The majority of genomic cancer studies have focused on Western populations, resulting in limited epidemiological data characterising the genomic alterations of breast cancer in patients with non-European ancestry. Therefore, it is important to perform research across diverse populations to study the distinct biology among different groups. Evidence suggests that breast cancer in Asian women exhibits some unique characteristics not commonly observed in White women. Understanding these biological differences can enhance our knowledge of racial heterogeneity and address health disparities.
In this study, in collaboration with scientists from the National Cancer Institute in the United States, we aim to characterise the genomic and molecular profiles of breast tumours, the tumour microenvironment (TME), and adjacent normal tissue collected from Chinese breast cancer patients in Hong Kong. The genomic and molecular features of these tumours and the TME will be linked with clinical and aetiological factors to better understand the unique patterns of breast cancer incidence and outcomes among Asian women. This research aims to improve our understanding of breast cancer disease, potentially leading to more effective, targeted treatments and strategies for managing breast cancer in diverse populations.
External colaborators:
Dr. Xiaohong Rose Yang member of the NIH NIC Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch
Dr. Bin Zhu member of the NIH NIC Biostatistics Branch
David Wedge
Professor of Cancer Genomics and Data Science
My research interests include cancer genomics, tumour evolution, data science and machine learning.
Avraam Tapinos
Postdoctoral Research Associate / Computational Biologist
My backround is in computer science with a focus on time series data mining in systems biology. My research interests include computational biology, cancer genomics, data mining, and machine learning.
Dorothy Nyamai
Postdoctoral Researcher
Dorothy Nyamai is a Postdoc working on mutational signatures in Breast and Esophageal cancers.