DR-396 The impact of individual mutational processes on evolution of cancer

Drug resistance is a major cause of cancer recurrence and related deaths, often due to DNA mutations in cancer cells that make drugs ineffective. Identification of mutational signatures, mutational patterns inflicted upon cancer genomes by individual mutational processes, significantly advanced our understanding of the environmental and cell-intrinsic mutational sources. However, the impact of these processes on cancer evolution remains poorly defined. Leveraging mutational signatures, we propose to link individual mutational processes to tumor evolution, heterogeneity and resistance. Addressing this gap could lead to a discovery of novel prognostic, monitoring and therapeutic strategies for leveraging mutational processes operative in individual cancers.

Mia Petljak, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, United States of America