Research Goals of the Molecular Cytogenetics Section

The aim of the Molecular Cytogenetics Section's research program is to examine, characterize and categorize genomic rearrangements in human and animal cancer cells using an integrated molecular cytogenetics and molecular biology approach. The detection of recurrent chromosomal alterations in cancer cells provide cytological and molecular markers for the diagnosis, prognosis and detection of minimal residual disease. It also facilitates the discovery and isolation of cancer-related genes, and elucidation of their functions and role in neoplastic development

Chromosomal abnormalities have been implicated in cancer development since the turn of the century. However, only recent advancements of cytogenetics and molecular biology provided research means to firmly establish genomic alterations as the critical factor in the pathogenesis of cancer. Development of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and digital imaging-based analytic tools enabled physical gene localization, global detection of DNA copy-number imbalances, and selective spectral wavelength-based identification of structural genomic rearrangements, by which our discrimination of genomic alterations in cancer have been propelled to an unprecedented levels of accuracy and resolution.

Since 1996 when the MCS was established, this integrated molecular cytogenetics and molecular biology approach enabled identification of a large number of novel genomic rearrangements in different forms of cancer, particularly in solid tumors, and in different experimental models. From the sites of recurrent chromosome translocations and/or regions of genomic amplifications and deletions, several genes have been isolated including tumor suppressor and growth-promoting genes.

The Section is engaged in research collaborations within the Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, with several other laboratories in the NCI and NIH, as well as with a number of prestigious laboratories in the United States and abroad. Section's research program is coordinated by Dr. Nicholas C. Popescu, researcher with over thirty years of experience in the field. Dr. Drazen B. Zimonjic, staff scientist and internationally recognized cytogeneticist, conducts genomic research based on use of spectral karyotyping (SKY), comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and high-resolution FISH mapping. Dr. Marian Durkin, an expert in molecular biology, is responsible for molecular characterization of identified genomic targets. Drs. Zhihong Shan and Xialing Zhou, two new members of MCS, participate in both molecular cytogenetic and molecular biology studies.

Since its establishment, past and present members of the MCS have published over sixty research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.