Rendong Yang

About Rendong Yang

• Next generation sequencing (NGS) is a growing class of innovative new gene sequencing techniques that can sequence millions of fragments of DNA simultaneously. NGS results expand our understanding of complex genetic aberrations that drive the development and growth of both primary and metastatic prostate cancer.
• Dr. Rendong Yang will develop novel computational tools that use data generated by NGS to identify and genotype indels, the insertions and deletions in the “door” (Indel) DNA coding change that drive malignancy.
• Prostate cancer is a clinically heterogeneous disease. Understanding the coding and non-coding sequence variations of the prostate cancer genome at various stages of disease progression is critical for discovery of novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic targets.
• Prior genomic research has focused on protein-coding variants, yet non-coding variants are the second most common source of genetic alteration in prostate cancer.
• Dr. Yang’s research will provide cancer researchers with a more complete encyclopedia of non-coding alterations in the prostate cancer genome.

What this means for patients: Identifying specific subtypes of prostate cancer and the distinct pattern of indels associated with them will enhance development of precise diagnostic tools that detect specific genetic aberrations, allowing doctors to reliably predict a patient’s outcome and prescribe personalized treatment.