Human tumors are characterized by recurring chromosomal abnormalities. During the past few years, the genes that are located at the breakpoints of a number of recurring chromosomal abnormalities in human tumors have been identified. Molecular analysis has revealed that alterations in the level of expression of these genes, or in the properties of the encoded proteins resulting from the chromosomal rearrangement, play an integral role in the process of malignant transformation.
My research interests are:
1) to identify the recurring chromosomal abnormalities in human tumors;
2) to correlate specific chromosomal abnormalities with morphological and clinical features of the neoplastic disease, such as response to therapy and survival;
3) to identify the genes located at the breakpoints of the recurring abnormalities using the techniques of molecular genetics, and to examine their function in malignant cells characterized by these chromosomal abnormalities;
4) to localize genes to human chromosomes by using the technique of in situ chromosomal hybridization and to examine the location of specific genes relative to the breakpoints of recurring abnormalities in hematopoietic neoplastic diseases; and
5) to examine the relationship of chromosomal fragile sites (loci which are prone to undergo breakage and rearrangement) and cancer-specific breakpoints.
Selected Publications
Le Beau MM, Espinosa R, Neuman WL, Stock W, Roulston D, Larson RA, Keinanen M, Westbrook CA (1993) Cytogenetic and molecular delineation of the smallest commonly deleted region of chromosome 5 in myeloid leukemias. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:5484-5488.
Le Beau MM (1996) One FISH, two FISH, red FISH, blue FISH. Nature Genetics 12:341-344.
Rassool FV, Le Beau MM, Shen ML, Neilly ME, Espinosa III R, Ong ST, Boldog F, Drabkin H, McCarroll R, McKeithan TW (1996) Direct cloning of DNA sequences from the common fragile site region at chromosome band 3p14.2. Genomics 35:109- 117.
|