Chromosome instability and synthetic lethality in yeast and cancer

Mutations that cause chromosome instability (CIN) in pre-cancer cells are recognized to be drivers in cancer initiation and/or progression. These CIN gene mutations also represent genetic vulnerabilities in tumor cells that could be exploited for therapeutic benefit in the treatment of cancer. We have developed a cross-platform cancer drug discovery paradigm that exploits the high throughput genetic and biochemical analyses afforded by yeast and the nematode worm, vertebrate cell cultures to validate therapeutic targets, and biochemical assays to screen for inhibitors of these targets. Our goals are to gain new insights into CIN in cancer and to translate these discoveries into novel cancer treatments.