How cancer-driven pathways create weak spots in chromosomes
Oncogenic pathway-induced fragile sites: a new paradigm for understanding genome instability in cancer
This project looks at whether cancer-related cell pathways cause fragile spots in chromosomes that lead to DNA breaks in tumors, aiming to help people with different cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284014 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers are studying how pathways that go wrong in cancer create fragile sites in chromosomes that then break and drive tumor changes. They combine lab work with cultured cells under replication stress and large-scale tumor whole-genome sequencing to map where breaks occur. The team will make lab systems more like real cancers, track how initial breaks expand into complex genome rearrangements, and link breakpoint patterns back to specific disrupted pathways. Their goal is to create ways to read a tumor's breakpoint signature to reveal which cellular processes are damaged.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with tumors that have had or could undergo whole-genome sequencing or who can donate tumor tissue for research.
Not a fit: Patients whose tumors lack distinctive breakpoint patterns or who cannot access genomic testing or tissue donation may not directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors read tumor genomes to identify broken cell pathways and guide more precise, targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genome studies have identified breakpoint patterns and some fusion targets, but using breakpoint maps to predict disrupted pathways is a novel approach with limited prior clinical success.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- San Diego Biomedical Research Institute — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilbert, David M — San Diego Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Gilbert, David M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.