Profiles

Dr. Tepper's research program focused on two areas: 1) identification of molecular genetic and signaling mechanisms mediating prostate cancer (PCa) survival during androgen ablation and the transition to castration resistance and 2) the application of genomics approaches to precision medicine and defining oncogenic mechanisms. While a primary focus of his research is upon the regulation of apoptosis (physiological, or programmed, cell death) in cancer cells, there is substantial intersection with signal transduction pathways regulating metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis. Many of these pathways impact and shape the transcriptional program of the cell as well as genome organization. As such, several of the projects follow pathways elicited by the activation or inhibition of transcription factors, particularly the androgen receptor (AR) and forkhead transcription factors. Genomics-based research has characterized 1) oncogenic androgen receptor mutations, 2) mechanisms of miRNA action, 3) molecular signatures indicative of castration resistance, p53 mutation, responsiveness to therapy, and metastatic site specificity, and 4) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models derived from several types of cancer. More recently, his work focuses on translational applications of genomics, including the optimization of methods for analysis of pathological specimens, the development of clinical next-generation sequencing-based mutation screening tests, and approaches to the selection of therapeutic targets.