Anaphase chromosome spread of a human glioblastoma tumor cell. Solomon et al. Science 2011.
Dynamic function of DNA replication proteins during DNA repair. Solomon et al. J. Cell Biol. 2004.
Diffuse midline glioma with histone H3-K27M mutation infiltrating the cerebellum of a pediatric patient. Solomon et al. Brain Pathology 2015.
CDK4/6 inhibition with palbociclib effectively blocks the growth of orthotopic glioblastoma xenografts in vivo. Michaud and Solomon et al. Cancer Research 2010.
Heterochromatic domains in the nucleus of a mouse fibroblast. Solomon Nature Cell Biology 2004.
Histopathology of a diffuse midline glioma with histone H3-K27M mutation. Solomon et al. Brain Pathology 2015.
High-density microarray copy number profile along chromosome 9 in a human bladder cancer. Solomon et al Nature Genetics 2013.
Mitosis in a human cancer cell. Solomon et al. Science 2011.
Mid-sagittal section through the brain of a pediatric patient during autopsy examination.
Immunohistochemistry for STAG2 on a papillary urothelial bladder carcinoma showing somatic loss of expression in tumor cells. Solomon et al. Nature Genetics 2013.
Somatic nonsense mutation in the STAG2 gene in a human bladder cancer. Solomon et al. Nature Genetics 2013.
Circos plot of a human Ewing sarcoma based on whole-genome sequencing. Brohl and Solomon et al. PLoS Genetics 2014.

Welcome to the Solomon Lab

Welcome to the Solomon Lab in the Department of Pathology at the University of California, San Francisco. We are broadly interested in the discovery, functional analysis, and therapeutic targeting of novel oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in human cancer.

Our previous work has identified genes encoding the cohesin complex (STAG2, SMC3, SMC1A, RAD21) as frequent targets of mutational inactivation in cancers including glioblastoma, urothelial bladder carcinoma, and Ewing sarcoma. We are currently working to determine the function of STAG2 during development and tumorigenesis and to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities in the many cancers harboring cohesin gene alterations. Other ongoing studies in the lab include genomic characterization of rare brain tumor variants such as choroid plexus tumors and pineal parenchymal tumors. Please follow the links above for more information on our research projects, people in the lab, and our recent publications.

Lab News

Our Study on PRKCA mutations in chordoid gliomas is published in Nature Communications
Our study identifying the genetic basis of chordoid glioma of the third ventricle and describing the mechanism by which a recurrent kinase domain mutation in the PRKCA gene drives tumorigenesis and causes sensitivity to MEK inhibition is published in Nature Communications. See the UCSF news story.
February 23, 2018

Our study on TRAF7 mutations in adenomatoid tumors of the genital tract published in Modern Pathology
Our study identifying the genetic basis of adenomatoid tumors of the genital tract and describing the mechanism by which TRAF7 mutations also recurrently found in meningiomas and perineuriomas drive tumorigenesis is published in Modern Pathology.
November 17, 2017

Our genomic profiling study of astroblastomas published in Brain Pathology
Our study identifying three distinct molecular subgroups of astroblastoma is published in Brain Pathology.
September 28, 2017

Our study on the molecular pathogenesis of malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas published in Modern Pathology
Our study identifying the genetic basis of malignant peritoneal mesotheliomas and BAP1 as a new diagnostic biomarker for distinguishing this tumor from other mesothelial neoplasms and histologic mimics in the peritoneum is published in Modern Pathology.
November 4, 2016

David receives NIH Director's Early Independence Award
The NIH announces David is one of sixteen recipients of the 2015 NIH Director's Early Independence Award. See the press releases from NIH and UCSF.
October 6, 2015

Our study on STAG2 mutations in Ewing sarcoma published in PLoS Genetics
Our study identifying frequent mutational inactivation of the STAG2 gene in Ewing sarcoma that correlates with concurrent TP53 mutation and poor prognosis is published in PLoS Genetics.
July 10, 2014

Our study on STAG2 mutations in bladder cancer published in Nature Genetics
Our study identifying frequent mutational inactivation of the STAG2 gene in urothelial bladder carcinoma is published in Nature Genetics. See the UCSF news story.
October 13, 2013