Breadcrumb

Gabriel J. Starrett, Ph.D.

Gabriel J. Starrett, Ph.D.

  • Center for Cancer Research
  • National Cancer Institute
Stadtman Investigator
Laboratory of Cellular Oncology

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Our group studies the contributions of tumor viruses, including polyomaviruses and papillomaviruses, to the development of cancer using sequencing, bioinformatics and classical wet bench molecular biology. Primarily, we are exploring the mechanisms through which these viruses trigger instability of the host cell genome that leads to integration of the viral genome and mutagenesis.

Areas of Expertise

Publications

Selected Key Publications

Clinical and molecular characterization of virus-positive and virus-negative Merkel cell carcinoma

Starrett GJ, Thakuria M, Chen T, Marcelus C, Cheng J, Nomburg J, Thorner AR, Slevin MK, Powers W, Burns RT, Perry C, Piris A, Kuo FC, Rabinowits G, Giobbie-Hurder A, MacConaill LE, DeCaprio JA.
Genome Med.. 12(1):: 30, 2020. [ Journal Article ]

Polyomavirus T-Antigen Induces APOBEC3B Expression using a LXCXE-Dependent and TP53-Independent Mechanism

Starrett GJ, Serebrenik AA, Roelofs PA, Verhalen B, McCann JL, Jarvis MC, Stewart TA, Law EK, Krupp A, Jiang M, Martens JWM, Span PN, Cahir-McFarland E, Harris RS.
mBio. 10: e02690-18, 2019. [ Journal Article ]

Microhomology-mediated repair machinery and its relationship with HPV-mediated oncogenesis

Chatterjee S, Starrett GJ
Journal of Medical Virology. 96: e29674, 2024.
Full-Text Article
[ Journal Article ]

Functional upregulation of the DNA cytosine deaminase APOBEC3B by polyomaviruses

Starrett GJ, Verhalen B, Harris RS, Jiang M.
Journal of Virology. 90: 6379-6386, 2016. [ Journal Article ]

Evidence for Virus-Mediated Oncogenesis in Bladder Cancers Arising in Solid Organ Transplant

Starrett GJ, Yu K, Golubeva Y, Lenz P, Piaskowski ML, Petersen D, Dean M, Israni A, Hernandez BY, Tucker TC, Cheng I, Gonsalves L, Morris CR, Hussain SK, Lynch CF, Harris RS, Prukunina-Olsson L, Meltzer P, Buck CB, Engels E
eLife. 12: e82690, 2023. [ Journal Article ]

Job Vacancies

We have no open positions in our group at this time, please check back later.

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Team

Photo of Helena Vogel
Graduate Student, Comparative Biomedical Scientist Training Program
Helena Vogel, D.V.M.
Photo of Mackenzie Gilson
Biologist
Mackenzie Gilson, MPH

News

Bringing the Pieces Together: CCR-DCEG FLEX Awards. Read about our collaboration with Dr. Eric Engels (DCEG) studying bladder cancers of solid organ transplant recipients and the potential role of viruses in oncogenesis.

Genomic Landscape of Sebaceous Tumors. Read about or study in collaboration with Dr. Michael Sargen (DCEG) on the comprehensive characterization of the genomics and evolution of sebaceous neoplasms.