Investigating the Impact of Genetic Variation in Cancer Progression and Therapeutic Resistance

Cancer genome sequencing studies have contributed to the development of targeted therapies and laid the foundation for precision medicine paradigms. Still, intratumoral and inter-patient variability presents a roadblock to achieving durable treatment responses and preventing drug resistance. Until recently, comprehensive studies examining the impact of distinct allelic variants on cancer progression and therapy response were not feasible due to technological limitations. In collaboration with the Sánchez-Rivera Lab at MIT, we are applying high-throughput precision genome editing technology to elucidate how diverse types of genetic variants influence cancer development and progression, as well as response and resistance to cancer therapies.