| Send E-mail to: plaird@usc.edu | |
| Telephone: 323-865-0650 | Fax: 323-865-0158 |
| Office: NOR 6418 | Mail Code: 9176 HSC |
Education:
BS 1982 Biology - University of Leiden, Netherlands
MS 1984 Molecular Biology - University of Leiden, Netherlands
PhD 1988 Molecular Biology - Netherlands Cancer Institute/University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Postdoctoral Research Fellowship:
1988-1991 Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands
1991-1996 Whitehead Institute/Massachusettes Institute of Technology, Massachusettes
Started at USC: 1996
Research Topics: Cancer Genetics, DNA Replication, Repair, Modification, Gene Regulation/Transcription, Human/Mammalian Genetics, Epigenetics
Research Description
Our goal is to develop a detailed understanding of the molecular basis of cancer. This will lead to vastly improved treatments, earlier detection methods, and more accurate diagnoses. Our laboratory focuses on the role of DNA methylation in cancer. DNA methylation is a way for the cell to specify which genes should remain silent. This process is essential for normal mammalian development. Until recently, the role of DNA methylation in cancer had been overlooked by most investigators, with most of the focus going towards the identification of genetic mutations in tumors. We helped to bring about a change in this perception when we showed that DNA methylation played an essential role in early intestinal tumor development. Now, the field is exploding with activity. This is an extremely exciting time to be working on this important aspect of cancer.
We take a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding how DNA methylation affects the cancer process. We use a combination of molecular biology, cell culture, transgenic and gene-targeted mice, and epidemiological studies in humans. Our area of research spans from the most basic cellular mechanisms to divising new diagnostic methods for clinicians. Our laboratory is a stimulating environment with close interactions with other basic scientists,epidemiologists, pathologists, surgeons, and oncologists.
Selected Publications
Byun HM, Choi SH, Laird PW, Trinh B, Siddiqui MA, Marquez VE, Yang AS. - 2'-Deoxy-N4-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl]-5-azacytidine: A novel inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase that requires activation by human carboxylesterase 1. - Cancer Lett [ 2008 ] May 20; . PubMed
Pike BL, Greiner TC, Wang X, Weisenburger DD, Hsu YH, Renaud G, Wolfsberg TG, Kim M, Weisenberger DJ, Siegmund KD, Ye W, Groshen S, Mehrian-Shai R, Delabie J, Chan WC, Laird PW, Hacia JG. - DNA methylation profiles in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and their relationship to gene expression status. - Leukemia [ 2008 ] May;22(5):1035-43 . PubMed
Kang GH, Lee S, Cho NY, Gandamihardja T, Long TI, Weisenberger DJ, Campan M, Laird PW. - DNA methylation profiles of gastric carcinoma characterized by quantitative DNA methylation analysis. - Lab Invest [ 2008 ] Feb;88(2):161-70 . PubMed
Houshdaran S, Cortessis VK, Siegmund K, Yang A, Laird PW, Sokol RZ. - Widespread epigenetic abnormalities suggest a broad DNA methylation erasure defect in abnormal human sperm. - PLoS ONE [ 2007 ] Dec 12;2(12):e1289 . PubMed
Liu Z, Choi SW, Crott JW, Keyes MK, Jang H, Smith DE, Kim M, Laird PW, Bronson R, Mason JB. - Mild depletion of dietary folate combined with other B vitamins alters multiple components of the Wnt pathway in mouse colon. - J Nutr [ 2007 ] Dec;137(12):2701-8 . PubMed
Tsou JA, Galler JS, Siegmund KD, Laird PW, Turla S, Cozen W, Hagen JA, Koss MN, Laird-Offringa IA. - Identification of a panel of sensitive and specific DNA methylation markers for lung adenocarcinoma. - Mol Cancer [ 2007 ] Oct 29;6:70 . PubMed
Siegmund KD, Connor CM, Campan M, Long TI, Weisenberger DJ, Biniszkiewicz D, Jaenisch R, Laird PW, Akbarian S. - DNA methylation in the human cerebral cortex is dynamically regulated throughout the life span and involves differentiated neurons. - PLoS ONE [ 2007 ] Sep 19;2(9):e895 . PubMed
Tsou JA, Galler JS, Wali A, Ye W, Siegmund KD, Groshen S, Laird PW, Turla S, Koss MN, Pass HI, Laird-Offringa IA. - DNA methylation profile of 28 potential marker loci in malignant mesothelioma. - Lung Cancer [ 2007 ] Nov;58(2):220-30 . PubMed
Chen H, Xia M, Lin M, Yang H, Kuhlenkamp J, Li T, Sodir NM, Chen YH, Josef-Lenz H, Laird PW, Clarke S, Mato JM, Lu SC. - Role of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A and S-adenosylmethionine in mitogen-induced growth of human colon cancer cells. - Gastroenterology [ 2007 ] Jul;133(1):207-18 . PubMed
Feng Q, Hawes SE, Stern JE, Dem A, Sow PS, Dembele B, Toure P, Sova P, Laird PW, Kiviat NB. - Promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes in urine from patients with cervical neoplasia. - Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev [ 2007 ] Jun;16(6):1178-84 . PubMed
