Page 138 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

Precision Oncology
Research Unit

Unit director:
Prof. Zodwa Dlamini

Prioritising responsive research Genome analysis of potential biomarkers for head
through impactful interventions and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) in a
South African Cohort.
The Precision Oncology Research Unit (PORU)
pursues to map the landscape of HIV-associated The unit and the affiliated Institute have collaboratively
cancers to decrypt the underlying causes of these been awarded the SAMBAI cancer grand challenges
cancers and to discover targets for the development in addressing cancer inequalities, especially in
of novel and more effective targeted therapeutics, as African populations. SAMBAI will generate a
South Africa carries the burden of high HIV infection comprehensive database with measurements of
rates and HIV associated cancers. Important research social, environmental, genetic, and immunological
projects include: factors that cause and influence disparate cancer
outcomes in underserved populations of African
(1) Mutational burden and splicing genomics descent, and these will include HIV-associated
analysis in endocrine positive breast cancer patients cancers in the African population.
who progress after neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitor;
(2) Splicing genomic events analysis and targeting Equitable capacity development
for HIV and HPV-associated cervical cancers; (3) for empowering communities
Molecular analysis and aberrant splicing events The unit comprises of Basic Scientists and Clinicians
in HPV16 (E6/E7)-associated head and neck and postgraduate students, most of which come
oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, with a
in South Africa; (4) Analysis of long non-coding RNAs common goal of addressing cancer disparities. The
(LncRNAs) and alternative splicing modulations in Unit Director is a black South African woman. The
HIV-associated colorectal cancer of black patients; unit already has 1 NRF-Y rated black South African
(5) Genome analysis of patients with HIV and HPV- female translational oncology scientist, the first
associated oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma MSc in Medical Oncology graduate of the unit
(OSCC); (6) Molecular profiling of colorectal cancer in September 2023 was a black female student,
in South African patients and its correlation with the unit is training, mentoring and supervising a
HIV infection; (7) Genome analysis of melanoma cohort of postgraduate students from HDIs, whom
in South African patients; (8) Molecular profiling of mostly have been awarded postgraduate research
endometrial cancers occurring in Black South African scholarships. There is a shortage, especially in
women; (9) Assessing prognostic factors for survival African populations of cancer scientists, and the
outcomes and late presentation among cancer unit seeks to positively contribute towards closing
patients in a hospital setting in South Africa; (10) this gap through capacity development. The unit
Linking prostate cancer progression to perineural has also been an indispensable platform towards
invasion and neoneurogenesis; (11) Biomarkers of the acquisition of supplementary funding in
radiotherapy resistance in cervical cancer, and, (12) comprehensively addressing cancer disparities.

136 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24