The Science of Caring - Moores Cancer Center - UC San Diego

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News BriefsMoores Partners with Light One Little Candle FoundationThe Moores UCSD Cancer Centerheld a kickoff event on November15 for its new partnership with theLight One Little Candle Foundation(LOLC), a non-profit organization thatencourages parents undergoing cancertreatment to read to their children.The program distributes new children’sbooks to cancer patients through theCancer Center’s Patient and FamilyEducation Center. Children’s classicsare available in both English and Spanish along with selections written in English butgeared towards other cultures. To make a donation or to purchase books for LOLC atthe Cancer Center, visit www.lightonelittlecandle.org.Links Found Between Sunlight Exposure and Ovarian & Kidney CancerUsing a newly available database of worldwide cancer incidence, researchers at theMoores UCSD Cancer Center have published two studies indicating a clear associationbetween deficiency in exposure to sunlight, specifically ultraviolet B (UVB), and bothkidney cancer and ovarian cancer. UVB exposure triggers photosynthesis of vitaminD3 in the body. This form of vitamin D is also available through diet and supplements.In both studies, researchers used a new tool called GLOBOCAN, developed by theWorld Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, to mapcancer incidence rates for 175 countries. The plots resulted in parabolic curvesindicating high cancer rates at high latitudes and low cancer rates in the equatorialregion. Because there are many variables besides sun exposure associated with location,the researchers recommend further studies on the effects of vitamin D3 and cancer risk.Dr. Webster K. Cavenee Awarded Albert Szent-Györgyi PrizeThe National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) awardedWebster K. Cavenee, Ph.D., the 2nd Annual Albert Szent-GyörgyiPrize for Progress in Cancer Research. The prize was established tohonor pioneering scientists who have made outstanding scientificachievements in the war against cancer. Dr. Cavenee is Directorof the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) San DiegoBranch, Professor of Medicine and member of the Moores UCSDCancer Center. His research provided the first genetic evidence forthe existence of tumor suppressor genes, one of the most influential breakthroughs incancer research.American Cancer Society Honors Moores Cancer Center, Appoints SadlerThe San Diego office of the American Cancer Society (ACS) honored the Moores UCSDCancer Center as “Healthcare Partner of the Year” for its participation and collaborationin a number of patient service and educational programs. The award was presentedDecember 6th at the ACS’s annual “Community Salute.” Georgia Robins Sadler, Ph.D.,has also been appointed as President-Elect of the board of directors for the CaliforniaDivision of the ACS, where she will provide strategic leadership for all the healthinitiatives of the California Division. Sadler is currently the Associate Director forCommunity Outreach at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center.4Resources for YouTips For Early DetectionThe following are steps you can take to findcancer early, when there is the best chance forcure. (Guidelines apply to average risk peoplewith no symptoms.)Breast CancerBreast self-exam—Monthly starting at age 20Clinical breast exam—Every 3 years startingat age 20; annually starting at age 40Mammogram—Annually starting at age 40Cervical CancerPap smear and pelvic exam—Annuallystarting approximately age 21; every 2-3 yearsafter 3 consecutive normal results.Colorectal CancerFecal occult blood test—Annually starting atage 50Sigmoidoscopy—Every 5 years starting at age 50Colonoscopy—Every 10 years starting at age 50Prostate CancerDigital rectal exam—Annually starting at age 50PSA test—Annually starting at age 50Oral CancersDuring your regular checkup, ask the dentistto check your mouth and gums.Family HistoryLearn about your family risk of cancer; 5 to10 percent of all cancers occur in people witha family member with the same cancer.Knowing what cancers have been in the familyis the first step toward tailored screening andpreventive options.EnvironmentAvoid exposure to environmental chemicalsknown to cause cancer such as radon andbenzene. Have your home tested for radon, anodorless gas released from rocks and soil thatenters homes through cracks in the foundation.Benzene is a natural part of gasoline andcigarette smoke; exposure comes frominhaling air that contains it, so avoid smoking,secondhand smoke, and vapors from heavytraffic and gas stations as much as possible.(radon—lung cancer; benzene—leukemia)Information sources: Cancer Prevention andControl Program of Moores UCSD CancerCenter, and the National Cancer Institute.
Donors Make the DifferenceDr. Thomas Kipps with Diana LongAnd although most thyroid cancers arecurable, CLL is not. So while Long hadher thyroid removed and underwentiodine radiation therapy to treat herthyroid cancer, she found there was littleshe could do to fight such an aggressiveform of leukemia. Faced with a lifeexpectancy of three-to-eight years, Longbegan searching for researchers whofocused on CLL. She found Dr. ThomasKipps, the Deputy Director for Researchat the Moores UCSD Cancer Center andthe Founder and Director of the BloodCancer Research Fund.“Dr. Kipps is brilliant,” says Long. “Heleads the effort to find a cure for CLLwhile treating patients like me withgenuine concern for our well being.” Sostrong is her trust in Kipps that althoughshe and her husband have since movedfrom San Diego to the Bay Area to beDiana LongFor most people, battling one type of cancerwould be enough of a challenge in life, but asDiana Long learned in 2002, she didn’t face justone challenge, she faced two: “I was diagnosedwith thyroid cancer and chronic lymphocyticleukemia (CLL) that year,” she recalls. “It wasquite a shock.”closer to family, she returns to San Diegofor her main treatments.Her belief in his abilities also led her tobecome one of his strongest supporters.Not only did Long and her family pledge$50,000 toward Kipps’ research efforts,but she also sent out a fundraising letterto some 250 friends, family members,and acquaintances. Her efforts yieldednearly $65,000 in support, with giftsranging from $25 to $10,000.Since then, Long has continued herefforts to support cancer research and istrying to stay involved in any way she can.“Patients like me have the best chance ofraising funds because people respond bestto the people they know,” she says. “Ithink we’re close to finding a cure and Iwant to help as much as possible. I’ll doeverything I can to help move theresearch forward.”Jump-start your legacyWith a New Tax-Saving Opportunity for IRA Owners…You may be interested in the recent changes made through the Pension Protection Actof 2006. Of special interest is the provision that allows tax-free distribution of up to$100,000 per year from Individual Retirement Accounts directly to qualified nonprofitorganizations, including the UC San Diego Foundation. While no charitable incomededuction accompanies the transfer, the distribution directly to the charity is notincluded in taxable income. Gifts must be completed by December 31, 2007, and theowner of the IRA account must be age 70 or older by the date of the contribution.This is an excellent opportunity to give to the Moores UCSD Cancer Center! If you haveany questions or would like a free copy of our brochure, How To Make Charitable GiftsFrom Your IRA, please feel free to contact Geoff Graham at (858) 534-2249 or visit ourWeb site at www.plannedgiving.ucsd.edu.Research FocusVassiliadis Fellow TargetsImportant Pathway in CLLResearch sometimes takes us to unexpectedplaces, and this is indeed the case for VassiliadisFellow Jerry Liu, M.D., Ph.D. Eighteen monthsago, Liu’s investigations concerning organbasedcancers led him to focus on the Wnt/b-catenin signaling pathway–a pathway thathas remarkable potential in treating chroniclymphocytic leukemia (CLL).CLL is the most common leukemia amongadults in the U.S. A cancer characterized by theoverproduction of mature lymphocytes (a type ofwhite blood cell), this progressive disease is dueto an abnormal balance in the signals for cellsurvival and cell death which can leave the bodysusceptible to anemia, infection, and bleeding.Liu surmised that by targeting the pathway inthese cells, they would instead die as theynormally should. His next charge: to find aneffective pathway inhibitor.Liu and colleagues set out to screen a druglibrary of 960 commercially-available drugs,working in the Moores UCSD Cancer Center,in Director Dennis Carson’s lab. A commondiuretic drug used in the 1970s, ethacrynicacid (EA), was identified as a strong inhibitor ofthis pathway. Using a tissue culture system, Liushowed that EA was very potent in inducing celldeath in CLL cells and in concentrations thatcould be safely used in patients.He also found that EA had a synergistic effectwith fludarabine, which currently is the drugwith the highest rate of response in untreatedpatients with CLL. This is important becausesome patients become resistant to fludarabine;perhaps EA could reverse this resistance.Based on these findings, a clinical trial with EAin fludarabine refractory patients is currentlyunderway at the Moores Cancer Center. Patientseligible for this clinical trial must have advancedCLL and have failed chemotherapy treatments.Liu’s research was supported by the Carol andAlkiviadis Vassiliadis Endowed Fellowship, whichhe was awarded in June 2005. The Fellowship’s“seed money” allowed him to pursue cuttingedgeresearch, present findings at the 48thAnnual Society of Hematology annual meeting,and prepare results for publication.5
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The Science of Caring - Moores Cancer Center - UC San Diego

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