John S. Witte, Ph.D.

jsw2@cwru.edu

Phone: 216-368-6839

Biography

The Witte Lab's work encompasses a synthesis of applied and methodologic cancer, genetic, and epidemiologic research.  At the present time our applied research is primarily focused on deciphering risk factors for the initiation and progression of prostate cancer.  In particular, we are leading a thriving multi-institutional prostate cancer research program (CaP Genes) comprised of genetic epidemiologists, molecular biologists, pathologists, statisticians, and urologists.  We have had numerous successes toward sorting out the complex nature of this disease, including isolating chromosomal regions that may harbor prostate cancer genes and detecting an association between a polymorphism in the gene CYP3A4 and more advanced disease among African-American men (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1999;8:901-906).  We have also shown that a relatively common variant in the putative HPC1 gene RNASEL may increase prostate cancer risk 1.5- to 2-fold (Nat Genet 2002;32:581-583).  Meanwhile, our other work includes looking at the impact of diet—and diet ´ gene interactions—on the risk of prostate cancer.  

Witte Lab

Epidemiology and Biostatistics