NEW
YORK, Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --
Researchers at the Mount Sinai Center for Transformative Disease
Modeling have released a groundbreaking study identifying 4,749 key
gene clusters, termed "prognostic modules," that significantly
influence the progression of 32 different types of cancer. The
study, published in Genome Research, serves as a comprehensive
resource and lays the foundation for the development of
next-generation cancer treatments and diagnostic markers.
Despite significant progress in cancer research, understanding
the disease's genetic intricacies remains challenging. Previous
research often focused on isolated gene functions in specific
cancer types.
"We aimed to fill this knowledge gap by providing a
comprehensive analysis of gene-gene interactions across various
forms of cancer," said Bin Zhang, PhD, Willard T.C. Johnson
Research Professor of Neurogenetics and Director of the Mount Sinai
Center for Transformative Disease Modeling.
The team used a multi-omics approach, incorporating genomic,
transcriptomic, and epigenomic data in their analysis. They
employed advanced systems biology approaches to analyze more than
10,000 patient samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), one of
the most comprehensive public cancer databases, and used rigorous
network methods to identify and validate the gene clusters that
have a significant impact on cancer prognosis.
"The implications of our findings are profound. We have
identified 4,749 distinct co-regulated gene modules that play a
pivotal role in cancer progression," explained Dr. Zhang.
Peng Xu, PhD, Instructor of
Genetics and Genomic Sciences and co-senior author, added: "Our
study goes beyond merely identifying these modules. It also
elucidates the multi-scale regulations that govern their
functions."
In simpler terms, the study has identified critical genes and
their complex relationships that either halt or promote cancer
progression. This new understanding opens the door for targeted
research and development of future treatments and diagnostic
methods for cancers.
While this study represents a significant step forward, it is
not an immediate cure for cancer. However, it serves as a crucial
foundation for developing targeted therapies that could lead to
improved patient outcomes. "Our findings offer fertile ground for
the next wave of cancer research and treatment strategies," said
Dr. Zhang.
The paper is titled "Multiscale network modeling reveals the
gene regulatory landscape driving cancer prognosis in 32 cancer
types."
About the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai is internationally renowned for its outstanding
research, educational, and clinical care programs. It is the sole
academic partner for the eight- member hospitals* of the Mount
Sinai Health System, one of the largest academic health systems in
the United States, providing care
to a large and diverse patient population.
Ranked 14th nationwide in National Institutes of Health (NIH)
funding and among the 99th percentile in research dollars per
investigator according to the Association of American Medical
Colleges, Icahn Mount Sinai has a talented, productive, and
successful faculty. More than 3,000 full-time scientists,
educators, and clinicians work within and across 44 academic
departments and 36 multidisciplinary institutes, a structure that
facilitates tremendous collaboration and synergy. Our emphasis on
translational research and therapeutics is evident in such diverse
areas as genomics/big data, virology, neuroscience, cardiology,
geriatrics, as well as gastrointestinal and liver diseases.
Icahn Mount Sinai offers highly competitive MD, PhD, and
Master's degree programs, with current enrollment of approximately
1,300 students. It has the largest graduate medical education
program in the country, with more than 2,000 clinical residents and
fellows training throughout the Health System. In addition, more
than 550 postdoctoral research fellows are in training within the
Health System.
A culture of innovation and discovery permeates every Icahn
Mount Sinai program. Mount Sinai's
technology transfer office, one of the largest in the country,
partners with faculty and trainees to pursue optimal
commercialization of intellectual property to ensure that
Mount Sinai discoveries and
innovations translate into healthcare products and services that
benefit the public.
Icahn Mount Sinai's commitment to breakthrough science and
clinical care is enhanced by academic affiliations that supplement
and complement the School's programs.
Through the Mount Sinai Innovation Partners (MSIP), the Health
System facilitates the real-world application and commercialization
of medical breakthroughs made at Mount
Sinai. Additionally, MSIP develops research partnerships
with industry leaders such as Merck & Co., AstraZeneca, Novo
Nordisk, and others.
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount
Sinai is located in New York
City on the border between the Upper East Side and East
Harlem, and classroom teaching takes place on a campus facing
Central Park. Icahn Mount Sinai's location offers many
opportunities to interact with and care for diverse communities.
Learning extends well beyond the borders of our physical campus, to
the eight hospitals of the Mount Sinai Health System, our academic
affiliates, and globally.
* Mount Sinai Health System member hospitals: The
Mount Sinai Hospital; Mount Sinai Beth Israel; Mount Sinai
Brooklyn; Mount Sinai Morningside; Mount Sinai Queens; Mount Sinai
South Nassau; Mount Sinai West; and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
of Mount Sinai.
Media Contact
Karin Eskenazi, Mount Sinai, 332-257-1538,
karin.eskenazi@mssm.edu, mountsinai.org
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SOURCE Mount Sinai