Translational Research in Gastrointestinal and Breast Cancer: Present efforts are focused on translational research for human neoplasias, with emphasis on colorectal, pancreas, and breast cancers. Studies are evaluating molecular markers to identify aggressive phenotypic features of tumors to predict the efficacy of chemotherapeutic regimens and to assess clinical outcomes. For evaluating the clinical utility of genetic and phenotypic abnormalities especially in colorectal cancer, one has to consider the anatomic location of tumors within the colorectum and with tumor stage, race/ethnicity, age, and gender. The research group includes experts in the fields of molecular biology, clinical oncology, pathology, epidemiology, statistics, and bioinformatics. The research interests also include use of genomics and proteomics for identification of early markers of cancers, specifically, identification of molecular signatures of benign colonic epithelium, which is at risk of developing colorectal neoplasias, and of other pre-malignant lesions. These studies will aid in the development of molecular assays that relate to early detection, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of cancers.