The role of chromosome 3 arm aneuploidy in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Aneuploidy, including the gain or loss of whole chromosomes or chromosome arms, is a near-universal feature of cancer. However, the role of aneuploidy in tumor pathogenesis remains an unanswered question in cancer biology. To directly test the effects of cancer aneuploidy alterations in human cells, Dr. Taylor developed a genome engineering approach to delete chromosome arms in vitro. With this technology, the Taylor lab aims to uncover the function of specific aneuploidy alterations in tumorigenesis. With this award, the lab is set to focus on chromosome 3p deletion and chromosome 3q gain, alterations that occur at high frequency in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and SCCs of other tissues.