Chromosome Organization in Cancer

Presenter: Shayla Shahar

Co-Presenter(s):
Kayla Noelani Arce

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 19-20

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Lisa Hua

Department: Biology

Funding Source/Sponsor: Koret Scholars Program

Abstract:
Little is known for the mechanisms underlying metastatic progression in cancer. One possibility is that heterogeneous chromosome organization within the cancer may play a role in tumor metastases. It was found that a secondary renal tumor, Caki1, exhibited abnormal pairing of homologous chromosome 19. The abnormal pairing was correlated to genome instability. Although abnormal pairing has been observed in Caki1 cells, it is unknown whether it is conserved in the original/primary tumor. We will employ chromosome painting, and fluorescence microscopy to visualize homologous chromosomes to test whether primary Caki2 renal tumors also exhibit abnormal  pairing. To test whether this phenomenon is conserved in other primary cancers, we will use the same methods to investigate homolog pairing in U2OS bone osteosarcomas. Completion of this project would contribute to the understanding of chromosome pairing in multiple cancers, and its correlation and consequence in tumor metastases.