Coming to Canada from

Cambridge University, UK

Research involves

Using genetics and bioinformatics to develop and test multiple molecular event experimental models for breast and ovarian cancers.

Research relevance

The research is leading to more realistic models of cancer formation to be used in the development of new cancer therapies.

Toward Realistic Models of Human Cancers

Our current understanding of how cancer develops is based on the idea that multiple molecular events have to take place before a cancer grows. In contrast, the cell- or organism-based models of cancer that researchers use to design experiments and screen drugs are largely single, or at most, double events. That's why Dr. Samuel Aparicio is developing new multiple event models, which will clarify the causes of cancer growth and spread. He wants to see the design of more complete therapies that interfere with multiple events.

As the Canada Research Chair in Molecular Oncology, Dr. Aparicio is focused on breast and ovarian cancers. These two cancers are among the most common cancers in women despite improvements in earlier diagnosis and treatment. In British Columbia alone, there will be about 4,000 new cases of breast and ovarian cancers per year by 2013.


In his research, Dr. Aparicio is taking two convergent approaches. In the first, he is constructing multiple event models in rodents and human cells that concentrate on molecules involved in cell growth and specialization, and on molecules involved in maintaining gene/genome integrity.
In his second approach, he is developing tests or assays in order to understand the function of particular pathways involved in cancer as well as to identify bioactive molecules with which to screen pharmacological properties of these pathways. Ultimately, he hopes to identify molecules with potential to be developed as anti-cancer agents.