Molecular Oncology and Breast Cancer Program

 Please visit our new website at http://molonc.bccrc.ca/

The development of cancerous tumours from normal human cells is a complex multi-stage process. The Department of Molecular Oncology and Breast Cancer Program aims to characterise the molecular changes that occur as tumours develop. Dr. Sam Aparicio's laboratory focuses on the molecular pathways involved in breast cancer development, while Dr. Poul Sorensen's team studies a range of childhood cancers as well as a subset of breast tumours. Dr. Peter Watson's team focuses on pre-invasive lesions in early breast tumor progression, with a specific focus on ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). He is also a leader in coordination of  biobanking activities. Dr. François Bénard's laboratory focuses on developing and using imaging techniques to characterise tumours in patients, and in animal models of cancer.

Over the last few decades, a number of genes and proteins that are involved in the development of breast and pediatric cancers have been identified and characterised. Researchers in the Molecular Oncology department use the latest technologies to rapidly identify other interacting molecules that are involved in the same processes, and that may serve as targets for novel chemotherapy drugs and other cancer treatments. A range of techniques are then used within the department to validate the role of all novel candidate molecules in the development of cancer. The ultimate aim is to translate these findings into improved treatment options for cancer patients.

 Molecular Oncology and Breast Cancer Program Personnel

Top of Page

URL: http://www.bccrc.ca/mo/index.html
The BC Cancer Agency Research Centre is the research arm of the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA),
and is supported by the BC Cancer Foundation.
This page was last modified at 5:33pm on October 1, 2009
© 1999-2008. BC Cancer Agency. All rights reserved.
About this website...