Identification of epigenetic drivers of advanced prostate cancer

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Performing epigenomic profiling across disease states facilitates identification of recurrent alterations that are biologically meaningful. For example, identifying differential enhancers between treatment-sensitive versus castration-resistant prostate cancers revealed somatically acquired regulatory elements critical for resistance. These results provided insight into disease progression that could not be obtained through genomic and transcriptomic approaches. We are using a similar strategy to identify enhancers that are activated during relevant disease states in prostate cancer. Given the technical challenges in procuring relevant patient samples to perform epigenomic profiling, we developed methods to perform chromatin immunoprecipitation from archived FFPE sample as well as from cell free plasma. In FY23, we optimized a protocol for cell free plasma and performed ChIP-seq taken from serial blood draws from prostate cancer patients. Using this method, we demonstrate epigenetic reprogramming during disease progression and currently performing functional validation studies in model systems.