Research Areas Cancer Genomics

Cancer Genomics

At the COMBINE Lab, we apply cutting-edge computational approaches and biomedical engineering principles to advance precision oncology. Our research focuses on unraveling the genomic complexity of tumors to improve patient stratification, monitor disease evolution, and predict therapeutic outcomes.

By integrating multi-omic data with advanced data analysis workflows, our activities span three main strategic pillars:

1. Cancer Tissue Characterization

We develop and implement computational pipelines to analyze direct sequencing data from tumor tissues. Our goal is to identify patient-specific genomic and epigenomic alterations, driving the discovery of actionable mutations and novel biomarkers. This high-resolution characterization provides the foundation for truly personalized therapeutic strategies, tailored to the unique genetic profile of each malignancy.

2. Liquid Biopsy & Cell-Free DNA (cfDNA) Monitoring

To enable non-invasive and real-time patient monitoring, our lab specializes in the analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from liquid biopsies. We focus on tracking tumor dynamics, detecting minimal residual disease, and identifying early signs of therapeutic resistance. A primary application of this research area is dedicated to Colorectal Cancer (CRC), where we refine computational models to process cfDNA sequencing data for clinical surveillance.

3. Patient-Derived Organoids for Therapy Prediction

Bridging the gap between computational genomics and functional biology, we explore the prediction of therapeutic responses through the lens of patient-derived organoids. By analyzing the molecular profiles of these 3D cellular models, we develop predictive frameworks aimed at assessing drug efficacy and resistance before treatment administration, moving a step closer to effective personalized screening.