Markowitz Colon Cancer Laboratory

Our mission is to identify key genetic causes of colon cancer and to develop better ways for prevention, early detection, and treatment of this disease.

The Markowitz laboratory studies the genetics of colon cancer.

Dr. Sanford Markowitz Key questions that we study are:
1. What genes contribute to the growth of colon cancers?
2. What genes cause colon cancer to occur in certain families?
3. How can we detect and diagnose colon cancer while it is in its early and curable stages?


Sandy Markowitz is the Principal Investigator of the Case GI SPORE, an NCI Designated Specialized Program of Research Excellence in Gastrointestinal Cancers.
The Case GI SPORE is one of only 7 such NCI funded centers in the country. The Markowitz laboratory works closely with the SPORE team across a set of key research questions that the SPORE is asking and that include:

1. Determining the role of the 15-PGDH tumor suppressor pathway in colon cancer and developing new anti-cancer drugs that target this pathway.

2. Identifying gene mutations involved in colon cancer progression.

3. Identifying cancer biomarkers, particularly aberrantly methylated DNA molecules, and developing stool and blood tests for the biomarkers for early cancer detection.

4. Identifying genetic causes and genetic and epigenetic markers of Barrett's esophagus and Esophageal adenocarcinomas. SPORE website>>

Dr. Sanford Markowitz

Case Western Reserve University Dr. Sanford (Sandy) Markowitz is the Markowitz-Ingalls professorship of Cancer Genetics at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and is a medical oncologist and colon cancer researcher at Case Western Reserve University who is internationally recognized for his work identifying key genetics causes of colon cancer and developing molecular tests for early detection of this disease. Learn more>>

The Colon Cancer and Colon Polyp Family Study

  • Help us fight Colon Cancer. Please click below for more information.

    Participation is easy and involves no travel and no special procedures. Everything can be done by mail. Participants will be asked to:

    * Donate a small sample of blood, usually just one time.

    * Sign a medical record release authorization to allow the study to obtain documentation of past colon screening test results.

    * Fill out a family history questionnaire that asks for the history of any kind of cancer in the extended Family.

    * Call Susan Lewis, study coordinator today at 1-877-993-9936 or locally at 216-368-0497  >>More Information 
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