Norman R. Drinkwater, Ph.D.

Professor of Oncology
Marian A. Messerschmidt Professor in Cancer Research

B.S., 1974, Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph.D., 1980, Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Postdoctoral research: Michigan State University

Office: 815A McArdle Laboratory
Telephone: Office - (608) 262-7992; Lab - (608) 262-8008
Email: drinkwater@oncology.wisc.edu

Research Interests: Genetics and molecular biology of carcinogenesis

Research Description: Genetic factors can play an important role in determining an individual's risk for developing cancer. We are studying inbred strains of mice that are highly sensitive to tumor induction in specific tissues as a model for understanding the mechanism of action of cancer susceptibility genes. In many cases, these genes also play an important role in regulating the proliferation or differentiation of normal cells. We are currently attempting to determine the molecular identities of several cancer susceptibility genes using a "reverse genetic" approach, based on first mapping the genes and then using this positional information as starting points for molecular cloning.

Selected recent publications

Irving, A. A., Halberg, R. B., Albrecht, D. M., Plum, L. A., Krentz, K. J., Clipson, L., Drinkwater, N., Amos-Landgraf, J. M., Dove, W. F., and DeLuca, H. F.  Supplementation by Vitamin D Compounds Does Not Affect Colonic Tumor Development in Vitamin D Sufficient Murine Models.  Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 515: 64-71, 2011.

Schiro, M. M., Stauber, S. E., Peterson, T. L., Krueger, C., Darnell, S. J., Satyshur, K. A., Drinkwater, N. R., Newton, M. A., and Hoffmann, F. M.  Mutations in Protein-Binding Hot-Spots on the Hub Protein Smad3 Differentially Affect Its Protein Interactions and Smad3-Regulated Gene Expression.  PLoS One, 6(9):e25021, 2011.

Jorgenson, T. C., Williams, B. R., Wendland, A., Bilger, A., Sandgren, E. P., and Drinkwater, N. R.  Identification of Susceptibility Loci in a Mouse Model of KRAS^G12D-Driven Pancreatic Cancer.  Cancer Res., 70:  8398-8406, 2010.

Shen, A. L., O’Leary, K. A., Dubielzig, R. R., Drinkwater, N., Murphy, C. J., Kasper, C. B., and Bradfield, C. A. The PPCD1 Mouse: Characterization of a Mouse Model for Posterior Polymorphous Corneal Dystrophy and Identification of a Candidate Gene.  PLoS ONE, 5(8):e12213, 2010.

Peychal, S. E.-M., Bilger, A., Pitot, H. C., and Drinkwater, N. R.  Predominant Modifier of Extreme Liver Cancer Susceptibility in C57BR/cdJ Female Mice Localized to 6 Mb on Chromosome 17.  Carcinogenesis, 30: 879-885, 2009.

Attia, S., Holen, K. D., Thomas, J. P., Richie, K., Dzelak, T., Teeter, K., Warren, D., Bilger, A., Fine, J., Eickhoff, J., Drinkwater, N., Mulkerin, D., and Morgan-Meadows, S.  Biologic Study of the Effects of Octreotide-LAR on Growth Hormone in Unresectable and Metastatic Hepatocellular Carcinoma.  Clin. Adv. Hematol. Oncol., 6:  44-54, 2008.

Bilger, A., Sullivan, R., Prunuske, A. J., Clipson, L., Drinkwater, N. R., and Dove, W. F.  Widespread Hyperplasia Induced by Transgenic TGFα in Apc^Min Mice Is Associated with Only Regional Effects on Tumorigenesis.  Carcinogenesis, 29:  1825-1830, 2008.

Drew, J. C., Kastenmeier, A. S., and Drinkwater, N. R.  Ancestral Bias in the Hras1 Gene and Distal Chromosome 7 Among Inbred Mice.  Mamm. Genome, 18:  732-738, 2007.

Thomae, T. L., Stevens, E. A., Liss, A. L., Drinkwater, N. R., and Bradfield, C. A.  The Teratogenic Sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin Is Modified by a Locus on Mouse Chromosome 3.  Mol. Pharmacol., 69:  770-775, 2006.

Kelley, M. R., Tompkinson, A. E., Williams, K. J., Drinkwater, N. R., and Fung, V. A.  Frontiers of Mutagenesis and DNA Repair:  A Workshop.  Cancer Res., 64:  3357-3360, 2004.

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