The Epigenetic Regulation in Cancer (ERC) Program, formerly named the Genomic and Epigenomic Regulation Program, focuses on the mechanisms by which cellular genomes, epigenomes, genes, and pathways are maintained and regulated, and how normal regulation is disrupted in cancer.  The overarching mission of the ERC program is to discover basic mechanisms of genomic and epigenomic regulation involved in growth and behavior of normal and cancer cells, and translate basic findings into cancer detection, prognosis, and treatment in collaboration with other USC Norris programs. ERC members focus their research on tumor types that represent significant cancer burdens and disparities in our catchment area, including prostate, breast, colorectal, lung, liver cancer, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

The program has two specific aims:

1. 1. 1. Characterize the genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic features that are distinct in cancer cells relative to normal cells.
      2. Define mechanisms that regulate these cancer features at the chromatin, DNA, and RNA level to identify novel potential therapeutic targets.