Genomic Strategies to Identify Patients at Risk for Early Recurrence after Resection of Colorectal Liver Metastases and the Development of Targeted Therapeutics for these Patients -- David Hsu, M.D., Ph.D
This study is designed to retrospectively validate the colorectal liver metastasis recurrence predictor in an ongoing Phase II trial involving active immunotherapy of patients after complete resection of colorectal liver metastases. The use of gene expression analysis provides an opportunity to individualize therapy and identify those patients who will derive the most benefit from immunotherapy. $20,000
Targeting CD15-Expressing Cancer Stem Cells in Medulloblastoma -- Robert Wechsler-Reya, Ph.D
Determine whether CD-15+ cells function as cancer stem cells in a subset of human medulloblastomas; and, target CD15+ cells in vivo, and determine if eliminating them is an effective approach to tumor therapy. $55,000
This study's objective is to develop a novel strategy to reactivate tumor suppressor genes that are found epigenetically silenced in metastatic lung cancer cells. $54,000
Isolation and Enrichment of Tumor Stem Cells Using Insulator-based Dielectrophoresis -- Scott D. Cramer, Ph.D
Since all cells have unique electrokinetic and dielectrophoretic properties, we hypothesize that insulator-based dielectrophoresis is also capable of isolation and enrichment of tumor stem cells from tissue types. Results from this study would provide the preliminary data we need for follow-on funding to assess phenotypic characteristics and functional defects and to develop targeted therapeutics for prostate tumor initiating cells. $35,000
Prognostic and Therapeutic Target Potential of YY1 in Breast Cancer -- Guangchao Sui, Ph. D
We will study whether YY1 differentially correlates with the grades andraces of breast cancer and evaluate YY1’s potential as a prognostic marker of breast cancer. We will use different approaches to test whether YY1 reduction can inhibit breast cancer growth and/or reverse them to their normal cell status. $35,000
East Carolina University Research Projects
A Novel Biomarker of Effective Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer -- David Terriann, Ph.D
By using a wide variety of molecular and biochemical techniques 1) determine the clinical relationship between irradiation-induced DNA damage and induction of tumor cell senescence as indirectly measured by changes in exosomes circulating in blood, and 2) identify the molecular mechanisms that target cellular proteins to sites of exosome secretion before and after establishment of replictive versus premature cellular senescence. $34,000
