Fortina Research

The Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics Resource (CGBR) at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center is a high-throughput facility with expertise in carrying out large scale RNA expression profiling studies, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), copy number variation (CNV), methylation studies and next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies. Our mission is to translate basic research findings to medical innovations. We aim to develop and implement new molecular assays and to guide investigators to the most appropriate genomic approach to discover genetic causes for the most prevalent diseases including cancer.

The CGBR serves investigators in the SKCC and TJU and offers Sanger sequencing, mRNA expression profiling as well as targeted genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, coding and non-coding RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, RIP-seq, BIS-Seq, circulating tumor cell isolation and single cell genome amplification. An experienced team of researchers has the capability to analyze the large amounts of data generated from our state-of-the-art high-throughput microarray and NGS technologies.

EB is a heritable skin disease manifesting with sub-lamina densa blistering, erosion, chronic ulcers and leading to extensive tissue fibrosis and squamous cell carcinoma.  In collaboration with Dr. J. Uitto (P.I.), we are identifying COL7A1 mutations in a large multi-ethnic cohort using a variety of molecular approaches including SNP polymorphism-based linkage analysis, homozygosity mapping, Sanger sequencing and targeted genome sequencing.

Prognosis for metastatic uveal melanoma is extremely poor. Controlling the growth of hepatic metastases has been a rational approach to extend survival. Patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) mouse models provide potential benefit through a personalized medicine approach. In collaboration with Drs. A. Aplin (P.I.) and T. Sato, we aim to develop new uveal melanoma PDX models of liver metastatic uveal melanoma and test relevant NCI-IND agents with the aim of providing the pre-clinical basis for/against their use in metastatic uveal melanoma.  These models are being molecularly characterized using high-throughput technologies at the genomic level and will be utilized to test for response and resistance to different therapeutic strategies.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small ~22 nt RNAs that are important regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression, and they have been shown to be involved in many cellular processes. In collaboration with Drs. I Rigoustsos (P.I.), and E. Londin we are profiling miRNAs in a variety of tissue types to characterize the human miRNAome, identify signatures of miRNA expression patterns associated with disease, and elucidate the signaling pathways regulated by miRNAs.

Blood-born biomarkers such as circulating tumor cells (CTC) and cell-free plasma DNA (cfDNA) have been investigated in the peripheral blood of patients with various carcinomas including breast, ovarian, prostate, colorectal and lung cancer. Assessment of CTCs provide a non-invasive accessible source of tumor material, and the molecular profiling of these rare cells might lead to insight on disease progression and therapeutic strategies. We aim (P. Fortina, P.I.) to evaluate CTC detection using a novel microfluidic technology that uses size- and deformability-based capture systems. This platform allows flex­ibility in the selection of antibody markers and segregates the CTCs in their own chambers, thus, enabling morphological, immunological and genetic characterization at the single cell level. We are currently investigating the incidence and heterogeneity mutational status within single CTCs isolated from individual prostatic cancer patients combining the FDA-approved CellSearch® system for enumeration of CTCs.