The Cancer Stem Cells Project :: Principal Investigators

The Cancer Stem Cells Project



	New Territory Mapped in Stem Cell Transplantation more

Project Lead
	Dr. Cynthia Guidos, SickKids Phospho-Flow Proteomic Profiling of Cancer Cells and Cancer Stem Cells (CSC). Undertake large-scale phospho-flow proteomics studies to identify phosphoprotein-signaling networks active in leukemias and tumours. Using biostatistical tools, correlate these profiles with a variety of clinical parameters and gene expression data. Genomic and Proteomic Analyses of Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Undertake gene expression and mass-spec proteomic analysis on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and ALL-CSC. Define signaling pathways, networks and molecular mechanisms that regulate ALL to identify potential therapeutic targets.
Activity Leads
	Dr. Jayne Danska, SickKids Genomic and Proteomic Analyses of Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Undertake gene expression and mass-spec proteomic analysis on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and ALL-CSC. Define signaling pathways, networks and molecular mechanisms that regulate ALL to identify potential therapeutic targets.
	Dr. John Dick, UHN Genomic and Proteomic Profiling of Leukemia Stem Cells. Identify global gene expression patterns specific to normal and leukemic stem cells and perform functional analysis of genes that regulate human stem cells and/or initiate leukemogenesis. Complement these studies with flow cytometry analysis of potential leukemic stem cell markers.
	Dr. Peter Dirks, SickKids Genetic Regulation of Brain Tumor Stem Cell Function. Purify CSC from human brain tumours and analyze their phenotypic behavior. Use phospho-flow proteomics to determine phospho-protein expression in human brain tumor cells and perform gene expression microarray analysis to characterize genetic pathways regulating stem cells from these tumours.
	Dr. Sean Egan, SickKids Genomic Profiling of Notch Pathway Targets in Breast Development and Carcinogenesis. The Notch pathway is involved in regulating stem cell self-renewal and is a frequent target of mutation in human cancers. We aim to identify Notch signaling targets in the mammary gland and screen human breast cancers for Notch pathway alterations.
	Dr. Tak Mak, UHN Genomic and Proteomic Profiling of Breast Cancer and BC Stem Cells. Identify Breast Cancer promoting genes using novel transposon screens. We also aim to isolate and characterize Breast Cancer Stem Cells (BCSC) using Phospho-flow proteomic and genomic profiling. Homepage: The Campbell Institute for Breast Cancer Research at Princess Margaret Hospital
	Dr. Mark Minden, UHN Genomic Analyses of Therapeutic Resistance in Leukemia. Identify genes that can potentially overcome drug resistance associated with the p53 tumor suppressor, AKT/PTEN signaling and the c-Myc pathway. Characterise mechanisms that interfere with apoptosis induced by p53, PTEN, and identify of microRNA (miRNA) associated with drug resistance.
	Dr. Wey Leong, UHN Genomic and Proteomic Identification of Biomarkers Linked to Human Breast Cancer Development, Progression, and Outcome. Pilot a study to characterise the protein profile of BCSC and identify protein biomarkers that can predict breast cancer development. Design and fabricate a breast cancer specific gene array (BSGA) and correlate gene profiling with outcome in breast cancer.