Investigators

Summary

Dr. Luo's research is in the area of genome and gene expression studies of malignancies, especially in understanding how prostate cancers obtain invasive and metastatic capabilities. Dr. Luo's laboratory in the past has primarily focused on the isolation and characterization of genes which are inactivated in prostate cancers. His laboratory has isolated and characterized several candidate genes that may be important for tumor invasion. Ongoing studies focus on defining the roles of these genes in regulating signaling pathways in normal and cancerous cells. In addition, his laboratory is actively searching for new candidate genes that are overexpressed, down-regulated, deleted, amplified, methylated, translocated or mutated in tumors, using Affymetrix array and whole genome and RNA sequencing technologies. His group is exploring the possibility of using these genes as diagnostic or prognostic markers for prostate cancers. On clinical molecular diagnostic front, Dr. Luo has recently initiated whole genome high throughput CNV analysis of lymphoproliferative diseases using Affymetrix array, and works to provide this information in an accurate and concise manner to clinicians involved in patient care and treatment. His group is now conducting a prospective analysis using a whole genome CNV array to predict clinical outcomes of prostate cancer.