Jose Costa MD, FACP

Professor of Pathology and of Medicine (Medical Oncology); Director, Translational Diagnostics; Director, Musculoskeletal Tumor Program

Research Interests

Oncology; Carcinogenesis; Tumor development and progression; Advanced diagnostics; Molecular diagnostics; Diagnosed genetic alterations in tumors; Cancer risk detection by mutational load distribution analysis

Research Summary

The laboratory studies the natural history of tumors. We look at the process of tumor development and tumor progression at the systems level in an attempt to understand the role played by somatic cell genetics, gene function, environment, and chance. Results obtained during the last decade indicate that during the pre-tumoral stage diversity among somatic cells is maintained by mutation and drift and that certain clones expand under the strength of selection and the influence of disturbance. Although the majority of clones harboring mutations disappear, diversity is constantly generated by background levels of spontaneous mutation. In contrast, in overt tumors that often exhibit a “mutator phenotype,” diversity is maintained by rules that are reminiscent of the ecological principles that govern diversity in macroscopic systems. Insights into the dynamics of tumor formation and tumor progression suggest new ways to utilize known therapeutic strategies and may afford novel ways to measure cancer risk.

Selected Publications