The Keller Laboratory at cc-TDI: 01/01/2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Koichi's Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Accepted for Publication

Congratulations to Koichi, whose manuscript characterizing our alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma mouse model was accepted to Cancer Research today! This manuscript credentials our genetically-engineered mouse model for preclinical studies (drug target identification & therapeutic testing). Co-authors include lab member Mandy McCleish, Suresh Prajapati and lab alumni Andrea Rodriguez & Min Jung Cho. Collaborators included members of the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics (UTHSCSA), the Khan laboratory (NCI), the Wang laboratory (Univ of Illinois, Chicago), the Aronow laboratory (Univ of Cincinnati), the Barr laboratory (U Penn), the Ladadnyi laboratory (MSKCC) and the Qualman laboratory (Columbus Children's Hospital). This study was funded by the Scott Carter Foundation, a Bradley J. Breidinger Memorial Research Award from the Sarcoma Foundation of America, and the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

[ 3/31/09 We've just been informed that Koichi's paper has been selected for the Highlights section of the upcoming issue of Cancer Research. Congratulations, Koichi! ]

[ 4/1/09 Koichi's manuscript is on online. ]

[ on right: pre-gray file photo of Koichi ]

Friday, January 16, 2009

Jinu and Koichi present at AACR Mouse Models of Cancer Meeting

Lab members Jinu Abraham and Koichi Nishijo presented their posters this week in San Fransisco at the AACR Mouse Models of Cancer meeting. This was an exciting conference, and this year many researchers presented results challenging assumptions about cancer progression and therapeutics. We look forward to getting Jinu's and Koichi's stories to scientific journals for consideration very soon.

[ pictured: Jinu (left) and Koichi (right) on the last day of the conference ]

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Eri's Medulloblastoma Study Accepted for Publication

Congratulations to Eri, whose manuscript on medulloblastoma was accepted to Pediatric Blood & Cancer today! This paper describes a potentially new treatment approach to medulloblastoma using proteasome inhibitors. Co-authors include lab member Mandy McCleish and lab alumnist Min Jung Cho. This study was funded by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the US, St. Baldrick's Foundation and the National Brain Tumor Society. [ on right: medulloblastoma arising from the cerebellum in our new mouse model of medulloblastoma ]

UPDATE (11 Feb 2009): Eri's manuscript is now online ahead of print here.
UPDATE (11 Mar 2009): Eri's article will be the cover feature when it goes to print!

UPDATE (24 June 2009): Eri's article in in print as the cover and lead article.

UPDATE (15 Aug 2009): Eri's article is the feature of a Highlight Commentary in PBC by Kevin Cheung and Benjamin Ebert at Harvard. For the commentary, click here.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Welcoming Rachel

UTHSCSA graduate student Rachel Hartley will be rotating in our laboratory beginning January 12. Rachel received her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin in the Spring of 2008. As an undergraduate, Rachel worked with several professors that inspired her to pursue a Ph.D. in the biomedical research field. As a first year graduate student at UTHSCSA, Rachel’s interests include Cancer, Immunology, and Pharmacology.

Friday, January 2, 2009

In Appreciation of Fran

We sincerely thank our administrative partner, Frances "Fran" Melton, for her assistance in our research efforts, particularly the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Initiative. For all those weekends working tirelessly to make it possible to develop novel new drugs for rhabdomyosarcoma & medulloblastoma, we convey to Fran our deepest gratitude. -- The Keller Lab and GCCRI

[upper right: Fran over the holidays in Phoenix. What an interesting sculpture! ]

You Can Participate in our Novel Therapeutics Studies !

One would like to think that tangibly better treatments for rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma and other childhood cancers can be found in a matter of years, instead of tens of years. Finding new treatments starts with research, perhaps even a new research approach to identifying effective new treatments. The Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute focuses on finding molecules in childhood cancers that can be directly turned off or on by drugs so that the tumor stops growing. Behind our novel approach is the use of genetically-engineered mice. Our Pediatric Preclinical Testing Initiative uses mice modified from before birth so that at a certain age, and in a certain tissue, the same mutations found in a child’s cancer are activated in the mouse. These special mouse models of childhood cancer can be used to test a treatment to see whether the tumor growth and spread (metastasis) can be reversed. The specific aspect of these mice having normal immune systems is a real plus, too, because white blood cells play an important role in how tumors evolve and respond to therapy.

Our program is designed around community participation. Through the Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute, you can contribute directly to this grass-roots initiative. Donations through small gifts or grants will assist in studying compounds that may be effective in treating such childhood cancers as alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, or medulloblastoma (the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma model was featured by Dr. Keller's long time collaborator and former mentor, 2007 Nobel laureate Mario Capecchi, in his Nobel Prize lecture {see 16 minutes onward}.)

For additional information regarding supporting this program please contact Charles Keller at charles@cc-tdi.org. Results obtained through these studies will be shared with the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, as well as the Children’s Oncology Group, which designs clinical trials for childhood cancer.