A mechanistic understanding of cancer rests heavily upon the mutated genes. Mutated genes include the dominant oncogenes and recessive suppressor genes that are mutated somatically to drive tumorigenesis. Pancreatic cancer has historically been an unusually efficient system in which to identify the important mutated genes, creating a portfolio of discoveries to which our research group has contributed. This success is due in part to highly informative structural patterns of homozygous deletions as well as well-matched pairs of normal/tumor samples where the tumor cells are expanded as cell lines and xenografts to enrich them over the otherwise contaminating stromal cells. Important mutations are thus efficiently identified and then confirmed in the original tissues. We recently published high-throughput genetic analysis techniques that quickly accelerate this line of study. High-throughput sequencing techniques will need to be complemented by other complementary primary analyses as well as followup genetic studies based upon the findings from the primary analyses.
Our specific aims will locate promising sites of new somatically mutated genes. Homozygously deleted genes will be specifically targeted and the maps integrated with the identified mutated genes. We will discern the recurrent patterns of somatic mutations having patterns of inactivating mutations (for the tumor-suppressor genes and genome-maintenance genes) and of activating mutations (for the oncogenes). This comprehensive approach will enable us to identify and better characterize the key signaling pathways mutated in tumorigenesis. Our long-term goal is to provide a more complete foundation for future studies of tumorigenesis, disrupted signaling pathways, and therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer.

Public Health Relevance

Pancreatic cancer is a genetic disease caused by mutations. We identified frequent mutations in the p16, SMAD4, BRCA2, and other genes, and this line of research is now reaching a period of rapid development, for the advanced tools to explore these new mutations are now available.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA128920-02
Application #
7842654
Study Section
Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology Study Section (GCAT)
Program Officer
Okano, Paul
Project Start
2009-06-01
Project End
2011-05-31
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$255,225
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Patel, Kalpesh; Scrimieri, Francesca; Ghosh, Soma et al. (2013) FAM190A deficiency creates a cell division defect. Am J Pathol 183:296-303
PĂ©rez-Mancera, Pedro A; Rust, Alistair G; van der Weyden, Louise et al. (2012) The deubiquitinase USP9X suppresses pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Nature 486:266-70
DeNicola, Gina M; Karreth, Florian A; Humpton, Timothy J et al. (2011) Oncogene-induced Nrf2 transcription promotes ROS detoxification and tumorigenesis. Nature 475:106-9
Scrimieri, Francesca; Calhoun, Eric S; Patel, Kalpesh et al. (2011) FAM190A rearrangements provide a multitude of individualized tumor signatures and neo-antigens in cancer. Oncotarget 2:69-75