The group of cancer genetics is interested in the characterization of genetic alterations associated with most prevalent inherited cancers in Latvian patients.  The studies are carried out in close collaboration with Latvian oncology center.
The spectrum of mutations in the BRCA1 gene has been described in breast and ovarian cancer patients from Latvia and characterization of other cancer-associated genes in other cancers is continued.  
At present we are working as well to find out more information about the role of genetic background in the disease and to improve the possible recommendations for cancer patients and healthy carriers of cancer predisposing mutations.
 
Researchers:
Laima Tihomirova, Dr.biol.
Olga Sinicka, PhD student
Silvija Skudra, technician
 
Main publications:
 
1. Tikhomirova LP, Solonin AS, Ksenzenko VN, Matvienko NI Construction of a hybrid col E1 plasmid carrying the gene for bacteriophage lambda repressor. Nucleic Acids Res 1976 Oct;3(10):2485-2490  
2. Tikhomirova LP, Vorozheikina DP, Putintceva NI, Matvienko NI Lambda and T4 bacteriophage hybrids. J Mol Biol 1977 Jul 5;113(3):567-572
3.  Strizhov N, Tikhomirova L Construction of recombinant plasmid carrying the lambda DNA fragment responsible for prophage integration. Nucleic Acids Res 1978 Jun;5(6):1767-1777
4. Vorozheikina D, Glinskaite I, Tikhomirova L, Bayev A Complementation of T4 phage am mutations by hybrid phages lambda-T4. Mol Gen Genet 80; 178(3): 655-661
5. Strizhov N, Soukovatitsin V, Ksenzenko V, Tikhomirova L, Bayev A . Functional analysis of hybrid plasmids carrying genes for lambda site-specific recombination. Gene 1980 Dec;12(3-4):201-214
6. Strizhov NI, Tikhomirova LP, Bayev AA The replication of Escherichia coli chromosome can be initiated by integrated ColE1-type plasmids. Mol Gen Genet 1981;182(2):355-357
7. Karamysheva ZN, Ksenzenko VN, Golubev VI, Ratner EN, Tikhomirova LP Characteristics of viruses in the BKM Y-2700 mycocinogenic strain of Cystofilobasidium bisporidii yeasts. [Article in Russian] Dokl Akad Nauk. 1993 Jul;331(3):376-8.
8. Tikhomirova LP, et al.  Transformation of methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha: cloning and expression of genes.   J Basic Microbiol. 1988; 28(5): 343-351.
9. Tikhomirova LP, et al.   Evidence for autonomous replication and stabilization of recombinant plasmids in the transformants of yeast Hansenula  polymorpha.   Current Genet. 1986;10(10):741-747.
10. Tihomirova L., Csoskay B., Stengrevics A., Sinicka O., Kamerade R.,    Olah E. Hereditary breast cancer in Latvia: mutation analysis of the BRCA1 gene.  Disease Markers 15 (1999) 97.
11. Csoskay B., Tihomirova L., Stengrevics A., Sinicka O., Olah E. Strong founder effects in BRCA1 mutation carrier breast cancer patients from Latvia. Human Mutations, 1999; 14(1): online 92.( 6 pages).
12. O.Sinicka, A.Stengrevics, J.Eglitis, D.Smite, Z.Šomšteine, L.Tihomirova. Ovarian cancer in Latvia is highly attributable to recurrent mutations in the BRCA1 gene. Acta Universitatis Latviensis, Biology, 2004, Vol 676, pp. 17-25.
13.  L.Tihomirova, O.Sinicka, D.Smite, J.Eglitis, S.Hodgson, A.Stengrevics. High prevalence of two BRCA1 mutations, 5382insC and 4154delA, in Latvia. accepted to Familial Cancer 2004.