George P. Souroullas, PhD

• Epigenetic mechanisms
• B cell lymphoma
• Melanoma

The Souroullas Lab is studying the role of epigenetic mechanisms during cancer formation, with a specific interest in B cell lymphoma and melanoma.

Recent next generation sequencing studies have identified mutations in many epigenetic factors in multiple cancers. The reversible nature of these proteins presents us with an opportunity in translational medicine. Understanding the phenotypic and molecular consequences of epigenetic dysregulation during carcinogenesis remains a challenge, but it is critical in developing more effective therapeutic strategies. Towards that end, our lab combines the use of genetically engineered mouse models with epigenetic, molecular, biochemical, and pharmacological methods to study how mutations in epigenetic factors promote the development of cancer.

Research Goals
Our lab is interested in exploring the above mechanisms using genetically engineered mouse models in combination with molecular, biochemical, and pharmacological approaches. Overall, our goal, is to explore how epigenetic mechanisms interact under homeostatic conditions, how those interactions are perturbed in cancer, how they interact with other oncogenic events and how we can take advantage of this knowledge to design more effective therapeutic strategies. Current projects in the lab include:

• Investigation of the underlying molecular mechanisms that result in the neomorphic properties of the EZH2 mutations observed in B cell lymphoma and melanoma,
• Understand the downstream mechanisms responsible for the oncogenesis and disease pathogenesis in EZH2-mutant lymphoma and melanoma, and
• Unravel the interplay between the various epigenetic modifications during cancer.