Translational Research Program
Principal Investigator: Paul Lampe, PhD
Background: This project utilizes high-density antibody microarrays to perform both broad proteomic and glycomic screens and specifically targeted analyses to discovercolon cancer biomarkers. We are analyzing both biomarkers of early detection and diagnosis in a 3-stage process: discovery, pre-validation and validation. Our high throughput, 2-stage discovery methodology will rapidly assess the utility of these markers alone, together and in combination with existing markers.
Specific Aims:
1. To evaluate the expression/activation of proteins important in proliferation, angiogenesis, and inflammation in plasma collected 0-24 months prior to diagnosis of colon cancer.
2. To evaluate changes in the glycosylation status of proteins during colon cancer progression in plasma collected 0-24 months prior to diagnosis.
3. To develop CRC-specific diagnostic biomarkers using pretreatment cancer tissue and plasma from colorectal cancer patients.
4. To validate colon cancer early detection and diagnostic biomarkers on independent sample sets.