On February 11th, the KWRISF Board approved over $150,000 in new research and educational grants. This was the largest grant round on the Foundation's History. Read more...
The Board of Directors of the KWRISF reviewed the recommendations of its Medical review Committee at its Board meeting on February 18, 2010. All together eight proposals were reviewed by the medical committee and three were recommended to the Board. All three were approved plus a fourth educational bill to produce two videos for youth and their loved ones considering amputation as a part of their treatment for a sarcoma diagnosis. Total Grant Awards in 2010 to date total $147,8000. This is the largest RIS Grant Award in The Foundation's History.
In addition the Board has approved an addition $25,000 grant to the 2010 All University Sarcoma Brainstorm Award, a $50,000 joint award to cooperation with the Children's Cancer Fund and the Roby Thompson Endowment. Final approval will be subject to an approved award.
KWRISF 2010 Research Grants
1. Characterization of sarcoma stem cells and their role in chemoresistance and relapse: Biologic correlate of “Study of FDG-PET/CT Imaging in Predicting Disease-Free Survival of Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma”
KWRISF Grant: $45,000
Soft tissue sarcomas encompass a large, diverse group of malignant tumors that can spread to other sites of the body and can reappear at the site of the original tumor following surgery. Several types of chemotherapy can be useful in treating patients with soft tissue sarcomas. While chemotherapy is often beneficial, it is not possible to predict which tumor will respond to a particular treatment. In addition, the correlation between tumor shrinkage and cure is not exact. It has been suggested that the most lethal cells in a tumor are those that are capable of cell division and self-renewal, termed cancer stem cells (CSC), and that these cells are the source of tumor recurrence. The goal of Aim #1 is to determine whether the number of CSC in patients’ tumors correlates with recurrence. We will count the number of CSC that are present within small tumor biopsies that were removed from 40 sarcoma patients before chemotherapy, and then determine whether the number of CSC present in the tumors is altered after chemotherapy treatment. We will also analyze the patients’ tumors by looking for specific CSC markers that may serve as targets for new therapies. In Aim #2, we will isolate CSC from four human sarcoma cell lines and test several chemotherapies for their ability to kill the tumor cells. These studies will lay the groundwork for our pursuit of novel treatments for sarcoma patients to prevent recurrence of their disease.
2. Establishment of a miRNA Serum Biomakers in Well- and De-differenciated liposarcomas
KWRISF Grant: $ 36,900
MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate the gene expression. Generation of miRNA expression profiles for a variety of medical conditions has shown that distinct miRNA expression patterns exist and these unique patterns have diagnostic potential. Recent studies have shown that miRNA can be stably detected in serum despite freezing and up to 24 hours at room temperature. In a prostate cancer study, a single miRNA whose levels were elevated in prostate cancer tissue was found in the serum of only patients with prostate cancer (100% specific). 60% of prostate cancer patients had elevated levels of this miRNA in their blood (60% sensitive). We plan to develop a panel of serum-based microRNA markers in dedifferentiated liposarcomas and evaluate their sensitivity and specificity for this tumor. Soft tissue sarcomas, liposarcomas in particular, are often heterogeneous, containing various levels of cell viability and even different grades of tumor including benign portions. Tumor recurrence can be difficult to see on imaging and difficult to accurately biopsy in radiated, scarred tumor beds. Given the disease specificity of miRNA expression and minimally invasive nature of blood tests, a miRNA profile may make an ideal biomarker to help confirm diagnosis, metastases, or recurrence. Such a biomarker may even have more promise as a disease specific measure for response to treatment. If this proof-of-concept project is successful, this model would also be applied to other sarcomas.
3. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors as Targets for Rhabdomyosarcoma Therapy
KWRISF Grant: $ 43,900
The primary goals of this project are to ascertain the importance of fibroblast growth factor receptors in rhabdomyosarcoma and other soft tissue sarcoma progression and metastasis. This could have important implications in future rhabdomyosarcoma therapies, particularly with clinical trials on drugs targeting tyrosine kinase receptors currently in place for other cancers. Though there has been recent increased interest in the role of FGFR expression in cancer risk, progression and survival, there are still questions left to answer.
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KWRISF 2010 Educational Grants
Patient education video series: Amputation in pediatric sarcoma patients
PI: Edward Cheng, MD, Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
KWRISF Grant: $18,000
Children undergoing treatment for a sarcoma are faced with numerous challenges from both the disease and treatment itself. The complete surgical removal of a tumor unfortunately still requires an amputation in some patients. During the preparation for surgical excision of a sarcoma and potential limb reconstruction, fears of the unknown and unfounded perceptions contribute greatly to the anxiety of both the child and their family. The emotional toll is magnified when undergoing an amputation as opposed to limb salvage. Providing education and support through learning about the experience of similar patients, through the eyes of a peer, can not only be an effective means of coping but a source of inspiration as well. Using a video is particularly effective in providing patients and their families with a visual picture of all that is still possible after surgery. A national survey of major rehabilitation centers, cancer and pediatric, reveals that existing video resources to provide this support are virtually non-existent. The goal of this project is to fulfill this need.
2nd Annual Wyckoff Sarcoma Scholarship
KWRISF 2010 Grant Award: $4,000
This is the 2nd Wyckoff Sarcoma Scholarship Grant Award for a third year University of Minnesota Medical Student who is committed to sarcoma research or clinical work. The purpose of the Scholarship is to encourage top notch medical students explore careers in sarcoma clinical or research work. Last year's award went to third year Medical student,
Brad Stish. To read about his award,
click here.
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