BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Provide the following information for the key personnel and other significant contributors in the order listed
on Form Page 2.
Follow this format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FOUR PAGES.
NAME
Kristina Flores
eRA COMMONS USER NAME
kflores
POSITION TITLE
Research Assistant Professor
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as
nursing, and include postdoctoral training.)
DEGREE
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
(if
YEAR(s)
FIELD OF STUDY
applicable)
University of New Mexico
B.S.
1994
Biology
Duke University
Ph.D.
2000
Cell and Molecular Biology
A. Personal Statement
My research uses molecular epidemiological approaches to identify markers of disease risk and etiology for
lung cancer and melanoma. Recent work has examined the relationship of single nucleotide polymorphisms in
folate metabolism genes with DNA methylation status in the bronchial epithelial cells of high risk smokers.
Promoter hypermethylation is now a promising biomarker of lung cancer risk and progression. This work has
the potential to identify new biomarkers to detect cancer early or tailor treatments based on cancer subtype
analysis. Results from this work suggest that SNPs in folate metabolism genes are associated with high risk
lung cancer methylation profiles and differ between males and females. Future work will examine the
association of these SNPs with cancer risk, methylation patterns in target organs, and plasma metabolic
profiles. In addition to my molecular epidemiology research, I also have a strong interest in cancer education
for Hispanics and Native Americans in New Mexico. I have worked with Navajo communities to identify their
cancer prevention priorities with an appreciation for community-centered research.
Positions and Honors
Positions and Employment
2000-2005
Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC
2005-2008
Program Operations Director, Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, University of New
Mexico Cancer Center
2008- present
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico
Other Experience and Professional Memberships
2009
Reviewer, 2009 Lung Cancer Research Program, Congressionally Directed Medical Research
Programs, Department of Defense
2011
Reviewer, Mutagenesis
2012
Reviewer, Carcinogenesis
2010-present American Association for Cancer Research Member
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Honors
1992
1993
1993-1994
1990-1994
1997-2000
2002
2011, 2012
University of Michigan Biomedical Research Program
American Society for Minorities in Microbiology
Howard Hughes Student Research Program
New Mexico Scholars Scholarship
DOD Breast Cancer Predoctoral Traineeship Award
AACR Scholar-in-Training-Award
AACR Minority Serving Institution Faculty Scholar Award
B. Peer-reviewed publications

Flores KG, Stidley CS, Mackey AJ, Picchi MA, Stabler SP, Siegfried JM, Byers T, Berwick M,
Belinsky SA, Leng S. Sex-specific association of sequence variants in CBS and MTRR with risk for
promoter hypermethylation in non-Hispanic white smokers. Carcinogenesis 33(8):1542-7, 2012.

Leng S, Bernauer A, Hong C, Do K, Yingling CM, Flores KG, Tessema M, Tellez CS, Willink R,
Burki EA, Picchi MA, Stidley CA, Prados MD, Costello J, Gilliland FD, Crowell RE, Belinsky SA. The
A/G allele of rs16906252 predicts for MGMT methylation and is selectively silenced in premalignant
lesions from smokers and in lung adenocarcinomas. Clin Cancer Res. 17(7): 2014-2023, 2011.

Stidley CA, Picchi MA, Leng S, Willink R, Crowell RE, Flores KG, Kang H, Byers T, Gilliland FD,
and elinsky SA. Multi-vitamins, folate, and green vegetables protect against gene promoter
methylation in the aerodigestive tract of smokers. Cancer Res. 70 (2): 568-74, 2010.

Innes CL, Heinloth AN, Flores KG, Sieber SO, Deming PB, Bushel PR, Kauffman WK, Paules RS.
ATM requirement in gene expression responses to ionizing radiation in human lymphocytes and
fibroblasts. Mol Cancer Res. 4: 197-207, 2006.

Heinloth AN, Shackelford RE, Innes CL, Bennett L, Li L, Amin R, Sieber SO, Flores KG, Bushel
PR, Paules RS. ATM-dependent and -independent gene expression changes in response to
oxidative stress, gamma irradiation, and UV irradiation. Rad. Res.160 (3): 273-290, 2003.

Heinloth AN, Shackelford RE, Innes CL, Bennett L, Li L, Amin R, Sieber SO, Flores KG, Bushel
PR, Paules RS. Identification of distinct and common gene expression changes after oxidative
stress and gamma and ultraviolet radiation. Mol. Carcinog. 37 (2): 65-82, 2003.

Flores KG, McAllister KA, Greer PK, Wiseman RW, Hale LP. Thymic model for examining BRCA2
expression and function. Mol. Carcinog. 9999: 1-7, 2002.

Flores KG, Deming PB, Downes SC, Paules RS, Kaufmann WK. ATR enforces the topoisomerase
II-dependent G2 checkpoint through inhibition of Plk1 kinase. J. Biol. Chem. 277: 36832-36838,
2002.

Flores KG, Li J, Hale LP. B cells in epithelial and perivascular compartments of human adult
thymus. Hum. Path. 32: 946-934, 2001.

Flores KG, Jie Li, Sempowski G, Haynes BF, and Hale LP. Analysis of the human thymic
perivascular space during aging. J. Clin. Invest. 104: 1031-1039, 1999.

Garnand K and Nelson MA. The effect of DNA structure and restriction enzymes on transformation
efficiencies in Neurospora crassa. Fungal Genetics Report 42:29-31, 1995.
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C. Research Support
Completed Support
1K01CA128823-01 (Flores)
08/20/07 – 07/31/12
National Cancer Institute
Folate Metabolism and Methylation in Lung Cancer
The goal of this study is to examine the association of folate gene SNPs, dietary folate intake, and folate gene
expression with gene promoter methylation in current and former smokers.
Role: PI
Research Allocation Committee Grant (Flores)
UNM School of Medicine
Methylation Pattern in Malignant Melanoma
03/01/11-4/29/12
The goal of this study is to compare the global methylation patterns in 1) normal melanocytes and melanoma
cells, and 2) benign nevi, thin and thick melanomas from FFPE samples.
Role: PI
UNM Office of Research, Environmental (Gonzales)
06/15/2010 – 07/31/2011
Health Signature Program Grant
UV Light Exposure and Immunosuppression in Melanoma
The goal of this study is to examine the expression of immunosuppression-related biomarkers that may
correlate with melanoma thickness and metastatic potential when adjusted for degree of UV exposure.
The results of this study will validate expression of these biomarkers, predict effect size and produce more
precise power calculations to compare lesions and biopsies in a future R01 grant application.
Role: Co-PI
U26IHS300009-01 (Flores)
NARCH-NCI
Tribal Community Cancer Control
09/15/05 - 9/14/11
The goal of this project is to determine the barriers and facilities to cancer prevention in two Navajo
communities in New Mexico and to develop culturally appropriate interventions to increase cancer
screening.
Role: PI
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