Martine F. Roussel

Used subtractive hybridization to reveal the existence of cellular forms of the Myc, Myb, and ErbB oncogenes, influencing the understanding of the mechanisms which contribute to cancer. Collaboratively determined that the Fms oncogene encoded the receptor for colony-stimulating factor-1 and identified mutations responsible for generating ligand-independent receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Showed that Myc and D-type cyclins, discovered in the laboratory, were essential for CSF-1 to drive the cell cycle. Identification of the cyclin D-dependent kinase Cdk4 then permitted recognition of Cdk4 inhibitors of the INK4 gene family. Disruption of INK4 genes revealed their effects on spermatogenesis, neuronal cell-cycle exit in the brain, and otic hair cell development. Provided the first evidence that ARF is activated by mitogenic signaling and essential for Myc-induced apoptosis. Work has emphasized the activity of INK4c and p53 as potent tumor suppressors in medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor. Chair, Erasmus University of Sciences, Paris. Vice-president, U.S., Eurocancer, Paris, France.