The Keller Laboratory at cc-TDI

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

The “Creating Hope Act of 2010” S.3697

This important proposed bipartisan legislature by Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Al Franken (D-MN) would encourage pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs for rare childhood diseases, including cancer. Essentially, the pharmaceutical companies would receive a voucher to expedite FDA approval.

For more details, visit Nancy Goodman's website for KIDS V CANCER.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Suresh's Cover!

Congratulations to Suresh whose multi-modal molecular imaging is the cover of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics ! The broader description of this study is that we can now investigate rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cell interactions with the blood vessels and the immune system... using optical imaging, and without the interference of, well, hair!

Many congratulations again to co-first authors Bev and Marcia, as well as Suresh!

[ For the abstract, click here ]

Jackson's Ride the Gorge

This past weekend we had the good fortune to participate in Jackson's Ride the Gorge in Hood River, OR. This fundraiser honors the memory of 12 year-old Jackson Hill who battled osteosarcoma and inspired the beautiful ride through the Columbia Gorge. The money raised is used for increasing awareness and supporting research for sarcoma, a cancer of the connective tissue. We found ourselves humbled by the number of people who rode (300!) or volunteered (over 70!) to make this event happen and were delighted to have the opportunity to provide aide at rest stops and at the finish line alongside them.

It is safe to say that we have been moved by the enthusiasm and dedication of all involved and intend to participate (we hope as riders!) in the years to come.

(photos and text by Elaine, who with Audra volunteered at The Dalles support station)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Hyundai Hope on Wheels Award to Doernbecher & the PCB Program

Our research team in the Pediatric Cancer Biology Program is grateful for this opportunity to further childhood cancer research on behalf of Hope on Wheels, Hyundai and their dedicated employees. The effect of Hope on Wheels can be tangibly seen across the nation, not only through the distinctive handprint cars, but through the innovative research that has been sponsored at so many academic hospitals and centers.

We are honored to have this chance to do our part.

for the KATU TV story, click here .

Monday, August 2, 2010

Congratulations to Sachiko!

We are excited that Sachiko's cell and biochemical studies for IGF receptor inhibition in medulloblastoma have been accepted to Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Co-authors include Tohru and Laura. A key aspect of this study is the use of primary cell cultures maintained under neural stem cell conditions. In general, our lab and others are trending away from the use of traditional cell cultures for medulloblastoma, especially when sonic hedgehog signaling might be important.

Again - many congratulations, Sachiko!

[ Aug 10, 2010: the manuscript is now available online here. ]

Thursday, July 29, 2010

News feature on Jackson's Ride the Gorge

We were honored to participate in a news piece tonight by Deb Knapp at KATU in Portland about a sarcoma fundraiser, Jackson's Ride the Gorge. This event is conducted by the NW Sarcoma Foundation this year and past years in memory of Jackson, a young man who lost his battle with osteosarcoma. For the online video link, see http://www.katu.com/home/video/99592974.html .

To register for the Ride, click here.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Scientific Presentations in Scottsdale and Princeton

It was an exciting week for the Keller laboratory, with three presentation; 1 on rhabdomyosarcoma (Charles) & 1on satellite cells (Tohru) at the FASEB Muscle Satellite and Stem Cell Conference in Carefree (Scottsdale), Arizona, and 1 on rhabdomyosarcoma (Charles) at the Molecular Therapeutics Cancer Research Association Conference at Princeton University. All three presentations were received well, and what we hope is that more muscle stem cell biologists, and more pharmaceutical industry scientists, will become interested in rhabdomyosarcoma biology and therapy. In there, somewhere, was a red-eye flight, but it was certainly worth the extra effort.

[ above right: FASEB meeting with Michael Kyba (Univ of Minnesota), Charles and Andrew Brack (MGH/Harvard) ]
[ below right: CMTRA meeting at Princeton University ]

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.