Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program
The Samuel Bakhoum Lab
Research
Associate Professor
The Bakhoum lab focuses on understanding the role of chromosomal instability (CIN) in tumor evolution and progression. CIN is a hallmark of human cancer, and it is associated with poor prognosis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. CIN results from errors in chromosome segregation during mitosis, leading to structural and numerical chromosomal abnormalities. In addition to generating genomic heterogeneity that acts as a substrate for natural selection, Our team has identified numerous mechanisms by which CIN drives cancer progression. First, we found that CIN promotes inflammatory signaling by introducing genomic double-stranded DNA into the cytosol, engaging cytosolic DNA-sensing antiviral innate immune pathways. Instead of eliciting anti-tumor immunity, CIN-induced chronic inflammation promotes immune suppression and metastasis. In addition, we also CIN as an potent driver of epigenetic heterogeneity and reprogramming through chromosome encapsulation in micronuclei. These multipronged effects distinguish CIN as a central driver of tumor evolution and as a genomic source for the crosstalk between the tumor and its microenvironment. Our lab is interested in dissecting the mechanisms linking CIN and cancer progression and translating these discoveries into novel therapeutic strategies.
Research Projects
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Samuel Bakhoum, MD, PhD
Associate Member, Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program; Associate Attending, Department of Radiation Oncology
Associate Professor
- Physician-scientist Samuel Bakhoum studies the role of chromosomal instability in tumor evolution and metastasis.
- MD, Dartmouth Medical School
- PhD, Dartmouth College
- [email protected]
- Email Address
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- Physician profile
Members
Weill Cornell Graduate Student
Instructor
Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
Senior Research Technician
Graduate Research Assistant
Postdoctoral Researcher (co-mentored by Dr. Atif Khan and Dr. Simon Powell)
Postdoctoral Fellow
MSK Bridge Scholar
Administrative Assistant
Research Technician
Lab Alumni
Research Technician (mucosal melanoma translational program)
Administrative Assistant
Senior Research Technician
Current institution: Weill Cornell Medicine
Visiting Professor and Collaborator
Weill Cornell Medical Student
Holman Research Fellow
Administrative Assistant
Postdoctoral Fellow
Lab Affiliations
Achievements
- Mark Foundation Emerging Leader Award (2023-2026)
- BioInnovation Institute & Science Magazine Prize (Finalist) (2023)
- 20 Under 40 Next Generation of Biotech Leaders by Endpoint News (2022)
- Josie Robertson Investigator (2018-2023)
- AAAS Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award (Honorable mention)
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- NIH Director’s Independence Award (2018-2023)
- Blavatnik Regional Award for Young Scientists (Finalist) (2018)
- Tri-Institutional Breakout Prize (2018)
- Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists (2018)
- NextGen Stars, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (2018)
- Breast Cancer Breakthrough Award, Department of Defense (2016)
- ASCI/AAP Outstanding Young Investigator Award (2011)
- Norton B. Gilula Award, the American Society for Cell Biology (2008)