Moein Kanaan, PhD

2009-2010 BCRF Project:
Co-Investigators: Mary-Claire King, PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA and Ephrat Levy-Lahad, MD, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

Drs. King, Levy-Lahad and Kanaan have created an infrastructure for Cancer Genetics counseling and testing for Arab women in the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Following a training course developed by the investigators and hosted at Shaare Zedek Medical Center (SZMC) in Jerusalem, Palestinian genetic counselors now provide counseling at Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, the major referral hospital for Palestinian cancer patients, ArabCare Hospital in Ramallah and Bethlehem University (BU). Laboratory infrastructure for sequencing and full BRCA1 and BRCA2 analysis has been established at the Hereditary Research Lab in Bethlehem University.

In the Palestinian Authority and Israel combined, they have enrolled over 250 Arab women with breast cancer. More than 20% of these women have family history suggestive of an inherited predisposition to breast cancer, and genetic analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is now underway at both BU and SZMC. In women with personal and family history of breast or ovarian cancer, full analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 is performed. Other study participants are tested for mutations previously found in Arab families.

Current results suggest that when specific BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations occur within families, they are not recurrent or common in the general Arab population. Continued analyses will allow the researchers to identify the spectrum of mutations characteristic of the Arab population. They are planning to extend the study by searching for novel breast cancer genes using novel genomic technologies. Breast cancer genetic services established for the Palestinian population will ultimately increase their understanding of the causes of breast cancer in general and is already enabling early detection and prevention in this population.

Mid-Year Progress Report:
In the Palestinian Authority and Israel combined, the researchers have enrolled over 400 Arab women with breast cancer. More than 20% of these women have family history suggestive of an inherited predisposition to breast cancer, and genetic analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations is continuing at both BU and SZMC. The researchers have identified a novel BRCA2 mutation occurring in a number of Palestinian families, probably originating from a common ancestor. Although this mutation is not common the general Palestinian population, it may occur in ~1% of breast cancer patients. They are beginning to search for novel breast cancer genes using advanced genomic technologies. Breast cancer genetic services established for the Palestinian population will ultimately increase our understanding of the causes of breast cancer in general and are already enabling early detection and prevention in this population.

Bio:
Dr. Moein Kanaan is a leading Palestinian geneticist. Over the last 15 years Dr. Kanaan has been investigating the genetically isolated Palestinian population and its high consanguinity rate in identifying genetically based disease gene. This includes hearing loss, skin abnormalities, and congenital heart diseases. Utilizing large consanguineous Palestinian kindreds Dr. Kanaan collaborative work has been able to profile novel and variant alleles undermining hearing loss and Epidermolysis Bullosa in Palestinian population and just recently mapped and identified new hearing loss causing genes.

Currently Dr. Kanaan is Professor and Dean of Science, and the Director of the Hereditary Research Lab at Bethlehem University. Dr. Kanaan has been a member of Research task force in Palestine and has participated in many international research effort and scientific networks. Dr. Kanaan is a recipient of many research and scientific awards and is a pioneer in initiating the "Palestinian central of disease control".