GENE-LAST
Main Hypothesis:
Efficacy of a treatment regimen is a function of both host, tumour and environmental aspects with the tumour aspects often taking a primary role. In contrast, toxicity of a treatment regimen is generally a function of host and environment, where the host may play key roles. Understanding the host roles in these toxicities can lead to prevention, attenuation, and improved management of these toxicities.
Genetics of Long and Short-term Toxicities
Research question:
What are the host (genetic) and environmental factors affecting long and short term toxicities in head and neck cancer? Can this information be harnessed to help reduce toxicities or their severity?
Summary:
GENE-LAST combines the effort of AMP-PEL’s biomarker pipeline with ON-PROST’s research in patient reported toxicities. This is a new and developing area of research for the G. Liu laboratory.
Scientific Goals:
(1) To combine efforts with 2BLAST and CHUQoLS in developing precise and accurate, biologically-relevant patterns of short and long term toxicities in head and neck cancer that is anatomic-subtype, disease-stage and treatment-specific.
(2) To determine the genetic associations with short and long term toxicities.
Funding Sources: Cancer Care Ontario, Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Department of Medicine and Division of Medical Oncology, University of Toronto through its Comprehensive Research Experiment for Medical Students (CREMS) program, Harry Barberian Resident’s Research Award.
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