The Varmus lab uses several experimental approaches to understand the molecular mechanisms of oncogenesis. In the past, we have studied a variety of cancer types, including breast, ovarian, brain, and hematological cancers, but our recent work has focused principally on small cell lung cancer and lung adenocarcinomas, using mouse models, and human tumors. Some of the questions we are currently asking include: How do certain oncogenic mutations conspire to produce synthetic toxicity? What combinations of target cells and mutations that initiate the oncogenic process determine cancer cell phenotypes? And which cell functions are required to maintain the oncogenic state?
