Study of human soft tissue tumors using cDNA, Human Exonic Evidence-based Oligonucleotide (HEEBO) and tissue microarrays

We study a wide variety of tumors using gene microarray and tissue microarray analysis.The gene microarrays are used for global gene expression profiling and for comparative genomic hybridization. Tissue microarrays generated with paraffin-embedded material from tumor samples are analyzed with immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization techniques to validate findings from the gene array analyses. The goal of these studies is to develop better diagnostic markers for the many different types of sarcomas and in addition to identify prognostic markers. Last but not least we hope to discover novel potential therapeutic targets for these diseases. We have developed a comprehensive system for high throughput analysis and storage of tissue immunostaining microarray data using software applications developed in our laboratory and are helped design a tissue microarray database in collaboration with Bob Marinelli from Pat Brown’s lab and Cathy Ball. Our current projects include:

1) Leiomyosarcoma

We are using gene expression profiling and comparative genomic hybridization to determine genes that are involved in the malignant transformation of smooth muscle cells in a wide variety of locations. This work is supported in part by private donations and a donations from The National Leiomyosarcoma Foundation, Inc. and Leiomyosarcoma Direct Research.

2) Nerve sheath tumors

We are studying a large number of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, neurofibromas and Schwannomas

3) Gastrointestinal stromal tumor

We study GIST stromal tumors using similar techniques and are especially involved in the development of new markers for this disease and the expression profiling of wild type GIST and GIST that have become resistant to adjuvant therapy. This work is supported in part by grants from Life Raft Group.

4) Using sarcomas to study normal stroma and tumor stroma

We use soft tissue tumors derived from fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, endothelial cells and other stroma components to define novel markers that may be used to distinguish different types of spindle cells in normal and tumor stroma. We are especially focusing on the influence of different types of tumor stroma in breast, ovary and colon carcinoma.

5) In collaboration with Drs. Lev and Lazar at the MD Anderson Cancer Center

We are studying desmoid type fibromatosis, using gene expression profiling and tissue microarray analysis. This work is supported by a grant from the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation.

These studies metioned above would be impossible to perform without the collaboration of a large number of colleagues at different institutions who not only supply us with material on these rare tumors but also contribute their own technologies to these studies. Our collaborators are listed on the “links” page.