Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that confer susceptibility to a variety of cancers. However, as with the vast majority of common genetic variants, the functional rationale underlying cancer risk is largely unknown. In addition, other variants, which failed to reach genome-wide significance, remain undiscovered. Understanding the functional rationale underlying the cancer susceptibility loci is complex, requiring an integrated approach that combines epidemiology, biostatistics, next generation genomics, and cell biology. In this presentation, I will discuss a variety of integrative statistical and bioinformatics approaches being applied to determine the functional relevance of confirmed loci and approaches to discover additional risk loci.
Citation Format: Brooke L. Fridley. Integrative approaches for understanding the functional relevance of cancer susceptibility loci. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Post-GWAS Horizons in Molecular Epidemiology: Digging Deeper into the Environment; 2012 Nov 11-14; Hollywood, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(11 Suppl):Abstract nr IA05.