Buss said.

Buss and Booden’s combined efforts in grant writing, lab work and Ras-related research has resulted in information that may help change the way cancer is treated today, Buss said.

As the pair tests different combinations of Ras genes and proteins, a list of the “good” and “bad” proteins can be compiled.

Some day in the future, as more labs around the nation begin to research the Ras family of genes, more of the “good” combinations can be gathered, she said.

The ultimate goal in the research of the Ras family of genes is to be able to replace the present methods of chemotherapy with a simpler, more effective way of treating cancer.

Cancer may be cured by altering the sequence of a gene, instead of massive doses of drugs that don’t always work.

Buss and Booden are anxious to continue publishing their research, as well as reading the research of others.

“Institutions around the nation and world are also starting to study the Ras genes, and because we are studying a small area of the gene, I am interested in learning about other areas of this gene,” Buss said.

As for the future of this project, Buss said although Booden will complete her Ph.D. in May, the research of the Ras family of genes will continue.

“This is the kind of research where every answer opens the door to more questions,” she said.