The Keller Laboratory at cc-TDI

Friday, February 14, 2014

Childhood cancer foundations partner towards a clinical trial with OHSU-Doernbecher

press release adapted from The Doernbecher Connection (Winter 2014, Issue 3)

Beech Grove, KY; Miami, Florida; Portland, OR

Two children who found worldwide acclaim through their inspirational battles with childhood cancer continue to make an impact. The Thumbs Up for Lane Goodwin Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Live Like Bella™ Foundation for Childhood Cancer have announced the joint funding of the $180,000 “Lane-Bella Project.” The Lane-Bella Project, under the direction of Charles Keller, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at Oregon Health and Science University Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and a member of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, is a new set of studies to prepare for a clinical trial focusing on Rhabdomyosarcoma, the aggressive childhood cancer that took the lives of both Lane Goodwin, age 13, and Bella Rodriguez-‐Torres, age 10. The study will focus on finding an antibody to stop the growth of childhood muscle cancers. Once preclinical studies are complete, children around the world might benefit from these new innovations as early as 2015. The trial is the largest project funded by the two foundations, with each contributing $90,000, and includes the $20,000 donation that the MLB National League Rookie of the Year, Marlins Pitcher Jose Fernandez, directed to the Live Like Bella™ after receiving the honor.

“I want to help children with cancer. I’m proud to support life changing research to help find a cure.” ‐Jose Fernandez

Gifts designated for the Lane-Bella Project will also be applied to the historic Knight Cancer Challenge. Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, will match OHSU’s fundraising efforts if it meets its $500 million fundraising goal by the end of 2015, totaling $1 billion to advance the Knight Cancer Institute’s vision to end cancer as we know it. To learn more, visit ohsu.edu/knightcancerchallenge.

The Thumbs Up for Lane Goodwin Childhood Cancer Foundation works in memory of its founder, Lane Goodwin. It funds cuttng edge research to find a cause and a cure for childhood cancers, empowers families to advocate on behalf of their children, and provides financial assistance to families through the “Changing Lanes” program. For more information, visit www.ThumbsUpForLane.org

The Live Like Bella™ Foundation was founded in memory of Bella Rodriguez-‐Torres. It funds innovatve pediatric cancer research, provides recreatonal support for families with children in treatment and assists families who have lost a child to cancer.
For more informaton, visit
www.LiveLikeBella.org.
#ThumbsUpForLane
#LiveLikeBella
#LaneBellaProject
#NoChildFightsAlone

Friday, February 7, 2014

ALSF REACH grant highlighted in Portland Business Journal

Megan's project, sponsored by the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, was highlighted today by Elizabeth Hayes in the Portland Business Journal. For project updates, click here.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Nanocourse publication

Congratulations to the 2012 Participants of the OHSU Pediatric Cancer Nanocourse whose peer-reviewed commentary, "A Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Roadmap: Guiding Research Toward a Cure" is published in the journal, Pediatric Blood & Cancer.

It should be emphasized that this scholarly work is that of members of the community: parents, survivors and students. We are grateful to have been able to work with this talented and insightful group of individuals.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Banbury Conference on Rhabdomyosarcoma

stay tuned for additional information on an upcoming Banbury Meeting on Rhabdomyosarcoma, hosted by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, May 13-16.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Tumor Cells in a Hurry: Duct Tape will do!

In alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, 70-75% of tumors carry the Pax3:Foxo1a oncogene. This oncogene seems to account for a large difference in the response to chemotherapy and radiation relative to rhabdomyosarcomas that do not carry this fusion gene.

In a report just released in PLoS Genetics, Ken from our lab reports that Pax3:Foxo1a levels fluctuate during tumor cell replication, and that a primary function of Pax3:Foxo1a seems to be “checkpoint adaptation” – the process of giving the cell permission to continue cell division despite damage from therapy… with the hopes that this damage can be later repaired, simply tolerated – or may offer an advantage to the tumor cell as a result of newly gained mutations/properties. The paper is freely available online at: http://www.plosgenetics.org/doi/pgen.1004107.

Fishermen helping kids with cancer

This incredible group of commercial fishermen in British Columbia support children with cancer and childhood cancer research while having a fun time. Their website and 2013 herring sale video can be seen at www.fishermenhelpingkidswithcancer.com.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Lemon Ball!

On Saturday Jan 10th was the Alex's Lemonade Stand "Lemon Ball". What a fabulous event, and a terrific community of supporters. In attendance was not only Charles, but also our collaborator DR. David Langenau from MGH (fish rhabdomyosarcoma expert) and his wife, Brenna. Dave and Brenna are pictured 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.