Eleanor Agosta
TP63 Amplification and Short Isoform Expression Combined with HPV Integration as a Novel Biomarker for Cervical Cancer Progression
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) are responsible for over 90% of cervical cancers with viral DNA often integrated into human DNA in one of five recurrent locations. One of these locations is near the TP63 gene, which is an important regulator of differentiation in keratinocytes. I analyzed publicly available databases of cervical tissues and found that different TP63 isoforms are expressed in healthy versus tumor tissues. Since HPV integration can occur during the premalignant stages of disease, my working hypothesis is that changes at the TP63 locus, including differential isoform expression and HPV integration, provide a selective advantage to host cells leading to progression from dysplasia to carcinoma. As there is an urgent need for improved molecular markers to identify those lesions most likely to advance to cancer, I propose to use precise imaging techniques and a novel functional model to investigate changes the TP63 locus as a potential biomarker for cervical cancer progression.
I am honored to receive the PhRMA Foundation predoctoral fellowship. This award marks a pivotal step in my professional growth, enabling my work on biomarkers for cervical cancer progression while honing the skills I need to become a translational oncology researcher.
