TISSUE MICROARRAYS
	Enormous amounts of data have been generated by staining thousands of tumor samples with hundreds of antibodies and in situ hybridization probes. To facilitate the widespread use of this data, Matt van de Rijn and other program researchers have developed the Tissue MicroArray Database (TMAD) and the Stainfinder software. Together, these tools provide access to digital images from more than 100,000 stained cores.

Causes and Consequences of Cancer-associated Alterations in Global Gene Expression Programs

Program researchers are working to identify the causes and consequences of changes in gene expression associated with different cancers and their subtypes.

By studying the fundamental mechanisms that promote the survival, proliferation and metastasis of cancer, researchers hope to identify new molecular targets for future anti-cancer therapies as well as novel diagnostic and prognostic markers that may help determine the best course of treatment for individual patients.

Areas under investigation include:

• The role of the human microbial ecosystem in cancer susceptibility
• In vivo activity of different proteases throughout all stages of tumorigenesis, including angiogenesis, tumor growth, metastasis and invasion
• The influence of wound healing and hypoxia on cancer progression
• Characterization of T-cells based on their antigen specificity and physiological activation in tumor immunology
• Heterogeneity of signaling and extracellular matrix molecules across different tissue microenvironments and their role in promoting specific cellular fates
• The molecular and regulatory properties of human cancer stem cells
• Role of fibroblasts and other mesenchymal cells in creating a molecular microenvironment conducive to the survival, proliferation and metastasis of cancer
• Post-transcriptional regulation in different cancers, including the translation, localization and decay of mRNA and the specific interactions of RNA-binding proteins with their targets

Program Researchers

Matthew Bogyo, PhD Patrick Brown, MD, PhD Gary Dahl, MD Pehr Harbury, PhD Daniel Herschlag, PhD

Chaitan Khosla, PhD David Relman, MD Matt van de Rijn, MD, PhD Richard Zare, PhD