May 5, 2021:

This month, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights our member, the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC). Get to know UMGCCC investigator Yixing Jiang, MD, PhD, and learn about a novel approach currently being tested to deliver treatment across the blood-brain barrier in high-grade gliomas.

Yixing Jiang, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine; Director, GI Medical Oncology
University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

Educational Background

• MD, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University
• PhD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• Internal Medicine Residency: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
• Fellowship: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Research and Clinical Interests
Dr. Jiang’s clinical expertise includes gastroesophageal, pancreatic, hepatobiliary and colorectal cancers. University of Maryland has the largest liver transplant center in Baltimore-DC area. Dr. Jiang is part of the multidisciplinary team managing patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma referred to the center. Read More

April 29, 2021:

Researchers across the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium are shedding light on new discoveries that could improve the health and lives of many in years to come through a host of precision medicine strategies. From boosting mitochondrial function in a subpopulation of T cells to analyzing vast amounts of data in populations, and synthesizing a rare compound found in a Native America shrub to combat a protein found in many cancers, these researchers are covering all the bases to make a difference. Learn about them and other investigators on the move in this issue of Across the Consortium.

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April 5, 2021

Investigator Spotlight:

Channabasavaiah B. Gurumurthy BVSC (DVM), MVSC, PhD, MBA, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Research Interests:

I am a professor of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience and director of the Mouse Genome Engineering Core Facility. My research interest is in enhancing technologies for biomedical research. I develop genome-editing technologies and custom mouse models useful to research ranging from cancer to neuroscience to COVID-19 research. I am fortunate to work in the interface of two Nobel awarded technologies: mouse genome engineering and the CRISPR-Cas systems. Along with a long term collaborator Prof. Masato Ohtsuka (Tokai University, Japan), I have published more than 25 papers on mouse genome engineering technologies, ultimately developing Easi-CRISPR—an approach now regarded as a revolutionary method in our field.

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March 23, 2021:

Analysis from the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) phase 1b study, BTCRC-GU16-051, shows the combination of eribulin mesylate and avelumab is safe and demonstrates efficacy signals that warrant further evaluation in adults with cisplatin-ineligible mUC. In their report, published in European Urology Focus, researchers also noted that the treatment combination was better tolerated and efficacious at lower doses of eribulin mesylate.

Monika Joshi, MD, MRCP (pictured left), of Penn State Cancer Institute, led the study in collaboration with Yousef Zakharia, MD (pictured right), of the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.

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March 23, 2021:

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is leading a single-arm, phase II study for adults with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and mild liver impairment.

Researchers want to learn whether it is safe to give atezolizumab and bevacizumab to participants with advanced liver cancer and Child-Pugh B7 liver dysfunction. They also plan to estimate the overall response rate, disease control rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival in these patients using this combined therapy.

The study, BTCRC-GI20-457, “A Phase II study of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab in Child-Pugh B7 Hepatocellular Carcinoma (The AB7 Trial),” is now open to accrual at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

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March 19, 2021:

In this month’s Across the Consortium, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium highlights current research, innovations, appointments, publications, and general news across member institutions. Read More

Sept. 1, 2021:

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Foundation, Inc. (the “Foundation”) requests proposals for the creation and implementation of a development/fundraising program.

The Foundation is a philanthropic organization created to raise funds to support collaborative oncology research activities of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (the “Consortium”). The Consortium includes 15 academic cancer centers united to conduct highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities (see https://bigtencrc.org/).

The Foundation anticipates a two-year contractual commitment during which the vendor will create and implement a program to raise funds to support the Consortium’s research. The vendor will contract with the Foundation to plan, coordinate, and implement the development of donors and contributions to support the Consortium by identifying a balanced mix of donor sources and solicitation programs. Read More

March 18, 2021:

Big Ten basketball fans have good reason to celebrate this month: The conference is bringing nine teams to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament – leading all other conferences!

We’re excited for tip-off, and so are the Big Ten CRC cancer center directors! While basketball teams battle it out on the court, our directors are lacing up their shoes every day to take on cancer. We could not wish for a better team!

Get to know our team:

HOWARD H. BAILEY, MD
Director, University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center

Key Stats for UW Carbone Cancer Center:

• One of the original 6 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in 1973.
• Dr. Charles Heidelberger invented and developed 5-FU here.
• NCI projections on effects of pandemic and delayed breast cancer screening based on data from Amy Trentham-Dietz, PhD.

ROHIT BHARGAVA, PHD
Director, Cancer Center at Illinois

Key Stats for the Cancer Center at Illinois:

• Two research programs with three themes each – highlighting their focus in engineering, technology, and basic science.
• Develops new insights, tools, and technologies to move advances into clinical practice.
• More than 100 scientists spanning 20 university departments and five education programs.

KENNETH COWAN, MD, PHD
Director, Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center; Director, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases

Key Stats for Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (University of Nebraska):

• Integrated facility provides interdisciplinary cancer care, research, healing arts, and survivorship programs.
• Nebraska’s only cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute.
• Founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and Big Ten CRC.

KEVIN J. CULLEN, MD
Director, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center

Key Stats for UMGCCC:

• NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Ranked among top 20 cancer programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.
• A leader in addressing cancer disparities, with research focused on improving access to care and treatment outcomes for minorities.

ERIC FEARON, MD, PHD
Director, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center

Key Stats for the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center:

• NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• More than 400 scientists and clinicians in multidisciplinary teams devoted to cancer research and patient care.
• A founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

RAYMOND J. HOHL, MD, PHD
Director, Penn State Cancer Institute

Key Stats for Penn State Cancer Institute:

• Matrix cancer center combines expertise of member researchers across the university.
• Research programs focused on population health and cancer control, mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and experimental therapeutics.
• Pediatric cancer research is highly visible and benefits from THON and Four Diamonds.

JAN K. KITAJEWSKI, PHD
Director, University of Illinois Cancer Center

Key Stats for University of Illinois Cancer Center:

• Cancer center membership includes more than 200 researchers.
• Research programs focused on cancer prevention and control, cancer biology, and translational oncology.
• A leader in building community partnerships to address health equity and disparities.

KELVIN LEE, MD
Director, Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

Key Stats for IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center:

• Indiana’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• The cure for testicular cancer developed here by Lawrence Einhorn, MD.
• Home to the world’s only healthy breast tissue bank.

STEVEN K. LIBUTTI, MD, FACS
Director, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey; Senior Vice President, Oncology Services, RWJBarnabas Health

Key Stats for Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey:

• New Jersey’s ONLY NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Team assist with RWJBarnabas Health.
• From behind the arc: a powerhouse in research, treatment, prevention/education.

ANDREW MESECAR, PHD
Deputy Director, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research

Key Stats for Purdue University Center for Cancer Research:

• COVID-19 or not, Purdue is safely open for business, Boilerup!!!
• Working to put cancer in the rearview mirror, Boilerup!!!!
• Developing new cancer treatments – 10 new drugs in clinical trials.

LEONIDAS PLATANIAS, MD, PHD
Director, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

Key Stats for the Lurie Cancer Center:

• One of 32 Lead Academic Participating Sites within the National Clinical Trials Network.
• Received highest rating possible from the NCI during renewal of its designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Ranked #8 in U.S. News & World Report’s list of “Best Hospitals for Cancer.”

RAPHAEL POLLOCK, MD, PHD, FACS
Director, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center; Kathleen Wellenreiter Klotz Chair in Cancer Research, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Richard J. Solove Research Institute

Key Stats for OSUCCC-James:

• 317 members, representing 11 of 15 colleges at The Ohio State University plus Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
• 16 CCSG-funded shared research resources.
• $77M annual direct cancer research grant funding.

JATIN RANA, MD
Director of Medical Services, Michigan State University Breslin Cancer Center

Key Stats for MSU Breslin Cancer Center / MSU College of Human Medicine:

• Clinical practice and cancer research distributed across 7 campuses statewide.
• Research areas focused on cancer biology and immune cell function, cancer genetics, cancer imaging and early detection, experimental therapeutics, and cancer control.
• In 2021, MSU marks its 55th anniversary of the discovery of the use of cisplatin for cancer treatment.

GEORGE J. WEINER, MD
Director, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa

Key Stats for the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center:

• Iowa’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
• Home to two NCI SPORE grants.
• In 2020, treated patients from all 99 Iowa counties and 46 states.

DOUGLAS YEE, MD
Director, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

Key Stats for the Masonic Cancer Center:

• The hub for cancer research at the University of Minnesota for 30 years.
• Received NCI designation in 1998.
• 225 members focusing on prevention, screening, new therapies, biomarker evaluation, functional imaging of cancer, and survivorship.

 
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 more than 9,800 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.

March 9, 2021:

Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium investigators highlighted two ongoing studies during the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) World Conference on Lung Cancer, held virtually January 28-31.

Melissa Yan, MD (pictured left), a hematology-oncology fellow at the Indiana University School of Medicine, presented a featured poster (FP01.04) on BTCRC-LUN19-396, a phase II study of adjuvant chemotherapy plus atezolizumab in stage IB-IIIA resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and clearance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA).

Emily Sisel (pictured right), an MD candidate at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, presented a poster (PP77.05) highlighting BTCRC-LUN15-017, a phase II study of Imprime PGG and pembrolizumab in stage IV NSCLC after progression on first-line therapy.

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March 8, 2021:

Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium investigators presented a virtual poster highlighting BTCRC-GU16-043, a Big Ten CRC phase Ib/II study of durvalumab and guadecitabine in advanced kidney cancer, during the 2021 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

The study, led by the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, investigates whether adding guadecitabine, a drug that targets DNA methylation, might increase the proportion of patients with advanced clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) who respond to treatment with durvalumab, a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

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