November 7, 2012
A world-renowned expert in epigenomics, Dr. Ari Melnick, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, has achieved yet another advancement for the targeting of cancer therapies. Published in Cancer Discovery, Dr. Melnick led a team of national and international scientists in a first of its kind study in which they decoded the key "software" instructions that drive three of the most virulent forms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Specifically, they uncovered that ALL's "software" is encoded with epigenetic marks, chemical modifications of DNA and surrounding proteins, allowing the research team to identify new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.