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Focus Groups
Epigenetics and Cancer
Leader
Program Themes:
- To investigate on a genome-wide scale epigenetic alterations that initiate the expansion of pre-malignant cells during the early stages of tumorigenesis
- To identify genes that have become silenced due to epigenetic abnormalities and thereby contribute to tumor progression by allowing the accumulation of additional genetic and/or epigenetic hits.
Program Information:
The major focus of this program is to understand how epigenetic alterations as imposed by DNA methylation, covalent modifications of core histones, and local nucleosomal remodeling participate in the development of cancer. Recent studies indicating how these epigenetic processes can lead to heritable changes in gene expression without affecting the primary DNA sequence has led to the realization that genetics and epigenetics cooperate with each other in the development of all forms of cancer. Research in this program, therefore, is dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms behind "epigenetic cancer diseases", a prospect that would be potentially important for allowing novel strategies in the development of therapeutic drugs.
Members
Jill S. Barnholtz-Sloan, PhD
Associate Professor, General Medical Sciences (Oncology)
jsb42@case.edu
Ernest C. Borden, MD
Professor, Translational Hematology and Oncology Research
bordene@ccf.org
Marian L. (Nikki) Harter, PhD
Associate Professor, Biochemistry
ml.nikki.harter@case.edu
Mark W. Jackson, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pathology
mark.w.jackson@case.edu
Sanford D. Markowitz, MD, PhD
Professor, Medicine-Hematology/Oncology
sxm10@case.edu
Kurt W. Runge, PhD
Associate Professor, Molecular Genetics
rungek@ccf.org
Steven L. Sanders, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry
steven.sanders@case.edu
Peter C. Scacheri, PhD
Assistant Professor, Genetics
pxs183@case.edu
Alan M. Tartakoff, PhD
Professor, Pathology
amt10@case.edu
Yu-Chung Yang, PhD
Professor, Biochemistry
yxy36@case.edu