| Yale Researchers Discover Method to Manipulate Cellular Behavior
Researchers from Yale Cancer Center have successfully isolated viral oncogenes and subsequently altered their protein targets. This approach could provide new tools to manipulate cell behavior and may ultimately lead to the development of novel biologicals for the prevention and treatment of disease.
Their findings, which appeared in the February 23 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show the potential for regulation of a wide variety of membrane proteins, and may effectively provide new methods to manipulate cell behavior. Yale Cancer Center Researchers Confirm Role of Helicobacter pylori in Pancreatic Cancer Yale researchers have discovered that stomach colonization by Helicobacter pylori in people with non-O blood types is associated with a nearly three-fold increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The research, published online February 24 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, confirms the role of Helicobacter pylori, bacteria frequently found in the stomach, in the onset of pancreatic cancer.
Dr. Wm. Kevin Kelly to Leave Yale
It is with a great feeling of pride and a clear sense of our personal loss that I share with you the news that Dr. Kevin Kelly will be leaving Yale Cancer Center this spring to become the Director of the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology in the Department of Medical Oncology and Associate Director of Translational Research at The Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson Medical School. As you all know, Kevin is a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of GU cancers and in the development of novel clinical trials for prostate and testicular cancers. This new position will provide him with a significant leadership opportunity at Kimmel.
Kevin joined Yale Cancer Center in 2005 from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to be the Director of the GU Medical Oncology Program, Co-Director of the Yale Cancer Center Prostate and Urologic Cancers Program, and Director of the Yale Cancer Center Clinical Trials Office. Over the past 5 years, he worked closely with the Senior Leadership of Yale Cancer Center to enhance the clinical translational research programs. With respect to the GU Program, Kevin was remarkably successful in enhancing the range of patient services and treatment options available for men with prostate cancer in the State of Connecticut and the New England region. His patients have benefited tremendously from his expertise and dedication. This past year, in recognition of his accomplishments, Kevin was appointed to the Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA.
Please join me in congratulating Kevin as he moves on to a new challenge at the Kimmel Cancer Center. He has been a truly wonderful asset to Yale Cancer Center over the last five years and his expertise, knowledge, and commitment will be greatly missed.
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Smilow Update
The Hematology Program has successfully completed their first two weeks of operations in Smilow Cancer Hospital. Patient feedback has been very positive regarding everything from the physical plant to the staffing of the reception desk and check-out process.
On Monday, March 22, the remainder of the medical oncology and infusion services will move to Smilow Cancer Hospital and begin seeing their patients on the 4th, 7th, and 8th floors. This includes patients seen through the Brain Tumor Program and Thoracic Oncology Program, as well as all medical oncology services for the Head and Neck Cancers Program, Gastrointestinal Cancer Program, Melanoma Program, and Prostate and Urologic Cancers Program. The Palliative Care Service will also transition to the 8th floor of the building.
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Notables
Dr. Sheida Mani Appointed Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Bridgeport Hospital
Dr. Sheida Mani, Assistant Professor of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale, has assumed the role of Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Bridgeport Hospital and Trumbull Radiation Oncology Center as of this January. These facilities are operated in partnership between Bridgeport Hospital, YNHH, and the Yale Department of Therapeutic Radiology.
Dr. Mani joined the Yale Department of Therapeutic Radiology in 2003 after completing residency training in radiation oncology at NYU. She has practiced at both Yale-New Haven Hospital and Backus Hospital in Norwich. She brings extensive experience and expertise in gynecologic, breast, head and neck, and CNS malignancies to her new position. Dr. Mani will also maintain a specialty practice in gynecologic malignancies at YNHH.
Recent Grant Awards
Dr. Joseph Piepmeier received a grant from
Voices Against Brain Cancer for the study of Targeted Delivery of Nanoparticle-Based Combination Therapy for Glioblastoma.
Dr. Mark Shlomchik has been awarded a grant to study Mechanisms of Autoimmune Activation and Regulation by Innate Immune Receptors from the
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) .
St. Baldrick's Foundation provided funding to
Dr. Gary Kupfer to support psychosocial services in pediatric oncology.
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Judith Winslow, Director of Development and Community Affairs at Yale Cancer Center from 1996-2006, passed away on Saturday, February 20 at the age of 63. A lifelong cancer advocate, Judy launched many successful fundraising efforts and community outreach programs during her tenure at YCC. She founded the Yale Cancer Center Director's Advisory Board, along with Dr. Vincent DeVita, Jr., and launched
La Cassa Magica , the annual gala for the Center. Judy left Yale Cancer Center in 2006 to pursue another one of her passions in a new position at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She will be greatly missed by all of those that she touched at Yale Cancer Center and throughout the cancer community.
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Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Research Program
The Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Research Program includes 30 members from 5 departments at Yale University and has a broad based research effort in radiation therapy, radiation biology, and radiological physics and related fields of tumor biology, with the long-term goal of improving the results of cancer treatment using radiation therapy.
The key goals of the program include:
- To investigate carcinogenesis and cell growth regulation at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels
- To elucidate DNA repair and DNA damage response pathways.
- To investigate tumor hypoxia and to develop hypoxia-targeted therapies.
- To develop improvements in imaging, dosimetry, and treatment planning for radiation therapy.
- To conduct a clinical and translational research program to guide treatment decisions, reduce morbidity, and improve outcomes in radiation therapy.
- To develop and investigate novel therapies and alternative medicines for cancer.
The recently awarded Program Project grant, DNARepair in Cancer Biology and Therapy, is one of the primary mechanisms of the program's research efforts.
The program features four interrelated projects that stress fundamental aspects of DNA repair and tumor biology, with a key long-term goal of developing novel anti-cancer therapies that target interconnected DNA repair pathways and/or exploit tumor hypoxia.
Peter Glazer, MD, PhD is the principal investigator on the grant,
and project and core leaders include Sara R ockwell, PhD, Alan Sartorelli, PhD,
Joann Sweasy, PhD,
and Patrick Sung , DPhil
. In addition, pilot funding from Yale Cancer Center has been instrumental in securing preliminary research to submit new grants to support translational research studies, an R01 submission, and another inter-programmatic P01 grant for review from the Radiobiology and Radiotherapy Research Program. Program Director:Peter Glazer, MD, PhD
(203) 737-2788 |
The Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer is pleased to announce the availability of Developmental Research Awards to fund projects in amounts up to $65,000 for one year. Developmental Research Program Awards are intended to support a broad spectrum of innovative pilot projects applicable to human skin cancer risk, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment.
Learn More > >
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Newly Opened Clinical Trial
HIC 0907005473 Principal Investigator: Scott Gettinger, MDA Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label Study of the Efficacy and Safety of PF-02341066 versus Standard of Care Chemotherapy (Pemetrexed or Docetaxel) in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Harboring a Translocation or Inversion Event Involving the Anaplastic Lymphoma (ALK) Gene Locus
HIC 0907005475 Principal Investigator: Scott Gettinger, MDA Phase II, Open-Label Single Arm Study of Efficacy and Safety of PF-02341066 in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Harboring A Translocation or Inversion Involving the Anaplastic Lyphoma Kinase (ALK) Gene Locus
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Recent Publications
A Systematic Review of Restaging After Induction Therapy for Stage IIIa Lung Cancer: Prediction of Pathologic Stage.
de Cabanyes Candela S, Detterbeck FC.
J Thorac Oncol. 2010 Mar;5(3):389-98.
Read More >>
Management of Carcinoid Tumors.
Detterbeck FC.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Mar;89(3):998-1005.
Read More >>
Construction and genetic selection of small transmembrane proteins that activate the human erythropoietin receptor.
Cammett TJ, Jun SJ, Cohen EB, Barrera FN, Engelman DM, Dimaio D.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Feb 23;107(8):3447-52.
Read More >>
ABO Blood Group, Helicobacter pylori Seropositivity, and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: A Case-Control Study.
Risch HA, Yu H, Lu L, Kidd MS.
J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010 Feb 24.
Read More >>
Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase down-regulates BRCA1 and RAD51 in a pathway mediated by E2F4 and p130.
Hegan DC, Lu Y, Stachelek GC, Crosby ME, Bindra RS, Glazer PM.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Feb 2;107(5):2201-6.
Read More >>
Determinants and Patterns of Survival in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Head and Neck, Including an Analysis of Adjuvant Radiation Therapy.
Lloyd S, Yu JB, Wilson LD, Decker RH.
Am J Clin Oncol. 2010 Feb 19.
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Breast cancer screening and mortality.
Devita VT Jr.
Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2010 Feb;7(2):65.
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Head and neck cancer.
Psyrri A, Burtness B, Harari PM, Vermorken JB, Licitra L, Sasaki CT.
J Oncol. 2009;2009:358098. Epub 2010 Feb 4.
Read More >>
MicroRNAs and cancer: A meeting summary of the eponymous keystone conference.
Godshalk SE, Melnik-Martinez KV, Pasquinelli AE, Slack FJ.
Epigenetics. 2010 Feb 11;5(2).
Read More >>
New platform for controlled and sustained delivery of the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1478 using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres.
Robinson R, Bertram JP, Reiter JL, Lavik EB.
J Microencapsul. 2010 Jan 8.
Read More >>
PLX4032, a Selective BRAF(V600E) Kinase Inhibitor, Activates the ERK Pathway and Enhances Cell Migration and Proliferation of BRAF(WT) Melanoma Cells.
Halaban R, Zhang W, Bacchiocchi A, Cheng E, Parisi F, Ariyan S, Krauthammer M, McCusker JP, Kluger Y, Sznol M.
Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2010 Feb 10.
Read More >>
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| Inside Yale Cancer Center
The HEROS Clinic Helps Guide Pediatric Cancer Survivors
Learn More >>
The Changing Face of Lung Cancer
Yale Cancer Center Grand Rounds
Video presentations from Yale Cancer Center members are now available online.
Learn More >>
DirectConnect Archives
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Events
March 6; 9 AM - 1 PM
Free Colorectal Cancer Screenings
Smilow Cancer Hospital
March 7; 6:00 PM
Yale Cancer Center Answers
WNPR 90.5
Colon Cancer
Edward Chu, MD
Learn More >>
March 9; 12:00 PM
Yale Cancer Center Grand Rounds
Brady Auditorium
Traptamers: Artificial Proteins that Modulate Cell Behavior
Daniel DiMaio, MD, PhD
Understanding Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer: A New Era of Hope
Wm. Kevin Kelly, DO
Learn More >>
March 12; 1:00 PM
Molecular Virology Research Conference
SHM I-116
HBV and Ubiquitin: From Virus-Host Interactions to New Therapeutic Approaches
Michael Robek, PhD
March 14; 6:00 PM
Yale Cancer Center Answers
WNPR 90.5
Surgical Options for Colorectal Cancer
Charles Cha, MD
Learn More >>
March 16; 12:00 PM
Yale Cancer Center Grand Rounds
Brady Auditorium
Non-invasive Assessment of Dermal Carotenoids by Resonance Raman Spectroscopy as a Biomarker of Nutritional Status in Epidemiologic Research
Susan Mayne, PhD
Genetic and Genomic Approach to Deciphering Skin Cancer
Allen Bale, MD
Learn More >>
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Submissions
Please submit your recent publication and grant announcements to:
Renee Gaudette
Director, Public Affairs and Marketing
renee.gaudette@yale.edu
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