How epigenomics broke the mold: an interview with Peter W Laird

Area of Science:

• Cancer Epigenetics
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Professor Peter Laird's career spans foundational work in cancer epigenetics.
• He has held key leadership roles at USC and Van Andel Institute, focusing on epigenetics research.
• His early work established the causal role of DNA methylation in oncogenesis.

Discussion:

• Laird's research has elucidated the link between DNA methylation and specific cancer mutations, including BRAF in colorectal cancer.
• He discovered that embryonic stem cell targets are prone to aberrant DNA methylation in cancer.
• His work identified a novel epigenetic subtype of glioma (G-CIMP) associated with IDH1 mutations.

Key Insights:

• Pioneered the first US FDA-approved blood-based DNA methylation assay for cancer (Epi proColon).
• Demonstrated the connection between nuclear architecture, replication timing, and epigenetic instability.
• Provided mechanistic insights into DNA methylation loss in aging and cancer linked to cell division.

Outlook:

• Continued exploration of epigenetic mechanisms in cancer development and progression.
• Development of novel epigenetic biomarkers for early cancer detection and diagnosis.
• Translational research translating epigenetic discoveries into clinical applications for cancer therapy.