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The Clinical Epigenome Conference (TCEC): June 26-27, 2013 | Hotel Kabuki | San Francisco, CA

Reporter: Aviva Lev-Ari, PhD, RN

 

Above the Genome – Underlying Disease

June 26-27, 2013 | Hotel Kabuki | San Francisco, CA | Visit website

FINAL AGENDA

http://www.clinicalgenomeconference.com/Clinical-Epigenome

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

 

Adventures in Personal Medicine: Integrated Personal Omics Profiling for Following Healthy and Disease States

Michael Snyder, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Genetics; Director, Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University

 

Spontaneous and Therapy Induced Evolution of Tumor Genomes and Epigenomes

Joseph Costello, Ph.D., Professor in Residence, Department of Neurological Surgery; Director, Epigenetics Division, Cell Cycling and Signaling Program, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED TALKS

This is just a small sample of presentations that you’ll be able to hear at TCEC: The Clinical Epigenome Conference in San Francisco, CA next month.

Distinguishing between Driver and Passenger Epigenetic Modifications in Cancer

Daniel De Carvalho, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network; Assistant Professor, Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Cancer cells typically exhibit aberrant DNA methylation patterns that can drive malignant transformation. Whether cancer cells are dependent on these abnormal epigenetic modifications remains elusive. We used experimental and bioinformatic approaches to unveil genomic regions that require DNA methylation for survival of cancer cells, suggesting these are key epigenetic events associated with tumorigenesis.

Family Proteins and 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine in Stem Cells, Development and Cancer

Yujiang Geno Shi, Ph.D., Associate Biochemist, Division of Endocrinology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Assistant Professor, Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Recent studies have shown that ten-eleven translocation (Tet) proteins can catalyze 5mC oxidation and generate 5mC derivatives, including 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Not only are Tet family proteins and 5hmC critical for the identity and normal function of embryonic stem cells and early embryonic process of development, but dysregulation of these newly identified epigenetic factors also plays a major role in cancer development. Here we report an essential role of Tet3 in animal development, and define 5hmC as a potential biomarker for tumor progression. These studies will significantly increase our current understanding of the biological functions of Tet proteins and 5hmC while providing mechanistic insight into the development of epigenetic therapeutics.

Defining the Epigenetic Landscape during Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis

Lucy A. Godley, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Cancer Research Center, The University of Chicago

Hematopoietic stem cell commitment and differentiation involves silencing of self-renewal genes and induction of a specific transcriptional program, which is controlled in part through dynamic changes in covalent cytosine modifications. We have studied how the abundance and distribution of these derivatized bases influences hematopoietic stem cell commitment during normal erythropoiesis as well as during leukemia development. The identification of recurrent mutations in several genes important in epigenetic pathways as well as mouse modeling suggest that the balance of covalent cytosine modifications is a key driver of normal blood cell development. I will also discuss how these findings impact our understanding of the activity of the ‘hypomethylating drugs’, now in common use for the treatment of myeloid malignancies.

DNA Methylation Alterations in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Ite A. Laird-Offringa, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Departments of Surgery, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

I will discuss our research on integrated genome-scale DNA methylation and mRNA expression data from microdissected lung adenocarcinoma and matched non-tumor lung. We have identified 164 hypermethylated genes showing concurrent downregulation, and 57 hypomethylated genes showing increased expression. Integrated pathways analysis and detailed examination of individual genes suggests mechanistic contributions of several of these genes to lung adenocarcinoma development and/or progression. I will present information on a number of candidate epigenetic driver genes for lung adenocarcinoma.

Lessons from Surveying the DNA Methylation “Cityscape” of Lethal Metastatic Prostate Cancer

Srinivasan (Vasan) Yegnasubramanian, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Alterations in DNA methylation are a hallmark of human cancers, including prostate cancer. We carried out genome-scale analyses of DNA methylation alterations in multiple metastases from each of 13 men that died of metastatic prostate cancer and created DNA methylation cityscapes to visualize these complex data. These analyses revealed that each individual developed a unique DNA methylation signature that was largely maintained across all metastases within that individual. By analyzing their frequency, clonal maintenance, and correlation with expression, we nominated potential “driver” DNA methylation alterations that could be prioritized for development as epigenetic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

DNA Methylation Detection using Nanopores

George Vasmatzis, Ph.D., Director, Biomarker Discovery Program, Center of Individualized Medicine; Consultant, Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Foundation

I will discuss some of our latest work around integrating micro-fabrication and solid state technologies with biomarkers. In diagnostics, a biosensor that could look for subtle structural or sequence variations at the single molecule level would be extremely useful . Epigenetic modifications have been linked with cancer, and we have developed nanopore technology to detect the methylation profile of a single molecule. The challenges and the potential of such technology will be discussed.

 

CONFERENCE TOPICS INCLUDE:

Genetic & Epigenetic Interplay in Cancer 

Mechanisms in (De)Methylation Underlying 

Development of Disease 

The Predictive Power of Epigenetics: Diagnostic 

& Prognostic Utility 

The Clinical Genome Technology Showcase 

Trends in Analysis & Interpretation 

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DINNER SHORT COURSES*

Wednesday, June 26      View Details     Registration Information

5:30 – 8:30 pm

(SC3) Clinical Combination Economic Conundrums

 

5:30 – 8:30 pm

(SC4) Advances in Methylation Analysis