Search

Exploring the role of epigenetic dysregulation in PanNET progression

Sita Kugel, PhD

Year: 2018
Institution: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Country: United States
State: WA
Award Type: Pilot
NET Type: Pancreas
Science Type: Basic

General Description

Bernstein and colleagues will work to identify altered epigenetic states and drivers in small intestine and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors to identify new treatment strategies for patients. In parallel the team will also work to develop neuroendocrine tumor models. These models will be used to assess potential new biomarkers and will also facilitate future research projects.

Research Objectives

  1. Deep characterization of genome-wide chromatin states in primary human small intestine tumor and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor samples, with the goal to determine the gene regulatory circuits and aberrant epigenetic states that sustain these tumors and may thus represent therapeutic opportunities.
  2. Generation of stable neuroendocrine tumor models to assess new biomarkers in carcinoid tumors and their associated stroma and to determine the significance of particular histone modifications through future perturbation studies.