Cancer Genetics & Biology

Cancer is a genetic disease. Alterations in genome integrity, such as DNA ploidy, chromosome rearrangements, genetic deletions and point mutations, ultimately drive cell transformation and tumor formation.

Research in this area examines the complex genetic and epigenetic foundations of malignancy, specifically how alterations in genome integrity drive tumor formation. Faculty investigate the molecular mechanisms of human carcinogenesis, including DNA methylation, cell-cycle control, and angiogenesis, using bioinformatics, animal models, and clinical material. Many investigators are members of the Winship Cancer Institute, which facilitates a bench to clinic approach that translates basic discovery into novel molecular therapies. This work focuses on various malignancies, including brain, prostate, breast, head and neck, skin, and gastrointestinal cancers.