DR-487 Pan-cancer landscapes of transcriptional and genomic heterogeneity in metastatic tumors

Metastasis, the spread of cancer from its original site to other organs, is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. This project aims to thoroughly identify common and distinct molecular features of metastasis across multiple cancer types by analyzing both transcriptional (gene expression) and genomic (DNA) changes. We will perform integrative analysis of large-scale RNA sequencing data with DNA mutation and copy number information to deeply investigate the heterogeneity of metastatic tumors. Understanding these shared and unique molecular hallmarks can reveal mechanisms driving metastasis, improve the accuracy of tumor profiling, and potentially guide the development of therapies that specifically target metastatic disease, ultimately benefiting patients.

Himisha Beltran, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, USA