Specific Aim 1:

To determine the Gene Commanding Height (GCH) hierarchy in standard prostate, lung, thyroid and blood human cancer cell lines. We will use Next Gen RNA sequencing (Illumina NextSeq 550) and/or (Agilent 4x44k human gene expression) microarray platform, both available at our PVAMU Computational Systems Biology Center – Personalized Genomics Laboratory to profile cancer cell lines purchased from authorized vendors. We will use our Genomic Fabric Paradigm as well as the standard experimental protocol and data processing algorithms established and validated in hundreds of genomic experiments performed in previous IacobasLabs from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and New York Medical College.

Specific Aim 2:

To reprogram cancer cell lines using CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) gene editing, lentiviral transfection or siRNA. We will design custom CRISPR clones of the selected GMRs, order them to a specialized company (https://www.sigmaaldrich.com, http://www.crisprtx.com, https://www.editasmedicine.com/crispr) and reprogram the cancer cell lines studied at SA1. As alternatives to CRISPR we can use lentiviral transfection or siRNA for which we have experience.

Specific Aim 3:

To evaluate the effect of CRISPR-GMR reprograming in the survival of the treated cancer cells. The viability of cancer cells (the growth rate and the death rate) will be assessed before and after the treatment.