# 25 Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2020 · $18,675

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics (CGE) Program was formed in 2012 and consists of 52 members (36
primary, 15 associate and 1 adjunct) from 10 departments. Dr. Sharon Dent, an international leader in defining
the function and regulation of histone-modifying proteins, leads the program. Dr. Guillermina Lozano, a leading
authority on the p53 tumor suppressor pathway, and Dr. David Johnson, an expert on the functions of the E2F
family of proteins in transcription, DNA repair and cell growth control, serve as co-leaders. The major scientific
goal of the program is to define the genetic, epigenetic and mechanistic changes that influence cancer to develop
new and effective means to positively impact cancer diagnosis, treatment and cure. The program is organized
around 3 major themes: 1) Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressors, 2) Epigenetic Regulators, and 3) Genome
Maintenance. Each theme is addressed by a specific aim. Aim 1: To define molecular pathways important in
human cancers using genetic and genomic approaches in model organisms, cellular systems and patient-derived
tissues; Aim 2: To define functions of epigenetic regulators in normal and disease states and explore how these
functions can be exploited for development of new therapeutics or diagnostics; Aim 3: To define the molecular
machinery that responds to DNA damage and other stresses to maintain genome integrity and tissue
homeostasis and to understand how dysfunction of these mechanisms contributes to cancer. CGE annual direct
funding totals $10.2M with $2.5M from the NCI, $7.7M from other peer-reviewed sources, such as CPRIT, the
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the American Cancer Society, and breast and prostate cancer research funding
from the U.S. Department of Defense. Total program peer-reviewed funding reflects an increase of 7% since the
last competitive renewal. The program has also produced 779 published papers, with 132 (17%) reflecting intra-
programmatic collaborations (an increase of 5%), 270 (35%) reflecting inter-programmatic collaborations (an
increase of 6%), and 571 (73%) reflecting inter-institutional collaborations. Sixty-five percent of articles appeared
in journals with IF >5, and 27% of articles were published in journals with IF >10, including N Engl J Med, Nature,
Science, Lancet Oncol, Cell, Cancer Cell, Cancer Discov, J Clin Oncol, and JAMA Oncol. Program members
have collectively used all CCSG shared resources. Research accomplishments during the last grant period
include definition of the origin and evolution of breast tumor cell heterogeneity, development of the first small-
molecule inhibitor of the TRIM24 bromodomain, identification of the YEATS domain as a new epigenetic “reader”
of acetylated lysine implicated in leukemia and non-small cell lung cancer, and the discovery that the BRCA1-
interacting protein ABRAXAS and the related protein ABRO1, maintain genome integrity. These and other
discoveries reflect the impact of our contribution...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9997813
- **Project number:** 5P30CA016672-44
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** SHARON Y. R. DENT
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $18,675
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9997813

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9997813, 25 Cancer Genetics and Epigenetics (5P30CA016672-44). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9997813. Licensed CC0.

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