Molecular differences between embryonal carcinomas and embryonic stem cells: Implications for cancer

We see comparative and experimental studies involving embryonic stem (ES) cells and embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells in tandem as important in understanding both stem cell and germ cell tumour biology, and as potentially important as a source of stemness/pl uripotency markers relevant to other types of cancer. In the current project proposal, we will use EC and ES cells to define malignancy-specific gene expression patterns in a stem cell perspective. This will in particular be directly relevant to TGCTs, an d we will work further towards implementing the resulting gene expression patterns in studies of other cancer types. We have a long experience within research on genetics, genomics and epigenetics of EC and other subtypes of germ cell tumours, and have i n total published more than 30 original articles on the topic. The P.I.'s research group is part of the Cancer Stem Cell Innovation Centre (CAST; Centre for Research Based Innovation) and the Centre for Cancer Biomedicine (CCB; Centre of Excellence). The project will be carried out together with existing collaborators who are experts in embryonic stem cell biology (P. W. Andrews, The Centre for Stem Cell Biology, Univ. Sheffield, UK) and bioinformatics/high-throughput technologies (O. Kallioniemi, VTT, Fi nland). Exchange of personnel with these collaborating groups has already taken place in relation to the applied project, and will be continued. Educational aspects will be met through the recruitment of one postdoc to the project, who will be involved wi th both bioinformatics and laboratory-based work. The project is approved by the Regional Ethics Committee and the associated biobank is registered by the Norwegian Biobank Registry and approved by the Norwegian Directorate for Health.