Translational Molecular Medicine Research

Our Mission and Vision

The mission of the Translational Molecular Medicine Research department is the development of new approaches for the molecular diagnosis of metastasis with a strong emphasis on the identification of molecular biomarkers (genomic, epigenomic) that can be used in early-diagnosis, prognosis, drug resistance, and theranostic targets. Our mission and goal is devoted to clinical translational research, collaborating with physicians and other scientists to improve cancer patient healthcare and clinical outcomes.

Our vision is the employment of blood molecular biomarkers such as cell-free nucleic acid (cfNA; DNA, miRNA) and circulating tumor cells (CTC) to aid in the management of cancer patients and elevate modern therapeutics. In addition, we aim to fully understand ubiquitin and ubiquilin as they relate to tumor regulatory pathways and translational responses to therapy resistance.

Research Topics

We are highly focused on developing quantitative translational oncology tools to improve management of solid tumor cancer patients. Discoveries made in molecular studies are rapidly translated for application at the bedside. We have partnered with biotech and pharmaceutical companies in developing treatment protocols and new molecular oncology approaches, the results of which may increase overall survival and eventually expedite development of a cure for patients with solid tumor cancers.

Main Projects

• We are looking for molecular blood biopsies in blood that include cell free nucleic acids (cfNAs) (ctDNA, miRNA, CTCs and exosomes). We assess/determine their clinical utility especially in diagnosis and prognosis during treatment.
• We assess patients who receive immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
• We assess various forms of epigenetic changes (methylation and histone) as related to metastasis and therapy resistance.
• The Molecular Research Department also assess DNA damage resistance related genes in response to drug resistance.
• We examine primary and extracranial brain tumor molecular biology.
• We assess regulatory mechanisms of specific ubiquitin and ubiquilin.

Partnership & Collaboration

Our Translational Molecular Medicine Department was initiated at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute in 1991 under Dr. Dave SB Hoon. Dr. Hoon’s research team has published over 375 publications in indexed scientific journals. We collaborate with academic and industry partners to fulfill our research goals. Our academic partners help build programs, sharing knowledge and resources for the benefit of all partners, while our industry partners help us develop products and provide resources not available at the institute. The department has been supported by NIH/NCI grants for melanoma translational studies since 1992 while support for breast cancer has been provided by FFANY, ABC, Gonda, California Breast Cancer Program, DOD, and Komen foundations. Studies in prostate cancer have been supported by ABC and DOD in the past. Recent support has been provided by the Adeleson Medical Research Foundation (AMRF) which include Brain Metastasis and Epigenetic Sequence Platform Core, as Dr. Hoon is a member of the program. Additional major grant support include NCI Melanoma SPORE from the University of Penn, S. Riley Early Detection Pancreas Cancer, and the NIH NCI Preventative mushroom grant via City of Hope.

Currently, the members of the department are organized in different sections of research, these include:

1. The identification of CTCs and CFNA in blood and urine for diagnosis and prognosis of patients during follow up.
2. The understanding of different epigenetic mechanisms that regulate regional and distant(brain, visceral organ) metastasis.
3. Assessment of ubiquitin and ubiquilin pathways that promote tumor progression and treatment resistance.
4. Identification of mechanisms of primary brain and brain metastasis progression and tumor microenvironment interactions.

• See Principle Collaborators