Mohammed Kashani-Sabet

Recent cDNA microarray analyses of moles and primary and metastatic melanomas performed by Dr. Kashani’s laboratory have identified a number of genes whose expression levels can be used to distinguish between known landmarks in the tumor progression cascade of melanoma. The lab has identified novel biomarkers associated with each stage of melanoma progression, and has described a molecular diagnostic assay for melanoma that yields sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of greater than 90% in the diagnosis of melanocytic neoplasms. Researchers at CPMCRI have already identified a number of targets implicated in tumor proliferation or invasion; studies are underway in the Kashani lab to assess activation of these targets and their signaling pathways in the context of known molecular subtypes, to identify further enriched targets. Dr. Kashani leads CPMC’s Center for Melanoma Research and Treatment, and he is the primary investigator for a new integrated research program at CPMCRI seeking to develop effective combination therapies for aggressive and metastatic tumors, including melanomas, breast cancers and glioblastomas.