The Keller Laboratory at cc-TDI: 03/01/2011

Sunday, March 27, 2011

COG Brain Tumor Preclinical Symposium

Our thanks to all the speakers and thought leaders that participated in the COG-CNS Developmental Therapeutics (DVL) Symposium on Friday. This Children's Oncology Group special science symposium on childhood brain tumors was designed to bring together scientists and clinicians to create systematic approaches to integrating recent advances in brain tumor research and newly emerging preclinical resources to create tangible, actionable 6 month milestones. Organizers included Amar Gajjar (St Jude; Chair of COG-CNS cmte), Maryam Fouladi (Cincinnati Children's Hospital; co-chair CNS-DVL) and Charles Keller (OHSU; co-chair of CNS-DVL). Speakers were Jim Olson (Univ of Washington/FHCRC), Anita Hjelmeland (Lerner Institute/Cleveland Clinic), Xiao-Nan Li (Baylor/Texas Children's Cancer Center), Anang Shelt (St Jude), Clinton Stewart (St Jude) and Richard Gilbertson (St Jude). Particularly impressive were the special pharmacokinetic models from Dr. Stewart, the new preclinical models from Dr. Li, and the outstanding eppendymoma science from Dr. Gilbertson. It was an active session with important ideas from many thought leaders across North America, and importantly, an inclusive plan is in place to bring new drug (and new drug combinations) into effect for the most devastating of childhood brain tumors.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Imran selected as a 2011/212 HHMI Fellow

Many congratulations to Imran Alsam who has been selected as a Medical Research Fellows Program of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. This unique and prestigious program permits high-achieving medical students to take a year away from medical school to conduct focused research. For his year, Imran will work on tumor cell evolution in a collaborative project between the Keller and Druker laboratories.

  Congratulations again, Imran, on this great achievement along your path to becoming leading physician-scientist!


[ update 7/17/2011: Imran was highlighted in the AMA Foundation June e-news! ]

Monday, March 7, 2011

Congratulations, Tohru and Imran !

We are excited that Tohru and Imran's study of IL-4 Receptor as a therapeutic target in rhabdomyosarcoma has been accepted for publication in the journal, Clinical Cancer Research. Co-authors include PPTI Scientific Manager Jinu Abraham, as well as lab alumni Suresh, Koichi and Laura. Collaborator co-authors are Lee Ann Zarzabal & Joel Michalek (UTHSCSA), Denis Guttridge (Ohio State) and Brian Rubin (Cleveland Clinic). This work was funded in part by the Scott Carter Foundation, the AMA Foundation, the Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation and the National Cancer Institute.

[ update 5/11/2011: view the article online here. ]

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.