Surti Research Group

Principal Investigator: Urvashi Surti, PhD

Dr. Surti's research is focused on the genetics of gynecological tumors and delineation of molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in abnormal conceptions using various cytogenetic techniques, including in-situ hybridization and microarray analysis.

Current projects at the Surti Lab include:

  1. Genetics of trophoblastic disease including molar pregnancies and choriocarcinoma using laser capture microdissection, CGH, and Genome Wide DNA and Expression Profiles
  2. Genetics of male and female germ cell tumors
  3. Genetics of uterine leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas, and ovarian cancer using CGH and expression arrays.
  4. Role of Genomic imprinting in trophoblastic disease.

  5. Identification of new submicroscopic cryptic chromosome rearrangements in patients with developmental delay, mental retardation and multiple congenital abnormalities.

Lab Members

Lori Hoffner MS

Lab Alumni

Rezvan Habibian
Graduate School of Public Health, Human Genetics Department
Doctoral in Human Genetics
Thesis topic: Evaluation of potential cytogenetic risk factors in development of trophoblastic disease
My role:  Major Advisor
Completed: 1986
Current position: Director of Cytogenetics, Genzyme Genetics, LA, CA 

Jie Hu

Graduate School of Public Health, Human Genetics Department
Doctoral degree in Human Genetics
My role:  Major Advisor
Thesis topic: Genetics of uterine leiomyomas
Completed: 1993
Current position: Associate Director of Pittsburgh Cytogenetics Laboratory

Patricia Mowery

School of Medicine, Pathology Department
Experimental Pathology, PhD student
My role:  Major Advisor
Thesis topic: Molecular analysis of the origin and imprinting in molar pregnancies
Completed: 1993
Current position: Director of Cytogenetics, Genzyme Genetics, SantaFe, NM

Selected Publications

  • Hall HE, Chan ER, Collins A, Judis L, Shirley S, Surti U, Hoffner L, Cockwell A, Jacobs PA, & Hassold TJ. The origin of trisomy 13. Am J Med Gen A, 143(19):2242-8, 2007.
  • Antonescu CR, Cin PD, Nafa K, Teot LA, Surti U, Fletcher CD, & Ladany M. EWSRI-CREB1 is the predominant gene fusion in angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma. Gene Chromosomes Canc, 46(12):1051-60, 2007.
  • Monaco SE, Teot LA, Felgar RE, Surti U, & Cai G. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) studies on direct smears: An approach to enhance the fine needle aspiration biopsy diagnosis of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Cancer Cytopathol,117(5):338-48, Oct. 25, 2009.
  • Chu T, Burke B, Bunce K, Surti U, Hogge WA, & Peters DG. A microarray-based approach for the identification of epigenetic biomarkers for the non-invasive diagnosis of fetal disease.  Prenat Diagn, 29(11):1020-30, Nov. 2009.
  • Rosenfeld JA, Leppig K, Ballif BC, Thiese H, Erdie-Lalena C, Bawle E, Sastry S, Spence JE, Bandholz A, Surti U, Bejjani BA, Torchia BA, & Shaffer LG. Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome: A report on five microdeletions encompassing TCF4 and a review of the literature. Genet Med, 11(11):797-805, Nov. 2009.
  • Costa de Cunha CE, Blazquez C, Boyd J, Correa H, de Chadarevian JP, Felgar RE, Graf N, Levy N, Lowe EJ, Manning J, Proytcheva M, Senger C, Shayan K, Sterba J, Surti U, Werner A, & Jaffe R. Atypical histiocytic lesions following acute lymphoblastic leukemia and sharing the same molecular marker. Pediatr Dev Pathol, Jul. 30, 2009 (Epub ahead of print).
  • Armah HB, Parwanti AV, Surti U, & Bastacky SI. Xp11.2 Translocation renal cell carcinoma occurring during pregnancy with a novel translocation involving chromosome 19:  A case report with review of the literature. Diagn Pathol,18(4):15, 2009.
  • Gradowski JF, Jaffe ES, Warnke RA, Pittaluga S, Surti U, Gole LA, & Swerdlow SH.  Follicular lymphomas with plasmacytic differentiation include two subtypes.  Mod Pathol, 23(1):71-9, 2010.
  • Dufresne SD, Felgar RE, Sargent RL, Surti U, Gollin SM, McPhail ED, Cook JR, & Swerdlow SH. Defining the borders of splenic marginal zone lymphoma: A multiparameter study. Hum Pathol, (Epub ahead of print).
  • Girirajan S, Rosenfeld JA, Cooper GM, Antonacci F, Siswara P, Itsara A, Vives L, Walsh T, McCarthy SE, Baker C, Mefford HC, Kidd JM, Browning Dickel DE, Ballif B, Platky K, Farber D, Gowans GC, Wetherbee J, Asamoah A, Weaver DD, Mark PR, Dickerson J, Garg BP, Ellingwood SA, Smith R, Banks VC, Smith W, McDonald MT, Hoo JJ, French BN, Hudson C, Johnson JP, Ozmore J, Moeschler JB, Surti U, Escobar LF, El-Khechen D, Gorski JL, Kussmann J, Salbert B, Lacassie Y, Biser A, McDonald McGinn D, Zackai EH, Deardorff MA, Shaikh TH, Haan E, Friend K, Fichera M, Romano C, Gecz J, deLisi L, Sebat J, King MC, Shaffer LG, & Eichler EE. A recurrent 16p12.1 microdeletion suggests a two-hit model for severe developmental delay. Nat Genetics, 2010 (in press).

Publications on PubMed

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