Cancer Awareness Month | |
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July is…
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We Asked a Caregiver: Kerrie Harmon | |
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CC:Report is proud to present the next installment of our regular feature highlighting a caregiver working at the GRU Cancer Center. Read more… |
New Faculty | |
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Dr. Waleed Mourad, MBBCH, PhD, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology; Co-leader, Head & Neck Multidisiplinary Team |
Marketing Services Request | |
If your office or department requires marketing materials such as brochures, videos, pamphlets, website, etc, please submit the required Marketing Request form. The request form includes vital information regarding content, purpose, audience and budget essential for prioritization, development and production. Read more… |
Archives |
We Are the World “I want to go to the World Cup. I want to go to the Masters. I want to go…anywhere.”— Michael Phelps
The world moves fast. We are all, seemingly, in constant motion – dashing from here to there and from one task to another. It can, at times, become difficult to focus. And while we may not always welcome distraction, sometimes that’s exactly what is needed to remind us of what is important. Recently, that welcome distraction was the World Cup. For the past few weeks, the world has slowed some of its scurry and focused with interest and pride on game results being beamed from Brazil. And while the level of interest and intensity in the United States might not equal that in countries with more established football – or soccer as the case may be – cultures, its affect has still been felt here at the GRU Cancer Center. This is, of course, due in part to the international nature of our faculty and staff. But it’s also because that sense of connection, of being part of some larger than ourselves, is what has attracted many of us to this field of work and study. Earlier this week, we streamed both the Brazil-Germany and Argentina-Netherlands games and it was interesting to see how effectively this did bring people together. It wasn’t about rowdy rooting for one side or another or the loud cheers and boos that often accompany these games. It was about coming together and enjoying the shared moment. And that, in many ways, is what is wonderful about the Cancer Center. While we all work with our individual projects and patients, we can always come together and, taking pride in our collective accomplishments, pause and share that moment. |
Have you Heard…?
- Free Lung Screenings for GRU Employees, Students and Friends
Georgia Regents University is offering FREE Lung Cancer Screenings to employees and all friends and family members of employees who qualify. >> Continue reading
- GRU, a Georgia Leader in 3D Mammograms
On June 25, 2014, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study showing that digital mammography in combination with tomosynthesis (3D mammography) decreases the need for for additional testing, which often confirms false positive results, and increases the rate of detecting cancer. >> Continue reading
- Happy Birthday, from Dr. Khleif
As a way to honor Cancer Center faculty and staff, all are invited to a special break during their birthday month. Launched in June, “Coffee with Khleif” is an opportunity to join with others in the Cancer Center who share the same birthday month … >> Continue reading
- American Cancer Society’s 2015 Lane Adams Quality of Life Award
If you know of a caregiver who has gone beyond the call of duty in providing care to people facing cancer, it is now time to nominate this person for American Cancer Society’s 2015 Lane Adams Quality of Life Award. >> Continue reading
- Light it Up! Supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Each year the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) organizes the Light The Night Walk, a fundraising campaign which brings together families and communities to honor blood cancer survivors, as well as those lost to the diseases. >> Continue reading
Featured Research
- Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A recent investigation led by Feng-Ming (Spring) Kong, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and Co-Leader of the GRU Cancer Center Lung Cancer Disease-Site Working Group, studied the effect of high-dose radiation to the pulmonary artery on overall and median survival in 100 patients with inoperable/unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with or without concurrent chemotherapy. >> Continue reading
Grant News
- Ali Syed Arbab, MBBS, PhD, brings to the GRU Cancer Center the remaining 3 years, $1.06M of his 5-year NCI/NIH R01 grant, “Understanding mechanisms of resistance to anti-angiogenic treatments” that was awarded during his time at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. Project Description: The results of this research are expected to lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance to anti-angiogenic treatments for glioblastoma (GBM, a type of glioma brain tumor) and other solid tumors. Using an experimental model of human glioma, investigators will test a new agent that targets multiple sites of angiogenesis. Effects of this new compound, alone and in combination with an existing angiogenesis inhibitor, will be measured using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), an accurate and sensitive non-invasive technique that detects tumor volume, tumor blood volume, and tumor vascular parameters such as perfusion, permeability, and extravascular-extracellular space volume. The research will also examine whether blocking SDF-1 (a pro-angiogenic factor) or decreasing bone marrow-derived precursor cells helps overcome resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. At present, survival from malignant GBM is typically less than a year, making even a partial response a potentially relevant lead for therapeutic improvement.
- Yan Cui, PhD, brings to the GRU Cancer Center the remaining 4 years, $1.25M, of her 5-year NCI/NIH R01 grant, “P53 inactivation on MDSC development and tumor progression” that was awarded during her time at Louisiana State University. Trp53 inactivation is one of the leading causes of cancer. Interestingly p53 inactivation is also induced in various physiological and pathological conditions by viral infection, oncogene activation, and aging process, some of which have been linked to tumorigenesis. The novel concepts on the immunological mechanism of p53 dysfunction/inactivation in tumorigenesis developed in this project will not only broaden our understanding of the largely unappreciated immunomodulatory function of p53 in tumor suppression, but also provide valuable insights into new strategies targeting the p53 pathway in the tumor microenvironment that can be implemented to new tumor immunotherapies.
- Daqing Wu, PhD, brings to the GRU Cancer Center the remaining year, $104K, of his 3-year NCI/NIH R21 grant, “EPLIN as a molecular target of genistein in preventing prostate cancer metastasis” that was awarded during his time at Emory University in Atlanta. Consumption of genistein, a major dietary isoflavone, has been associated with decreased rate of metastasis and reduced risk of mortality in prostate cancer patients. However, the mechanism of action of genistein in blocking the metastatic cascade in cancer cells remains largely unknown. This research will perform in vitro and in vivo studies to elucidate a novel mechanism of action of genistein in inhibiting the acquisition of invasiveness in human prostate cancer cells. The proposed studies will provide mechanistic basis and rationale for clinical investigation of genistein in preventing metastasis at early stages of tumor progression, therefore significantly contributing to our efforts of diverting lethal cancer into a chronic disease.
New Clinical Trial
- Shou-Ching Tang, MD, PhD, received $115K from Janssen Research & Development, L.L.C., for “A Phase 1 Study to Evaluate the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of JNJ-42756493, a Pan-Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, in Subjects with Advanced or Refractory Solid Tumors or Lymphomas.
Recent Publications
- Tsai YY, Rainey W, Pan ZQ, Frohman MA, Choudhary V, Bollag WB. Phospholipase D Activity Underlies Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL)-induced Aldosterone Production in Adrenal Glomerulosa Cells. Endocrinology. 2014 Jun 23:en20141159. [Epub ahead of print]
- Schaeffer DJ, Krafft CE, Schwarz NF, Chi L, Rodrigue AL, Pierce JE, Allison JD, Yanasak NE, Liu T, Davis CL, McDowell JE. The relationship between uncinate fasciculus white matter integrity and verbal memory proficiency in children. Neuroreport. 2014 Jun 19. [Epub ahead of print]
- Barman SA, Chen F, Su Y, Dimitropoulou C, Wang Y, Catravas JD, Han W, Orfi L, Szantai-Kis C, Keri G, Szabadkai I, Barabutis N, Rafikova O, Rafikov R, Black SM, Jonigk D, Giannis A, Asmis R, Stepp DW, Ramesh G, Fulton DJ. NADPH Oxidase 4 Is Expressed in Pulmonary Artery Adventitia and Contributes to Hypertensive Vascular Remodeling. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2014 Jun 19. pii: ATVBAHA.114.303848. [Epub ahead of print]
- Ziauddin MF, Hua D, Tang SC. Emerging strategies to overcome resistance to endocrine therapy for breast cancer. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2014 Jun 19. [Epub ahead of print]
- Thakur P, Lamoke F, Chaffin JM, Bartoli M, Lee JR, Duncan MB. Dysplastic hepatocytes develop nuclear inclusions in a mouse model of viral hepatitis. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 16;9(6):e99872. eCollection 2014.
- Lang L, Liu X, Li Y, Zhou Q, Xie P, Yan C, Chen X. A synthetic manassantin a derivative inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor 1 and tumor growth. PLoS One. 2014 Jun 12;9(6):e99584. eCollection 2014.
- Thornton B, Cohen B, Copeland W, Maria BL. Mitochondrial Disease: Clinical Aspects, Molecular Mechanisms, Translational Science, and Clinical Frontiers. J Child Neurol. 2014 Jun 9. pii: 0883073814537379. [Epub ahead of print]
- Prosser JD, Bush CM, Postma GN, Weinberger PM. Thyroid ala perichondrial flaps for subglottic reconstruction. Laryngoscope. 2014 Jun 10. doi: 10.1002/lary.24757. [Epub ahead of print]
- Zhi W, Ferris D, Sharma A, Purohit S, Santos C, He M, Ghamande S, She JX. Twelve Serum Proteins Progressively Increase With Disease Stage in Squamous Cell Cervical Cancer Patients. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2014 Jun 5. [Epub ahead of print]
- Eroglu B, Kimbler DE, Pang J, Choi J, Moskophidis D, Yanasak N, Dhandapani KM, Mivechi NF. Therapeutic Inducers of the HSP70/HSP110 Protect Mice Against Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurochem. 2014 Jun 5. doi: 10.1111/jnc.12781. [Epub ahead of print]
- Geem D, Medina-Contreras O, McBride M, Newberry RD, Koni PA, Denning TL. Specific Microbiota-Induced Intestinal Th17 Differentiation Requires MHC Class II but Not GALT and Mesenteric Lymph Nodes. J Immunol. 2014 Jul 1;193(1):431-8.
- Duke WS, Terris DJ. Alternative Approaches to the Thyroid Gland. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2014 Jun;43(2):459-474. Review.
- Jaja C, Patel N, Scott SA, Gibson R, Kutlar A. CYP2C9 Allelic Variants and Frequencies in a Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease Cohort: Implications for NSAIDs Pharmacotherapy. Clin Transl Sci. 2014 May 29. doi: 10.1111/cts.12172. [Epub ahead of print]
- Singer MC, Terris DJ. Robotic Facelift Thyroidectomy. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2014 Jun;47(3):425-431. Review.
- Viers A, Smith J, Alleyne CH Jr, Allen MB Jr. Neurosurgery at Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University in Augusta (1956-2013). Neurosurgery. 2014 May 29. [Epub ahead of print]
- Janes K, Little JW, Li C, Bryant L, Chen C, Chen Z, Kamocki K, Doyle T, Snider A, Esposito E, Cuzzocrea S, Bieberich E, Obeid L, Petrache I, Nicol G, Neumann WL, Salvemini D. The Development and Maintenance of Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathic Pain Requires Activation of the Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Subtype 1. J Biol Chem. 2014 May 29. pii: jbc.M114.569574. [Epub ahead of print]
- Chen Z, Ozbun L, Chong N, Wallecha A, Berzofsky JA, Khleif SN. Episomal expression of a truncated listeriolysin O in LmddA-LLO-E7 vaccine enhances anti-tumor efficacy by preferentially inducing CD4+FoxP3- T cell and CD8+ T cell expansion. Cancer Immunol Res. 2014 May 28. pii: canimm.0197.2013. [Epub ahead of print]
- Usuki S, O’Brien D, Rivner MH, Yu RK. A new approach to ELISA-based anti-glycolipid antibody evaluation of highly adhesive serum samples. J Immunol Methods. 2014 May 23. pii: S0022-1759(14)00150-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.05.005. [Epub ahead of print]
- Pan G, Cao J, Yang N, Ding K, Fan C, Xiong WC, Hamrick M, Isales CM, Shi XM. Role of Glucocorticoid-Induced Leucine Zipper (GILZ) in Bone Acquisition. J Biol Chem. 2014 May 23. pii: jbc.M113.535237. [Epub ahead of print]
- Olala LO, Shapiro BA, Merchen TC, Wynn JJ, Bollag WB. Protein kinase C and Src family kinases mediate angiotensin II-induced protein kinase D activation and acute aldosterone production. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2014 May 22;392(1-2):173-181. doi: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.05.015. [Epub ahead of print]
- Flynn R, Du J, Veenstra RG, Reichenbach DK, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Taylor PA, Freeman GJ, Serody JS, Murphy WJ, Munn DH, Sarantopoulos S, Luznik L, Maillard I, Koreth J, Cutler C, Soiffer RJ, Antin JH, Ritz J, Dubovsky JA, Byrd JC, MacDonald KP, Hill GR, Blazar BR. Increased T follicular helper cells and germinal center B cells are required for cGVHD and bronchiolitis obliterans. Blood. 2014 Jun 19;123(25):3988-98.
- Lemos H, Huang L, Chandler PR, Mohamed E, Souza GR, Li L, Pacholczyk G, Barber GN, Hayakawa Y, Munn DH, Mellor AL. Activation of the STING Adaptor Attenuates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis. J Immunol. 2014 Jun 15;192(12):5571-8.
- Condamine T, Kumar V, Ramachandran IR, Youn JI, Celis E, Finnberg N, El-Deiry WS, Winograd R, Vonderheide RH, English NR, Knight SC, Yagita H, McCaffrey JC, Antonia S, Hockstein N, Witt R, Masters G, Bauer T, Gabrilovich DI. ER stress regulates myeloid-derived suppressor cell fate through TRAIL-R-mediated apoptosis. J Clin Invest. 2014 Jun 2;124(6):2626-39.
- Pimentel M, Chang C, Chua KS, Mirocha J, DiBaise J, Rao S, Amichai M. Antibiotic treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. Dig Dis Sci. 2014 Jun;59(6):1278-85.
- Paul A, Garcia YA, Zierer B, Patwardhan C, Gutierrez O, Hildenbrand Z, Harris DC, Balsiger HA, Sivils JC, Johnson JL, Buchner J, Chadli A, Cox MB. The Cochaperone SGTA (Small Glutamine-rich Tetratricopeptide Repeat-containing Protein Alpha) Demonstrates Regulatory Specificity for the Androgen, Glucocorticoid, and Progesterone Receptors. J Biol Chem. 2014 May 30;289(22):15297-15308.
- Einstein MH, Smith KM, Davis TE, Schmeler KM, Ferris DG, Savage AH, Gray JE, Stoler MH, Wright TC Jr, Ferenczy A, Castle PE. Clinical Evaluation of the Cartridge-Based GeneXpert Human Papillomavirus Assay in Women Referred for Colposcopy. J Clin Microbiol. 2014 Jun;52(6):2089-95.
- Xu Y, An X, Guo X, Habtetsion TG, Wang Y, Xu X, Kandala S, Li Q, Li H, Zhang C, Caldwell RB, Fulton DJ, Su Y, Hoda MN, Zhou G, Wu C, Huo Y. Endothelial PFKFB3 plays a critical role in angiogenesis. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2014 Jun;34(6):1231-9.
- He Q, Wang G, Wakade S, Dasgupta S, Dinkins M, Kong JN, Spassieva SD, Bieberich E. Primary cilia in stem cells and neural progenitors are regulated by neutral sphingomyelinase 2 and ceramide. Mol Biol Cell. 2014 Jun 1;25(11):1715-29.
- Han CB, Wang WL, Quint L, Xue JX, Matuszak M, Ten Haken R, Kong FM. Pulmonary artery invasion, high-dose radiation, and overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2014 Jun 1;89(2):313-21.
- Van Rompaey J, Bowers G, Radhakrishnan J, Panizza B, Solares CA. Endoscopic repair of an injured internal carotid artery utilizing femoral endovascular closure devices. Laryngoscope. 2014 Jun;124(6):1318-24.