Rhabdomyosarcoma Paper accepted to MCT

Congratulations to co-first authors, Bev Schaffer (Keller lab) and Marcia Grayson (Infante lab) whose manuscript, "Immune Competency of a Hairless Strain for Improved Preclinical Studies in Genetically-Engineered Mice" was accepted today to Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, an AACR Journal.  This study describes a way to improve genetically-engineered mouse models of cancer (particularly rhabdomyosarcoma) by making them fur-free.  Other co-authors include Keller lab current and past members, Laura Nelon, Suresh Prajapati, Joy Wortham, Courtney Kubicek, Mandy McCleish, Michelle Brady and Tohru Hosoyama, as well as collaborators Tony Infante (UTHSCSA Pediatrics & Immunology), Inkyung Jung and Joel Michalek (UTHSCSA Biostatistics), Leslea Sarro and Marti Hanes (UTHSCSA Lab Animal Resources), Brian Rubin (Cleveland Clinic) and Charlie Clifford (Charles River Laboratories).  
                                     
    
[ Update! 7/23/10... exciting news, this paper will be featured as the Cover Article  ] 

R01 grant receives great score (now hiring!)

We are excited that our multiple-PI NIH R01 research grant in collaboration with Dr. Denis Guttridge at OSU has received a very favorable priority score, putting it in the top 7% of grants being reviewed this past cycle.  This grant application addresses the role of NFkB in the childhood muscle cancer.  The preliminary data for this application would not have been possible without the hard work and intellectual contributions of Keller lab postdoctoral fellows, Drs. Sachiko Ohshima and Tohru Hosoyama, as well as key experiments designed and implemented by medical student M. Imran Aslam, who was funded by an AMA Medical Student Research Seed Grant.  


  Naturally, of course, we will be looking for an additional postdoctoral fellow for this project.  Please see our ad in Naturejobs, which is also below:


Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for Signaling in Muscle Stem Cells and Rhabdomyosarcoma.    This mentored position in the Keller laboratory will empower the candidate to create and analyze complex conditional genetic mouse models of pediatric cancers for the purpose of developing novel molecular therapies. The primary goal for this position is to investigate the role of growth factor and cytokine signaling in the childhood muscle cancer, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.  
  
Qualifications Required:    MD and/or PhD, preferably with 3-4 years experience in Biochemistry; molecular biology; animal models and animal surgery; small animal imaging; cancer biology.
  
How to Apply:    Please send cover letter and CV with 3 references to Dr. Charles Keller, at keller@ohsu.edu 
       
     

Implications for Wilm's Tumor

An interesting article in Stem Cell Research by Lusis et al this week discusses the embryonic and fetal stem cells that become the kidney, and how to culture and study this type of cell.  This report has some rather important implications for Wilm's Tumor, a embryonic form of kidney tumor in children.  For additional detail, follow the link to the original article or see our Commentary.  
  
We are thankful to the Scott Carter Foundation for their support through a Scott Carter fellowship to Jinu Abraham, lead author of this editorial.  
  

Suresh's Medulloblastoma Study Accepted for Publication

Congratulations to Suresh whose study, "Micro-CT Based Virtual Histology Evaluation of Preclinical Medulloblastoma," has been accepted for publication in the journal, Molecular Imaging and Biology, the official journal of the Society of Molecular Imaging.  Special thanks to co-author, Dr. Aoife Kilcoyne, a lab alumnist and now a Radiology resident in Ireland.

Postdoctoral Positions Available

Our laboratory has 2 openings for postdoctoral fellows beginning July 1, 2010.  These mentored positions will empower the candidates to create and analyze complex conditional genetic mouse models of pediatric cancers for the purpose of developing novel molecular therapies. The primary goals for these projects are to understand the role of proteins in the metastatic progression of the childhood brain tumor, medulloblastoma, or the childhood muscle cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma. Employing molecular biology, biochemistry and small animal imaging, the candidate will have the opportunity to identify critical factors in tumor maintenance and tumor progression from which new therapies can be developed. Rapid translation to the clinic is the underlying goal. 

Interested candidates should email a cv to Charles at keller@ohsu.edu .

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Macy Easom Golf Tournament benefits Childhood Cancer Families

Yesterday, Middle Georgia Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine sponsored the 4th annual Macy Easom Memorial Charity Golf Tournament, benefitting the Joanna McAfee Childhood Cancer Foundation. Macy was a young girl who, like Joanna, lost her battle against childhood cancer. Macy's parents and Joanna's parents (along with help from JMCCF and MGO employees and volunteers) organize this annual benefit to raise awareness and to provide tangible support to families of children currently going through their own treatment. It was a privilege to be a part of this event near Warner Robins, GA (where the JMCCF is headquartered). This fundraiser is a heart-warming way in which the memory of Macy, Joanna and other children from this area can be honored by helping the families of children who are currently facing the same challenges. 
      
[ below:  Charles with golf partners (left to right) Jeff, Aaron and Sam. ]
 

 

Tohru's Paper accepted to Genes & Cancer

Congratulations to Tohru, whose paper on pituitary tumors was just accepted to Genes & Cancer.  Tohru showed that a certain protein (ie, homeobox transcription factor) defines a newly discovered type of progenitor cells after birth that give rise to  pituitary tumors.  (yes, actually, this was a fortuitous discovery... as we were originally trying to investigate childhood muscle and cerebellar tumors).  Tohru's work fits well with the recent important discovery of pituitary stem cells by Gleiberman and colleagues.  The publication of our work in Genes & Cancer is particularly appropriate because of this journal's focus on the interplay of development and cancer biology.  Our thanks to UTHSCSA and extramural collaborators, who include pathologist Brian Rubin at the Cleveland Clinic, Bernd Scheithauer of the Mayo Clinic, and Wilmon Grant and Daniel Marks at OHSU.

[ above right: histology from a new pituitary tumor mouse model; 

  below right: microCT-based Virtual Histology of a pituitary tumor. ]

[ update June 6, 2010:  Tohru's paper is now in print, Genes  Cancer 2010;1 388-402 ]