Molecular determinants for tumor marker design

Cancer evolves through genetic and epigenetic alterations that ultimately generate the invasive phenotype. The major focus of the project is the study of molecular alterations that correlate with the preneopl?stic lesions and the evolution to more aggressive forms of malignancy. The ultimate goal is to define molecular indicators that may be useful for early diagnosis, prognosis and therapy guidance. To achieve this, we aim to analyze gene mutations, amplifications and deletions, genomic instability, alterations in transcription patterns, DNA hyper/hypo-methylation. Both genes and movable genomic elements would be addressed. Nucleic acids samples will be obtained from cancer types such as melanoma, breast, colorectal, head and neck cancer, and acute leukemia and lymphoma. Tissues will include surgical explants, archived tissues, bodily fluids and cultured cells. Isolated DNA and RNA will be subjected to molecular analysis designed to quantify mutation, relocation, loss or gain of genomic material expressed on per cell basis. Acquired informations about molecular characteristics that distinguish normal from malignant will be focused to enlarge existing data base of ever expanding list of characteristics with a potential for design of tumor markers. Separate section of the proposed research strives to less common cancer imaging. This relates to a continuation of successfully initiated research exploiting synchronous luminescence spectroscopy and the atomic force microscopy.