Aug. 15, 2019:
In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) highlights advances in a variety of cancer types, including breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer; research into genetic mutations that could lead to better treatments for individual patients; and research involving the financial burdens that weigh upon patients and their families.
University of Illinois Cancer Center
The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria has received a five-year $1.85 million federal grant to learn why some cancers are resistant to targeted drugs such as rapamycin and how treatment can be successful despite the resistance. The recent advent of targeted cancer therapy has shed light on new cures against metastatic and advanced cancer that could not be treated by conventional treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, said Sang-Oh Yoon, PhD, assistant professor of cancer biology and pharmacology and principal investigator on the study that is funded by the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Yoon is a member of the University of Illinois Cancer Center.
Cancer Center at Illinois
Treating breast tumors with two cancer drugs simultaneously may prevent endocrine resistance by attacking the disease along two separate gene pathways, scientists at the University of Illinois found in a new study. The two drugs used in the study, selinexor and 4-OHT, caused the cancer cells to die and tumors to regress for prolonged periods, said food science and human nutrition professor Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, the principal investigator on the study.
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center
A study published in Nature shines new light on the aggressive growth of cancer cells, and identifies a way to potentially make tumors more susceptible to chemotherapy. A team of investigators helmed by Dr. Rajan Gogna from the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal, led the study, which was supported by research from Indiana University School of Medicine’s Hariksrishna Nakshatri, PhD, the Marian J. Morrison Professor of Breast Cancer Research and Professor of Surgery, along with Taylor M. Parker, a graduate student in his group. Nakshatri is a researcher with the IU Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, and the Vera Bradley Foundation Center for Breast Cancer Research.
University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
Surgeons and radiologists with Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center are now using a less-invasive tool to localize breast cancers and other abnormalities that may be too small to feel. Using a thin needle and wire and with the assistance of a mammogram or ultrasound, surgeons and breast radiologists can place a tiny radioactive seed next to the mass that needs to be removed, says Lillian Erdahl, MD, a surgical oncologist with Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
After thyroid cancer surgery, many patients should be in the position of deciding with their doctors whether to pursue treatment with radioactive iodine to help ease long-term follow-up and offer reassurance that the cancer is gone. A new survey by researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center and U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation suggests many patients are receiving the treatment when there’s no strong indication of benefit – and a majority may feel like they don’t really have a choice about it.
Michigan State University Breslin Cancer Center
New research into a genetic mutation’s role in breast cancer could open new treatment options for lung cancer, according to a Michigan State University scientist. “We sequenced the whole genome of breast cancer samples and found a driving mutation that hasn’t been recognized as important in lung cancer before,” said Eran Andrechek, PhD, a College of Human Medicine physiology professor. “This mutation has clear potential to identify lung cancer patients who should be receiving targeted therapy that’s already approved by the FDA.”
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Distinguished surgeon-scientist, Andrew Venteicher, MD, PhD, has joined the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Department of Neurosurgery and the Masonic Cancer Center, where he will be leading key research initiatives in the genomics of brain tumors as the Director of the Center for Cranial Base Surgery
Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (University of Nebraska)
Scientists have known for years that CA19-9, a glycan, or carbohydrate structure, is an important biomarker for pancreatic cancer. Clinicians use it to monitor tumor progression. Basically, increasing CA19-9 levels suggests your cancer is getting worse; lowering CA19-9 suggests the patient is doing better.But, what if the level of CA19-9 was not an indicator of worsening pancreatic cancer, but was also contributing to making the patient’s overall condition worse? It’s an idea that Tony Hollingsworth, PhD, has been working on for decades.
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
For patients with cancer, whose drugs can cost thousands of dollars per dose, the issue of high drug prices is critical. Sheetal Kircher, MD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, saw the financial burden of cancer first-hand, both in the clinic and in her role as medical director of the Survivorship Institute at Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, and decided to take action.
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) recently announced formation of the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO), a comprehensive bench-to-bedside research initiative focused on harnessing the body’s immune system to fight cancer at all levels – from prevention to treatment and survivorship. Pelotonia, a grassroots cycling event that has raised more than $190 million for cancer research initiatives at the OSUCCC – James has pledged more than $102 million over the next five years.
Penn State Cancer Institute
Preventing a protein from doing its job may keep a certain type of ovarian cancer cell from growing and dividing uncontrollably in the lab, according to a new study from Penn State College of Medicine. In a study with cell cultures, researchers identified the protein as a potential therapeutic target for high-grade serous ovarian cancer cells. About 70 percent of patients with this type of ovarian cancer relapse with chemo-resistant disease, increasing the need for new approaches to treatment.
Purdue University Center for Cancer Research
More than 174,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, according to the American Cancer Society, putting it behind only skin cancer as the most common cancer among American men. A paper in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 1,410 men need to be screened and 48 additional cases of prostate cancer need to be treated to prevent only one death. New infrared chemical imaging work involving research by Ji-Xin Cheng, adjunct professor of Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Chemistry, and Ali Shakouri, PhD, the Mary Jo and Robert L. Kirk Director of the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue’s Discovery Park, aims to change the paradigm.
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey physician-scientists are collaborating on national research projects that received $1.5 million in combined funding from the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network® (ORIEN) New Oncologic Visionary Awards (NOVA) program. The program is supported by the ORIEN Foundation, which received an initial donation from M2Gen, a health informatics solutions company focused on accelerating the discovery, development and delivery of precision medicine.
University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
Kimberly McDowell, MD, PhD, has been appointed to oversee the regulatory affairs of the Program for Advanced Cell Therapy (PACT). Her main duties will include crafting and managing investigational new drug (IND) and investigational device exemption (IDE) applications for PACT-sponsored clinical trials and regulatory compliance.
Information for this story was compiled from Big Ten CRC member websites, news releases, and social media.
About the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium: The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium was created in 2013 to transform the conduct of cancer research through collaborative, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. The goal of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium is to create a unique team-research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to new approaches to cancer treatment. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow with the unified goal of improving the lives of all patients with cancer.
About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to almost 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.
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