Collaborate Explore Discover

emission rate, and outcome of greater than 300 adolescents and young adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblasticleukemia (ALL) who were treated on consecutive trials in either the Children’s Cancer Group (CCG) or the Cancer andLeukemia Group B (CALGB). While complete remission rates were identical, patients in the CCG group had significantlyhigher 7-year event-free and overall survival rates compared to those in the CALGB group. Comparison of the regimensshowed that CCG patients received earlier and more intensive central nervous system prophylaxis and higher cumulativedoses of nonmyelosuppressive agents. As a result of these findings, a prospective study for adolescents and young adultswith ALL using the more successful approach of the CCG has been initiated (Stock et al, Blood 112(5):1646-54, 2008).Selected New Funding•• The National Cancer Institute awarded Lucy Godley, MD, PhD and her colleagues R01 funding to understand themechanisms by which epigenetic alterations originate within cancer cells. Investigators are studying how expression ofthe DNMT3B gene, which encodes one of three methyltransferases, affects mouse development, methylation patterns andphenotypes of cancer cells, and DNA methylation. Results will likely provide a basis for novel diagnostic and therapeuticstrategies applicable to virtually all forms of cancer.Molecular Genetics& Hematopoiesis••••Michelle Le Beau, PhD is the primary investigator in a program project (P01), funded by the National Cancer Institute, tostudy the molecular mechanisms and genetic susceptibilities leading to therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML)and myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) that develop after cytotoxic treatment with drugs targeting topoisomerase II.The project aims to identify genetic variants that may be genetic risk factors or biomarkers for t-AML, somatic alterationsassociated with t-AML, and myeloid leukemia tumor suppressor gene(s) (TSG). These studies may lead, ultimately, to thedevelopment of individualized cancer prevention and early detection strategies, such as altered primary therapy. Coinvestigatorsinclude Drs. Richard Larson, Kenan Onel, and Theodore Karrison (Clinical and Experimental TherapeuticsProgram).Jianjun Chen, PhD has been awarded an R01 grant from the National Cancer Institute to determine the role andfunctional mechanisms of an miRNA cluster in leukemogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are an abundant classof small non-coding RNAs that regulate diverse biological processes. Recent studies suggest that a cluster of miRNAs,the miR-17-92 polycistron located at 13q31, functions as an oncogene in various cancers. The project aims to determinewhether the miR-17-92 cluster plays an essential role in leukemogenesis and in proliferation and differentiation ofhematopoietic progenitor cells. These studies are likely to identify the critical leukemia-related targets of the miRNAsand their roles and relevant pathways in leukemogenesis.New Faculty Recruitments and UCCRC MembersJianjun Chen, PhD’s research is focused on the integrated analyses of protein-coding and non-coding genes involved in thedevelopment of leukemia and lymphoma. Dr. Chen aims to gain an improved understanding of the genetic and epigeneticalterations that occur during cancer development and in leukemia stem cells in order to identify new markers and targetsfor cancer diagnosis and treatment. An additional goal of Dr. Chen’s research is to develop a reproducible method for thederivation of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells from embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells.Kenneth Cohen, MD research aims to understand how non-malignant host cells within cancers contribute to tumor cellgrowth, metastasis, and protection from anti-cancer therapies. Dr. Cohen’s current research seeks to identify molecularmechanisms governing interactions between pro-angiogenic bone marrow-derived cells and tumor vascular development.Sandeep Gurbuxani, MBBS, PhD is interested in the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy-induced cell death incancer. The focus of his current research is the mechanism of glucocorticoid induced cell death (and resistance to this celldeath) in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.UCCRC SCIENTIFIC REPORT 200937