Abstract SY08-01: Large-scale screens for cancer genes in the mouse

Abstract

Abstract As efforts to sequence thousands of human cancer genomes gain momentum, the challenge of distinguishing driver cancer genes from passengers, and determining how these genes contribute to tumorigenesis remains a major challenge. Many key cancer pathways have been identified from large-scale screens in model organisms due to the fact that most cancer genes are highly conserved, and play roles in a range of critical biological processes. We have been using mouse models of bowel, breast, pancreatic cancer and leukemia, to identify novel candidate cancer genes using approaches including transposon-mediated mutagenesis coupled with high-throughput insertion site sequencing, and next-generation sequencing of mouse tumours. Using these approaches we have not only recovered known cancer genes but also a large number of new candidates, many of which appear to be disrupted in human tumours and represent potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. I will discuss the results of the screens we have performed and give specific examples of some of the novel cancer genes discovered from this work. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr SY08-01. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-SY08-01