www.fondation-medic.ch

The Riggi Laboratory at the Institute of Pathology in Lausanne-CHUV
The Riggi Laboratory is focused on the identification of the epigenetic mechanisms driving malignant transformation, as well as intratumoral heterogeneity in pediatric tumors. The recent wealth of genomic sequencing studies has shed light on the presence of key biological differences between adult and pediatric cancers. Whereas the development of adult tumors frequently rely on the stepwise accumulation of genetic alterations, pediatric tumors are almost invariably initiated by a very limited number of genetic events, frequently in the form of single balanced chromosomal translocations. Pediatric tumors, therefore, represent a very different biological entity, driven by specific and unique oncogenic events, leading to a massive deregulation of cellular differentiation, proliferation, and ultimately malignant transformation. The Riggi’s laboratory is particularly interested in understanding the initial deregulation of epigenetic transcriptional programs allowing the transformation of permissive cell of origin, and the subsequent development of intratumoral heterogeneity. To this aim we analyze the epigenetic landscape and regulatory networks of several pediatric tumors, that are driven by a single genetic event. The first research axis aims to decipher the biological impact of tumor-specific translocations on gene expression profiles and tumorigenic properties in Desmoplastic Round Cell Tumor and Synovial Sarcoma. The second line of research is focused on the identification of the epigenetic determinants of clinical and molecular heterogeneity in Neuroblastoma. The Riggi’s group utilize a translational approach involving several national and international collaborations, facilitating the access to cutting-edge technologies and the rapid bench-to-bed translation of the most relevant and clinical impactful findings.