Research Summary

Multiplexed Gene Expression and Pharmacogenetics Analysis: Laboratory Testing in an Era of Personalized Medicine

We are quickly moving towards the era of patient-tailored therapies and predictive medicine. Clinical treatments in this age will require a fundamental understanding of the molecular heterogeneity of tumors, including the delineation of individualized genetic profiles of cancer cells. Progress towards predictive medicine will entail understanding genetic variation between individual patients, particularly with regard to genes encoding drug metabolizing enzymes involved in activation or inactivation of chemotherapeutic agents. These are the main goals of our research- to characterize tumors by their molecular genetic profiles and identify biomarker signatures that characterize distinct subsets of the (apparently) same disease. Our work aims to identify new biomarkers and to then develop laboratory assays that can be used in the clinical management of cancer patients. In addition, we seek to develop assays for genotyping individuals to determine their ability (or inability) to effectively metabolize cancer drugs. Design and application of both biomarker-based and genotyping-based assays will serve to maximize therapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse reactions to chemotherapeutic agents.

Selected Publications

1. Rai, A.J., Flores, R.M., Mathew, A., Gonzalez-Espinoza, R., Bott, M., Ladanyi, M., Rusch, V., and Fleisher, M. Mesothelin and Osteopontin: Analytical Validation, Reference Range Determination, and Levels in Mesothelioma Patients.
In press, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Medicine (2009)

2. Rai, A.J., Yu, C.T., Udar, N., Fleisher, M. Multiplexed SNP Analysis: Design of a Custom Panel for 2C9 Warfarin Dosing.
Clinical Chemistry 55(4):823-6. Epub (2009) Feb 20

3. Rai, A.J., Kamath R., Gerald W., Fleisher M. Analytical Validation of the GeXP analyzer and Design of a Workflow for Cancer Biomarker Discovery using Multiplexed Gene Expression Profiling. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 393(5):1505-11. Epub (2008) Oct 29

4. Rai, A.J., Stemmer, P.M., Zhang, Z., Adam, B., Morgan, W.T., Caffrey, R.E., Podust, V., Patel, M., Lim, L., Shipulina, N.V., Chan, D.W., Semmes, O.J., and Leung, H.E. Analysis of HUPO-PPP Reference Specimens using SELDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry: Multi-Institution Correlation of Spectra and Identification of Biomarkers.
Proteomics 5(13):3467-74 (2005)

5. Rai A.J., Gelfand, C.A., Haywood, B.C., Warunek, D., Skobe, C., Schuchard, M.D., Mehigh, R.J., Cockrill, S.L., Scott, G.B.I., Tammen, H., Schulz-Knappe, P., Speicher, D.W., Siest, G., Vitzthum, F., Haab, B.B., and Chan, D.W. Human Proteome Organization- Plasma Proteome Project Specimen Collection and Handling: Towards the Standardization of Parameters for Plasma Proteome Samples.
Proteomics 5(13):3262-77 (2005)

6. Rai, A.J., Zhang, Z., Rosenzweig, J., Shih, I., Pham, T., Fung, E.T., Sokoll, L.J., and Chan, D.W. Proteomic Approaches to Tumor Marker Discovery: Identification of Biomarkers for Ovarian Cancer. Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 126 (12): 1518-1526 (2002).

7. The Urinary Proteome, Alex J. Rai (Editor), published by Humana Press (Springer)

Honors and Awards

2008
AACC Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievements by a Young Investigator 2008
American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC)

2004
Young Investigator Award- Human Proteome Organization
Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) World Congress
Beijing, China (October 23-27, 2004)

2002
Paul E. Strandjord Young Investigator Award
Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists (ACLPS)

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