Analysis of human colon tumor and normal tissue samples and validation experiments in human cell lines.

Coordinator:		Dr. Dr. Michal-Ruth Schweiger
Institution:		Max-Planck Insitut für molekulare Genetik
Homepage:		www.molgen.mpg.de/

The goal of the project is to identify modifiers of genetic and epigenetic alterations in colon cancer and to understand their influence on tumor initiation and progression. Within this project we will use crossings between chromosome substitution strain (CSS) and a colon cancer mouse model to map the chromosomal localization of epigenetic and genetic modulators. In this subproject genomewide investigations of genetic and epigenetic changes in human tissue samples will be performed in parallel to the mouse experiments. For these experiments the recently developed the next-generation sequencing technique will be used. Potential candidates as modifiers identified in the mouse models and within the sequencing experiments will be analyzed in tissue microarray and cell culture systems for their influence on tumor formation in humans. Based on the combination between advanced genetic tools (CSS), state of the art genome wide analysis techniques and human tissue samples, it will be possible to identify biomarkers for colorectal cancers and to define new targets for a site-specific tumor therapy.