The Molecular Genetics Program has been continuously approved through the NCI CCSG since the USC Norris first received NCI designation over 35 years ago. This Program has always been distinguished nationally for its strength in DNA replication and DNA repair, with an emphasis on applying discoveries toward cancer chemotherapy. During the project period, Preet Chaudhary joined Michael Lieber as Co-Leader to add depth in translation and oversee a new theme on the molecular genetics of cancers associated with infection by HHV8, including the development of targeted therapies for the treatment of these cancers. The Program has three integrated aims: 1) DNA replication, cell cycle, and cell proliferation in genetic instability; 2) DNA repair and recombination in genetic instability; and 3) viral oncogenesis with an emphasis on HHV8. Lymphoid malignancies are used as a disease model used by Program members for all three aims. Members continue to be highly interactive within and across themes and across program boundaries. The 39 Program members, who come from three schools and 13 departments, have $11.4M in peer-reviewed funding (direct costs), of which 18% is from NCI, 61% from other NIH sources, and 8% from other peer-reviewed funding sources. The Program is highly productive with 439 publications of which 21% are inter-programmatic, 15% intra-programmatic and 25% inter-institutional. Program Leaders organize retreats and mini-symposia several times per year to cross-fertilize research within and across Programs while remaining watchful to ensure a high level of member crosstalk. This has led to high success in securing new P01s that are intra- and inter-programmatic, while also cross-cutting thematically. Examples include renewal of an NCI P01 on understanding human DNA polymerase active sites and development of new chemotherapeutics (Goodman, McKenna, Warshel), and a new NCI P01 on viral oncogenesis by KSHV (HHV8) (Jung, Feng, Gao). Members have been particularly successful in seeking new cancer drug therapies, which has been achieved with the Translational and Clinical Sciences Program.

Public Health Relevance

The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center fosters excellence in collaborative multidisciplinary research and translates discoveries into direct benefit for patients, families, and the general public. We serve our diverse community of Los Angeles County with distinction, bringing innovative clinical trials to under-represented minorities, and measurably reduce the burden of cancer in the population.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
5P30CA014089-43
Application #
9387381
Study Section
Subcommittee I - Transistion to Independence (NCI)
Program Officer
Ptak, Krzysztof
Project Start
1996-12-01
Project End
2020-11-30
Budget Start
2017-12-01
Budget End
2018-11-30
Support Year
43
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
Liu, Minmin; Zhang, Lian; Li, Hongtao et al. (2018) Integrative Epigenetic Analysis Reveals Therapeutic Targets to the DNA Methyltransferase Inhibitor Guadecitabine (SGI-110) in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology 68:1412-1428
Miller, Kimberly A; Ramirez, Cynthia N; Wojcik, Katherine Y et al. (2018) Prevalence and correlates of health information-seeking among Hispanic and non-Hispanic childhood cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 26:1305-1313
Belic, Jelena; Graf, Ricarda; Bauernhofer, Thomas et al. (2018) Genomic alterations in plasma DNA from patients with metastasized prostate cancer receiving abiraterone or enzalutamide. Int J Cancer 143:1236-1248
Tobin, Jessica; Allem, Jon-Patrick; Slaughter, Rhona et al. (2018) Posttraumatic growth among childhood cancer survivors: Associations with ethnicity, acculturation, and religious service attendance. J Psychosoc Oncol 36:175-188
Schaal, Justin B; Maretzky, Thorsten; Tran, Dat Q et al. (2018) Macrocyclic ?-defensins suppress tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) shedding by inhibition of TNF-?-converting enzyme. J Biol Chem 293:2725-2734
Iriondo, Oihana; Liu, Yarong; Lee, Grace et al. (2018) TAK1 mediates microenvironment-triggered autocrine signals and promotes triple-negative breast cancer lung metastasis. Nat Commun 9:1994
Robison, Nathan J; Yeo, Kee Kiat; Berliner, Adrian P et al. (2018) Phase I trial of dasatinib, lenalidomide, and temozolomide in children with relapsed or refractory central nervous system tumors. J Neurooncol 138:199-207
Naseem, Madiha; Barzi, Afsaneh; Brezden-Masley, Christine et al. (2018) Outlooks on Epstein-Barr virus associated gastric cancer. Cancer Treat Rev 66:15-22
Sebio, A; Stintzing, S; Heinemann, V et al. (2018) A genetic variant in Rassf1a predicts outcome in mCRC patients treated with cetuximab plus chemotherapy: results from FIRE-3 and JACCRO 05 and 06 trials. Pharmacogenomics J 18:43-48
Peres, Lauren C; Risch, Harvey; Terry, Kathryn L et al. (2018) Racial/ethnic differences in the epidemiology of ovarian cancer: a pooled analysis of 12 case-control studies. Int J Epidemiol 47:460-472

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