Abstract:

Tumors are complex and heterogeneous systems, which challenge their classification and treatment. The Silverbush lab decodes tumor heterogeneity and plasticity to understand how cancer cells transform to become more aggressive or evade treatment. We particularly examine hard-to-treat cancers with high heterogeneity, focusing on the notorious kings of heterogeneity and aggressiveness: brain cancers. To achieve this goal, we develop computational multi-omic single-cell tools. These tools enable us, for the first time, to simultaneously measure DNA methylation, point mutations, and transcriptional activity in the same single cells. We then use these tools to study patient samples, often treated with innovative clinical trials, and build solutions to understand whom the treatment can help, how to improve it, and what the optimal time window is for administering it.

Zoom Link (if unable to attend in-person): https://upenn.zoom.us/j/96390831586