The research group of Anne-Lise Børresen-Dale

Systematic investigation of genetic variation, both inherited and somatically altered, gene expression patterns and genome wide copy number alterations in human breast and ovarian tumors and their correlation to specific features of phenotypic variations will provide the basis for an improved molecular taxonomy. When hundreds of tumors have been systematically characterized, a better tumor classification is likely to appear, and statistically significant relationships with different clinical parameters may be uncovered. Recognizing the expression “motifs” that represent important clinical phenotypes, like resistance or sensitivity to specific therapies, invasiveness, or metastatic potential, is an important challenge in our ongoing studies.

The following subprojects are ongoing:

• Identification of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes that are somatically altered and that contribute to an aggressive tumor genotype and chemo resistance
  
  
• Identification of genomewide expression profiles related to tumor type, stage, aggressiveness and therapy response
  
  
• Identification of genomewide copy number profiles related to tumor aggressiveness
  
  
• A bioinformatic and genetic approach to understand gene regulation and dysregulation in breast tumor development and progression
  
  
• Functional characterization of breast cancer related genes using siRNA
  
  
• Identification of genetic factors involved in the adverse effect of radiation treatment
  
  
• The WECARE (women’s environment cancer and radiation exposure) multicenter study.