Context Specific Genetic Screen Platform to Aid in Gene Discovery and Target Validation

摘要

The present invention relates to a context-specific forward genetic screen designed to systematically assign relative weight of biological evidence to a library of high-probability driver genetic elements in a genetically defined cancer-sensitized model system whose constellation of engineered mutations reflects a particular clinically relevant genetic subclass of a given tumor type. The screen may be formed in vivo or ex vivo. The screen allows for the formulation of clinical path hypotheses for targeting driver genetic elements and, in parallel, the rapid functional validation of the role of the driver genetic element(s) in the cancer. In this manner, the context-specific genetic screen can systematically assign the biological relevance of a library of genetic elements to a clinically-definable genetic and disease context, as well as inform combinations of drugs in the clinic such one uses one drug that targets the newly discovered genetic element or its protein and another drug that targets those genetic elements or its associated proteins which have been engineered into the primary cell model.