Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics
Research groups in the Department of Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics focus on fundamental mechanisms of DNA replication and of DNA damage response and signaling in normal and cancer cells under physiological and therapeutic conditions. Efficient and faithful DNA replication and damage responses are important for maintenance of genome integrity to prevent cancer initiation and development but also protect cancer cells from the effects of radio- and chemo- therapeutics. The department faculty share a common interest in studying the contours of DNA damage induced by radiation and chemicals, as well as those arising during normal cellular processes, such as DNA replication and transcription. They strive to find a solution for chemo - and radiation resistance by modulating DNA damage repair pathways during cancer therapy. They work in close collaboration with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, clinical pathologists, and basic scientists at City of Hope® comprehensive cancer center and worldwide.
Binghui Shen, Ph.D. and Li Zheng, Ph.D. — Molecular mechanism of Okazaki fragment maturation and synthetic lethality; Molecular and cellular biology of lung, pancreatic and breast cancers;
Using model organisms, big patient data analyses, and cellular and biochemical assays, Drs. Shen and Zheng and their groups study fundamental molecular mechanisms of DNA replication: Okazaki fragment maturation, DNA damage response that are induced by chemo- and radio- therapeutics and other environmental insults and cancer drug resistance.
Jeremy Stark, Ph.D. — The Regulation and Fidelity of Chromosomal Break Repair Pathways
Dr. Stark’s laboratory seeks to understand the factors and conditions that affect the regulation and fidelity of chromosomal break repair in mammalian cells.
Yilun Liu, Ph.D. — Genome Instability and Human Diseases
Dr. Liu’s long-term agenda is to understand what aspects of genome maintenance and of DNA metabolism are required to enable normal biological development and cancer prevention.
Yanzhong Yang, M.D., Ph.D. — Mechanisms of Gene Regulation and of Genome Stability
Dr. Yang’s laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms that regulate histone modifications, gene expression and genome stability, as well as their implications for human diseases.
Terence Williams, M.D., Ph.D. — Radiation Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics
Dr. Williams specializes in treating patients with thoracic and gastrointestinal cancers, with an emphasis on nonsmall cell lung, pancreatic and hepatobiliary malignancies. His research interests are in stereotactic body radiation therapy, experimental therapeutics, radiogenomics, DNA repair, radiobiology, nutrient scavenging and theranostics.
Mustafa Raoof, M.D. — DNA Repair Mechanism in Pancreatic Cancer
Dr. Raoof conducts laboratory research focusing on DNA repair mechanisms in cancers with a particular focus on pancreatic cancer that has been very challenging to treat.
Yun Rose Li, M.D., Ph.D. — Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Cancer Risk and Treatment Response
Dr. Li’s laboratory applies a combination of computational and molecular biology approaches to better understand the dual role of oxidative stress and inflammation in cancer risk and treatment response.