Focusing on cancer stem cells
City of Hope researchers believe that understanding how normal and malignant stem cells are regulated at the molecular level can lead to effective new therapies targeted cancer stem cells. Scientists engaged in stem cell and leukemia biology are focusing on characterizing normal and malignant blood stem cells, identifying molecular events in cancerous transformation and developing new anticancer therapies.
Isolating lung cancer markers
Lung cancer remains the nation's leading cancer killer, but City of Hope researchers are making strides against the disease. Many cancers over-express a protein receptor known as EGFR, which signals cells to divide and grow. Most non-small cell lung cancer tumors also over-express COX-2, and enzyme associated with inflammatory conditions like arthritis. An EGFR-targeted drug is often effective against most cancers, but shows a decreased efficacy against lung cancer. City of Hope is testing the combination therapy of an EFGR-targeted cancer drug, along with a COX-2 inhibitor. Initial results show that the combination may be helping to boost the efficacy of the EFGR-targeted drug against lung cancer. In the process, researchers also identified some biomarkers that may provide a way to help identify which patients may benefit from this combination therapy.
Screening more young breast cancer patients for cancer genes
Genetic testing may be a valuable tool for women with early onset breast cancer to determine if a BRCA mutation contributed to their cancer, according to researchers at City of Hope. They found that women who had early breast cancer and no first-degree or second-degree female relative who lived past 45 on either their mother or father's side were more likely to be BRCA carriers. BRCA mutations are linked to an increase in breast, ovarian and fallopian tube cancer in women. Women with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes who do not take preventative measures have up to a 40 percent risk of having breast cancer develop in the opposite breast within 10 years of the first cancer.
New tools for diagnosing prostate cancer
City of Hope clinicians and scientists are working together to determine whether expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) can be used to rule out cancer in patients being evaluated for prostate cancer. These studies use the methods of molecular biology to identify whether or not cancer cells are present in EFS. The goal of this research is to develop a new non-invasive tool for determining whether or not patients should proceed with further invasive testing like a prostate biopsy. Tests show significant promise in a recently completed patient study.
Using the immune system to fight brain cancer
Researchers at City of Hope are genetically reprogramming disease-fighting T-cells to treat malignant glioma – and aggressive and lethal form of brain cancer. Life expectancy following the diagnosis of glioma is typically less than one year. Genetic reprogramming is a novel approach to treating cancers, in which a piece of recombinant DNA is inserted into the T-cells. This DNA acts like a new operating system and instructs the T-cells to produce a molecule that enables them to sense the brain tumor cells. These new sensors trigger the T-cell to arm itself and destroy tumor cells, leaving the normal brain cells in the vicinity unharmed. City of Hope is one of the first institutions in the U.S. to use engineered T-cells to fight brain tumors.