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NCI ’ s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics

NCI ’ s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. Neil Caporaso, M.D. Chief, Genetic Epidemiology Branch DCEG, NCI www.dceg.cancer.gov. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics Discovering the Causes of Cancer. national and international intramural, population-based research

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NCI ’ s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics

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  1. NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics • Neil Caporaso, M.D. • Chief, Genetic Epidemiology Branch • DCEG, NCI • www.dceg.cancer.gov

  2. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics Discovering the Causes of Cancer national and international intramural, population-based research Mission: * broad-based, high quality, high impact research to uncover causes of cancer and means of its prevention. * national and international perspective. * develop research resources and strategic partnerships in molecular epidemiology across NCI, NIH and the research global community * train the next generation of scientists in cancer epidemiology and related areas.

  3. National Cancer Institute Intramural Divisions Extramural Divisions DCEG CCR 8Branches/1 Lab 69 Principal Investigators ~205 Investigators

  4. National Cancer Institute (NCI) Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics Find the CAUSE! Genetic Epidemiology Branch Other Branches focus on Nutrition, Hormones, Infection, Occupation, Statistics, Radiation

  5. Why have an intramural program? Example 1 In the 1980/90s many groups independently reported that normal patients had excess clonal B lymphocytes in the blood. Each investigator gave it a different name Benign monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (BMBCL) Han 1984 Idiopathic persistent lymphocytosis Bassan 1988 B-monoclonal lymphocytosis undetermined significance Garcia 1989 Smoldering CLL Montserrat 1988 B-cell monoclonal lymphocytosis (BCML) Marti 1993 Sub-clinical BCLL B-cell monoclonal lymphocytosis Maiese 1997 CD5 negative BMLUS Wang 2002 CLL-like immunophenotype (CLUS) Rawstron 2

  6. Why have an intramural program? 2 2003 2005 2007 2010 Monoclonal B Cell Lymphocytosis (MBL)

  7. Example 2 Family Studies were not popular Early ideas in human genetics: If it’s genetic it’s rare If its genetic it’s only in families If it’s genetic you can’t change it If it’s genetic there is no treatment If it’s genetic the environment doesn’t matter ALL THESE ASSUMPTIONS WERE WRONG

  8. Family studies by our group…..

  9. Family studies by our group….. dysplastic nevus

  10. Most Cancer is due to the Environment Dramatic differences in cancer rates by geography and over time are only compatible with extrinsic environmental causes Established by a vast body of descriptive, ecological, and analytical epidemiology

  11. Per-Capita Consumption of Different Forms of Tobacco in The U.S. 1880-2003 Decades in the 1900s Data Source USDA

  12. Lung cancer rate drops after smoking cessation

  13. Why here?

  14. Copper Smelter, Montana

  15. Traditional epidemiology E D Exposure Disease Tobacco Lung Cancer

  16. Molecular epidemiology G ID E ED D EBE ASF exposure internal dose early biological effect altered structure or function early disease disease Adding biomarkersallows us to investigate genes and mechanisms

  17. Integrative epidemiology G O ID B E ED D EBE ASF exposure internal dose early biological effect altered structure or function early disease disease Outcome Behavior

  18. DCEG Areas of Investigation • Lifestyle risk factors (hormonal and nutritional exposures) • Environmental and occupational exposures • Infectious agents • Radiation • Statistics and methods development • Genetic predisposition • Genome-wide association studies • and Next-gen sequencing

  19. DCEG Staff and Trainee Profile ~25 summer students ~100 postbaccalaureate, predoctoral, postdoctoral and clinical trainees 36 staff scientist/staff clinicians 26 tenure-track investigators 43 senior investigators

  20. DCEG Selected Discoveries Hormone replacement and breast/ovarian cancer Benzene and formaldehyde and leukemia/lymphoma Role of p53 gene in Li-Fraumeni syndrome Gail breast cancer risk model Cancer risk among atomic bomb survivors No link between breast implants – breast cancer, cell phones – brain cancer, or power-lines – childhood leukemia

  21. Personal view- Our Branch Selected Discoveries (GEB/2014) Largest study of genes and lung cancer POT1- gene associated with familial melanoma Methylome and lung cancer The “Time to First Cigarette” is a critical determinant of lung cancer risk

  22. DCEG What we look for in early career investigators • Great science: important work, published in top-notch journals • Good quality work: strong rationale and research methods • Depth and breath of scientific knowledge • Evidence of creativity, innovation, and originality – person is moving the field forward • Collaborative, interdisciplinary spirit • Capacity for independence and leadership • Ability and enthusiasm to mentor

  23. Personal view What we look for in early career investigators 3 qualities TRAINING MOVIVATION and CHARACTER HARD WORK

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