Cancer cells in solid tumors are often surrounded by the stressful microenvironment, such as hypoxia (low oxygen) and low glucose, due to insufficient blood supply. The stressful microenvironment is thought to be a major cause of tumor progression and chemotherapy resistance. However, such stress conditions are not observed in normal tissue, and therefore, can be exploited for selective killing of tumor cells. To identify new molecular targets, we are studying the molecular mechanisms of the cellular adaptive response to microenvironmental stress, by using the genome technologies. Specifically, we are interested in unfolded protein response, hypoxic response, glucose metabolism, autophagy and epigenetic regulation. We are also studying inhibitors of the adaptive response and their mechanisms of action to develop a new class of molecular cancer therapeutics.