Download Special Lecture on Cancer Genomics

Special Lecture on Cancer Genomics
DATE: 2008.08.04
Monday
PM 3:00 – 5:00
PLACE: 立夫教學大樓 11F 討論室三
TITLE: Genomic Analysis of Ovarian Cancer
SPEAKER: Ie-Ming Shih, MD. PhD.
Professor, Department of Pathology with secondary appointment in the
Departments of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Oncology,
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Faculty in the Graduate (Ph.D.) Program in Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins
University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Faculty in the Institute for NanoBioTechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins
University
ABSTRACT
We use ovarian carcinoma as a disease model because it is one of the most
aggressive neoplastic diseases in women. For the first research direction, we aim to
identify and characterize the molecular alterations during initiation and progression of
ovarian carcinomas. Previous genome-wide analyses from our team have identified
molecular alterations in several new cancer-associated genes including Rsf-1, NAC-1,
and Notch3 among several others. We have demonstrated the essential roles of these
gene products in sustaining tumor growth and survival. Current projects are focusing on
elucidating the mechanisms by which these genes function in cancer cells and
delineating the cross-talks between those genes and other signaling pathways.
Specifically, we are identifying their downstream targets and pathways, and are
determining their roles in maintaining cancer stem cell-like features, invasion and drug
resistance. The second research direction is a translation-based study. We are assessing
the clinical significance of an array of new cancer-associated genes in predicting clinical
outcome and in the developing potential target-based therapy in mouse preclinical
models. We are also establishing innovative assays for cancer detection and diagnosis
by identifying new tumor-associated genetic and protein biomarkers through serial
analysis of gene expression, gene expression arrays, proteomics and methylation
profiling. The purpose is to develop new tools in detecting human cancer using body
fluid samples. In collaboration with several investigators, we are integrating new
technologic platforms such as microfluidics, nanotechnology and systems biology in our
studies.