The Microdissection/Microarray Platform was funded as the Breast Cancer Functional Genomics Group in 1999 by Dr. Park.

Our activities includes:

• Breast cancer tissue and blood banking

- Creating a valuable resource of samples with linked clinical and disease course information - funded through the Réseau de recherche sur le cancer of the FRSQ

• Laser capture microdissection

- Allows for isolation of specific cell and tissue types in their original context

- Mouse models and human tissue

• Microarray-based gene expression and miRNA profiling

- Creates snapshots of mRNA and miRNA levels in cells that can be analyzed for specific gene expression, regulation and pathway activation

• Close collaborations with bioinformatics for quality control and data analysis

- Two-way street – output from bioinformatics is then validated in our group at the mRNA (RT-PCR) and protein (IHC) levels

• Close collaborations with clinicians in pathology, surgery and medical oncology allow us to react to current clinical needs

- Sample characterization and correlation with clinical features

- Common project on circulating tumor cells

Our Primary focus is to elucidate the role played by the microenvironment in breast cancer progression and outcome

• Tumor does not evolve in a vacuum

• Goal is to elucidate how the tumor per se interacts with its microenvironment – two-way communication that drives evolution of both compartments o Have shown that features of the stroma have an equal effect on disease outcome as tumor features

• Developing clinical tools based on this observation – subclasses as stratifiers, prognostic predictors to identify patients requiring aggressive treatment

• Hope is to identify targets in microenvironment that can be therapeutically addressed

Our group also acts as a resource providing specialized equipment, training and expertise that individual labs do not possess

For more information, please contact:

Nicholas Bertos, Ph.D.,

Research Associate (Laboratory of Dr. Morag Park)

Director, Breast Cancer Functional Genomics Group

Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University

Rm. 420/401, Cancer Pavilion, 1160 Pine Ave. W., Montreal QC H3A 1A3

Tel: (514)398-2325 or 4930

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it