Characterising the molecular changes that underpin the progression and pathogenesis of cancer.

Our Focus

Through the use of cutting edge technologies, Molecular Oncology (MO) aims to identify genes involved in the development of cancer, quickly and accurately.

MO's researchers combine diverse techniques, ranging from genomics, computational biology, tumour imaging, in vitro and in vivo functional models, to study biological and clinical phenotypes. The proteins produced by these genes may serve as targets for novel chemotherapy drugs and other cancer treatments, or imaging scans. MO uses these combined techniques to validate the role of the novel candidate genes in the development of cancer; with an eye towards translating findings into improved treatment options for cancer patients around the world.

News & Events

BC Cancer researchers receive UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Awards

Each year, the UBC Faculty of Medicine (FoM) recognizes faculty members who have made exceptional contributions in the areas of education, research and/or service, and who are dedicated to advancing both the Faculty’s values and vision of transforming health for everyone.

Two BC Cancer researchers are recipients of the 2025 UBC FoM Distinguished Achievement Awards in the following categories: 

New test identifies high-risk childhood brain tumours, improving treatment decisions

Canadian researchers have developed an effective new technique for identifying aggressive medulloblastoma – the most common type of malignant brain tumour in children – and potentially sparing young patients from unnecessary treatments and their harmful long-term side effects. 

The technique, spearheaded by researchers at BC Cancer, BC Children’s Hospital and UBC’s department of pathology and laboratory medicine, can help doctors tailor treatments to individual patients and ensure high-risk cases receive the intensive therapy they need.

Research Labs

Recent Publications

Ongoing genome doubling shapes evolvability and immunity in ovarian cancer.

Nature, 2025
McPherson, Andrew, Vázquez-García, Ignacio, Myers, Matthew A, Al-Rawi, Duaa H, Zatzman, Matthew, Weiner, Adam C, Freeman, Samuel, Mohibullah, Neeman, Satas, Gryte, Williams, Marc J, Ceglia, Nicholas, Norkūnaitė, Danguolė, Zhang, Allen W, Li, Jun, Lim, Jamie L P, Wu, Michelle, Choi, Seongmin, Havasov, Eliyahu, Grewal, Diljot, Shi, Hongyu, Kim, Minsoo, Schwarz, Roland F, Kaufmann, Tom, Dinh, Khanh Ngoc, Uhlitz, Florian, Tran, Julie, Wu, Yushi, Patel, Ruchi, Ramakrishnan, Satish, Kim, DooA, Clarke, Justin, Green, Hunter, Ali, Emily, DiBona, Melody, Varice, Nancy, Kundra, Ritika, Broach, Vance, Gardner, Ginger J, Roche, Kara Long, Sonoda, Yukio, Zivanovic, Oliver, Kim, Sarah H, Grisham, Rachel N, Liu, Ying L, Viale, Agnes, Rusk, Nicole, Lakhman, Yulia, Ellenson, Lora H, Tavaré, Simon, Aparicio, Samuel, Chi, Dennis S, Aghajanian, Carol, Abu-Rustum, Nadeem R, Friedman, Claire F, Zamarin, Dmitriy, Weigelt, Britta, Bakhoum, Samuel F, Shah, Sohrab P
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Divergent modes of clonal spread and intraperitoneal mixing in high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Nature genetics, 2016
McPherson, Andrew, Roth, Andrew, Laks, Emma, Masud, Tehmina, Bashashati, Ali, Zhang, Allen W, Ha, Gavin, Biele, Justina, Yap, Damian, Wan, Adrian, Prentice, Leah M, Khattra, Jaswinder, Smith, Maia A, Nielsen, Cydney B, Mullaly, Sarah C, Kalloger, Steve, Karnezis, Anthony, Shumansky, Karey, Siu, Celia, Rosner, Jamie, Chan, Hector Li, Ho, Julie, Melnyk, Nataliya, Senz, Janine, Yang, Winnie, Moore, Richard, Mungall, Andrew J, Marra, Marco A, Bouchard-Côté, Alexandre, Gilks, C Blake, Huntsman, David G, McAlpine, Jessica N, Aparicio, Samuel, Shah, Sohrab P
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Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type, displays frequent inactivating germline and somatic mutations in SMARCA4.

Nature genetics, 2014
Ramos, Pilar, Karnezis, Anthony N, Craig, David W, Sekulic, Aleksandar, Russell, Megan L, Hendricks, William P D, Corneveaux, Jason J, Barrett, Michael T, Shumansky, Karey, Yang, Yidong, Shah, Sohrab P, Prentice, Leah M, Marra, Marco A, Kiefer, Jeffrey, Zismann, Victoria L, McEachron, Troy A, Salhia, Bodour, Prat, Jaime, D'Angelo, Emanuela, Clarke, Blaise A, Pressey, Joseph G, Farley, John H, Anthony, Stephen P, Roden, Richard B S, Cunliffe, Heather E, Huntsman, David G, Trent, Jeffrey M
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