The Keller Laboratory at cc-TDI

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Fish & Rhabdo

Congratulations to our MGH collaborators, Eleanor & Dave, on their embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma gene discovery study just published in PLoS Genetics. A takehome of this study is that genetic models such as zebrafish may have different modes of gene amplification, but cross-species comparisons help filter out the key factors rather readily.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

2013 Rhabdomyosarcoma Pico-Course

We are grateful to the speakers and participants of the 2013 Rhabdomyosarcoma Pico-Course who critically evaluated the 'preclinical gap' in childhood cancer research. This pico-course had a decidedly sea-faring theme (some participants came from Fishermen helping kids with cancer). The conclusion? Acceleration of promising clinical trials is possible.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Congratulations, Imran & Simone!

Imran and Simone's study on the curious, ectopic behavior of surface growth factor receptors has been accepted for publication in Molecular Cancer Research. Co-authors include lab member Jinu, lab alumni Elaine and Anu, Druker lab collaborators Dorian and Jeff, Wager lab members Simone, Shuyu and Amy, and statisticians Martin and Joel.

These studies were funded in part by the Ethan Jostad Foundation for Childhood Cancer and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

To see the Online First publication. click here.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Congratulations, Noah!

Congratulations to Noah, whose 'personalized cancer math' paper is now published in BMC Bioinformatics. Co-authors include Keller lab member Lara, Colorado State University collaborator Bernard Seguin. The study was anchored by senior author Ranadip Pal at Texas Tech University.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

GH's paper accepted to Stem Cells

Congratulations to lab alumnist, Guangheng, whose paper on rhabdomyosarcoma - satellite cell (muscle stem cell) interactions has been accepted for publication in StemCells. Co-authors include lab members Ken and Megan, lab alumnist Ken, and long time collaborator Brian Rubin at the Cleveland Clinic. Our sincere thanks to Matthew for his technical assistance on these studies.

For this project, GH was supported by a fellowship from the Scott Carter Foundation and study reagents were made possible by support of the Patrick M. Callahan Memorial Fund.

[07/30/2013: The manuscript entitled, "IL-4 receptor blockade abrogates satellite cell - rhabdomyosarcoma fusion and prevents tumor establishment", is now available online. ]

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Congratulations, Lara!

We are so proud of her! Lara is a mentored clinician-scientist in our laboratory who recently graduated her adolescent and young adult oncology fellowship and has been offered a coveted faculty position at OHSU in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Lara will continue to devote the majority of her time to her Damon Runyon-Sohn/St. Baldrick’s Foundation sponsored research in osteosarcoma.

[ pictured to right: Lara and progeny at the Northwest Sarcoma Foundation DragonSlayer event.]

Monday, July 15, 2013

lab member spotlight: Megan!

Megan comes to our lab all the way from Providence, Rhode Island, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology and Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology. As an undergraduate and post graduation Megan worked in the Spinette Lab at Rhode Island College, investigating the effects of inactivation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase UFD2a in skeletal muscle growth and differentiation. This work gave her a strong background in muscle biology, making her a great fit for our lab. Megan has fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest, and along with her fiancée Paul and their dog Lucky, is enjoying all the hiking, biking, and great food it has to offer.

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.