Lynne V. Abruzzo , M.D., Ph.D. 1984, University of Chicago, Ph.D. 1986, University of Chicago, M.D. UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Hematopathology Contact Information

Research Interests: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); gene expression profiling; cancer cytogenetics

The primary focus of my laboratory is to identify genes that contribute to the pathogenesis of CLL, and that may serve as markers of prognosis and therapeutic targets. For example, we have discovered recently that high levels of expression of the mRNA for Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase, a protein that is required for somatic mutation of the immunoglobulin variable region genes and class switch recombination, may be an important predictor of prognosis. In collaboration with Dr. Kevin Coombes and other investigators in the Section of Bioinformatics, Department of Biostatistics and Applied Mathematics, we have developed novel statistical techniques to analyze the data obtained from high-density gene expression profiling microarray experiments. We are applying these techniques to subclassify B-CLL into molecular subtypes based on patterns of gene expression.

Depending on a student's interest, a tutorial in my laboratory would provide experience with high density microarray technology for gene expression profiling, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, basic cloning techniques, and molecular cytogenetics techniques. In addition, students with interests in hematopathology and bioinformatics could perform a joint tutorial in my laboratory and the Section of Bioinformatics.

Coombes, K.R., Highsmith, W.E., Krogmann, T.A., Baggerly, K.R., Stivers, D.N., Abruzzo, L.V., “Identifying and quantifying sources of variation in microarray data using high-density cDNA membrane arrays,” Journal of Computational Biology, 2002, 9 (4), 655-669.

Abruzzo, L.V., Rosales, C.M., Medeiros, L.J., Vega, F., Luthra, R., Manning, J.T., Keating, M.J., Jones, D., "Epstein-Barr virus-positive B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders arising in patients previously treated with fludarabine for low-grade B-cell lymphomas," American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2002, 26 (5), 630-636.

McCarthy, H., Wierda, W.G., Barron, L.L., Cromwell, C.C., Wang, J., Coombes, K.R., Rangel, R., Elenitoba-Johnson, K.S.J., Keating, M.J., Abruzzo, L.V. "High expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) and splice variants is a distinctive feature of poor prognosis chronic lymphocytic leukemia," Blood, 2003, 101 (12), 4903-4908.

Wang, J., Coombes, K.R., Highsmith, W.E., Keating, M.J., Abruzzo, L.V., “Differences in gene expression between B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and normal B cells: a meta-analysis of three microarray studies, Bioinformatics (in press).