Although the traditional approach to identifying cancer-causing genetic alterations and interactions has been focused on single genes or proteins, we increasingly recognize that alterations of biological processes involve coordinated changes in the expression of dozens or hundreds of genes, or in the activity of multiple signaling pathways. With the availability of the complete sequence of the human and mouse genomes, experimentalists can now use global approaches that simultaneously examine multitudes of genes at once. In addition, the ability to collect these rich data from clinical specimens using automated analysis of images, or proteomic approaches to the kinome, is also rapidly growing. These developments necessitate the integration of genetics, genomics and proteomics, with pathology and clinical oncology research. To manage and analyze these complex datasets, translational researchers must be facile with bioinformatics, statistics, and biostatistics. In response to these needs, the UNC Breast SPORE has developed Core B, the Genomics, Biostatistics, and Bioinformatics shared resource. Under the experienced leadership of the SPORE Co-PI Charles Perou (Genetics), Dr. Joe Ibrahim (Biostatistics) and Dr. Steve Marron (Statistics), Core B brings together under one roof three critical services - Genomic assays (DNA microarrays, mRNA- sequencing and gene expression profiling using FFPE RNA and the Nanostring platform), a robust Bioinformatics computing environment, and expertise in Biostatistics and Statistics - and focuses these resources on translational breast cancer research. All proposed SPORE Projects (1-5) will work with Core B. The Core B services are tunneled into this core through three UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (LCCC) shared resources - namely the Genomics Core Facility, the Bioinformatics Core, and the Biostatistics Core. In all of these LCCC Cores, the studies of Breast SPORE investigators have spurred the development of methods and equipment upgrades that have benefited and stimulated other Cancer Center research. By supporting key personnel in these LCCC Cores, the UNC Breast SPORE is assuring priority service and performance. Dr. Perou's expertise and experience with these services, and his leadership of the Cancer Center's Genomics &Bioinformatics Cores, together with Dr. Marron and Dr. Ibrahim's experience as the LCCC Biostatistics Core leader, means that Core B is integral to this Breast SPORE, integrated into the Cancer Center structure, and poised to provide priority services for Breast SPORE investigators.

Public Health Relevance

Cancer biology and clinical medicine are becoming more and more dependent upon the analysis of complex and large datasets, which are often based upon genomic and/or proteomic data accompanied by pathological and clinical data. The coordinated analysis of these multiple data types requires a highly sophisticated, facile, and rigorous bioinformatics and statistical infrastructure. This Core brings together all the needed expertise and tools for these computational challenges so that advances in breast cancer treatment can be made.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Specialized Center (P50)
Project #
5P50CA058223-20
Application #
8547141
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-RPRB-0)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2013-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
20
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$147,915
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Type
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
Puvanesarajah, Samantha; Nyante, Sarah J; Kuzmiak, Cherie M et al. (2018) PAM50 and Risk of Recurrence Scores for Interval Breast Cancers. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 11:327-336
Knott, Simon R V; Wagenblast, Elvin; Khan, Showkhin et al. (2018) Asparagine bioavailability governs metastasis in a model of breast cancer. Nature 554:378-381
McRee, Autumn J; Marcom, Paul K; Moore, Dominic T et al. (2018) A Phase I Trial of the PI3K Inhibitor Buparlisib Combined With Capecitabine in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer. Clin Breast Cancer 18:289-297
DeBono, Nathan L; Robinson, Whitney R; Lund, Jennifer L et al. (2018) Race, Menopausal Hormone Therapy, and Invasive Breast Cancer in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 27:377-386
Nasarre, Patrick; Bonilla, Ingrid V; Metcalf, John S et al. (2018) TRAF3-interacting protein 3, a new oncotarget, promotes tumor growth in melanoma. Melanoma Res 28:185-194
Pearce, Oliver M T; Delaine-Smith, Robin M; Maniati, Eleni et al. (2018) Deconstruction of a Metastatic Tumor Microenvironment Reveals a Common Matrix Response in Human Cancers. Cancer Discov 8:304-319
Williams, Lindsay A; Nichols, Hazel B; Hoadley, Katherine A et al. (2018) Reproductive risk factor associations with lobular and ductal carcinoma in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. Cancer Causes Control 29:25-32
Couture, Heather D; Williams, Lindsay A; Geradts, Joseph et al. (2018) Image analysis with deep learning to predict breast cancer grade, ER status, histologic subtype, and intrinsic subtype. NPJ Breast Cancer 4:30
Lei, Jonathan T; Shao, Jieya; Zhang, Jin et al. (2018) Functional Annotation of ESR1 Gene Fusions in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer. Cell Rep 24:1434-1444.e7
Troester, Melissa A; Sun, Xuezheng; Allott, Emma H et al. (2018) Racial Differences in PAM50 Subtypes in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. J Natl Cancer Inst 110:

Showing the most recent 10 out of 598 publications