Translational colorectal cancer genomics
Understanding the genome of tumor cells is fundamental to explain why a normal cell becomes cancer
Current research
Problem
Most tumor cells are characterized by high levels of abnormalities in genes and chromosomes, which favor uncontrolled and invasive cell growth, and can lead to the appearance of metastases. The goal of our group is to understand the mechanisms of genomic instability and tumor heterogeneity, and to use the genetic information to discover molecular markers that allow us to improve the prognosis and prediction of response to treatments in colorectal cancer.
Approach
Currently, genome analysis benefits from the development and application of multi-omics techniques aimed at detecting anything from chromosomal rearrangements to individual changes to nucleotides, and the impact of these on the cell’s gene expression. By using these techniques, we can characterize the genomic profiles of primary colorectal cancers and identify cellular pathways and molecular targets and then model the functional mechanisms involved in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer.
Impact
The study of genomic alterations and gene expression has allowed the identification of cellular and molecular markers to stratify patients with colorectal cancer according to the probability of developing metastasis, and to determine which patients are less likely to respond to treatment with chemo- and radiotherapy. These molecular tools will help clinicians to make decisions regarding the course and treatment of patients with this cancer.
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