Dr. Fishbein is a physician scientist who has research and clinical interest in endocrine cancer genetics. The Fishbein laboratory focuses on neuroendocrine tumors including pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are
rare yet unique tumors which have high morbidity due to over-secretion of adrenaline hormone leading to hypertension, heart disease and stroke. In addition, a significant fraction of the tumors also become metastatic; and unfortunately, there are
limited treatment options for metastatic disease. One fascinating aspect of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma is that there are over 12 well-defined germline susceptibility genes in a variety of different pathways in the cell which when mutated, predispose
to a person getting a pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma as well as other associated tumor types. We do not fully understand why some people with pathogenic variants (or mutations) in these genes develop disease and others do not. And only some of
these genes are associated with a higher risk of metastatic disease.
Furthermore, of the patients with metastatic disease, only half have a known germline pathogenic variant; the rest are sporadic. The Fishbein laboratory is interested
in the interplay between the germline hereditary genetics and somatic genetics that leads to tumorigenesis and metastatic potential. The lab has several projects to answer these gaps in knowledge. Some are listed below.
