Signatures of Mutational Processes in Human Cancer - Ludmil Alexandrov
DCEG Events
December 8, 2016 | 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
NCI Shady Grove
Title: Signatures of Mutational Processes in Human Cancer
Speaker: Ludmil B. Alexandrov, Ph.D. Oppenheimer Fellow, Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Host: Dr. Montserrat Garcia-Closas, M.D., Dr.P.H., Deputy Director, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI
Description: All cancers are caused by somatic mutations. These mutations may be the consequence of multiple exogenous or endogenous processes. Each biological process causing mutations leaves a characteristic imprint on the genome of a cancer cell, termed, mutational signature. In this talk, Dr. Alexandrov will present mutational signatures analyses encompassing 12,023 cancer genomes across 40 distinct types of human cancer revealing more than 30 different signatures of mutational processes. Some signatures are present in many cancer types, notably a signature attributed to the APOBEC family of cytidine deaminases, whereas others are confined to a single cancer class. Certain signatures are associated with age of the patient at cancer diagnosis, known mutagenic exposures or defects in DNA maintenance, but many are of cryptic origin. The results reveal the diversity of mutational processes underlying the development of cancer, with potential implications for understanding of cancer etiology, prevention and therapy.
In addition to the seminar, Dr. Alexandrov will participate in a round table discussion, and he will be available for individual meetings.
Roundtable Discussion
Topic: Tumor Mutational Signature and Cancer Etiology
Time: 1:00 to 2:30 P.M. and Location: 6E 032/034
Please contact Ka Lai Lou (ka.lou@nih.gov) if you would like to meet with Dr. Alexandrov during his visit.