For Immediate Release
May 9, 2005

Roswell Park Researchers Awarded American Cancer Society Grant

BUFFALO, NY – Theresa Hahn, PhD, Assistant Member, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has been awarded a $538,000 Mentored Research Scholar Grant by the American Cancer Society (ACS) Research Program for the study of “DNA polymorphisms and toxicity to high dose chemotherapy.” Dr. Hahn’s co-mentors for the award are Christine Ambrosone, PhD, Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Philip McCarthy, Jr., MD, Director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, RPCI.

Dr. Hahn’s research will focus on genetic polymorphisms in enzymes that metabolize chemotherapy drugs. Inherited differences in these genes may explain why some patients experience severe side effects from cancer treatment, while others do not.  The study will help determine if genetic polymorphisms in drug metabolizing enzymes are related to the development of chemotherapy or radiation-related toxicity. The information may then be used to design and test treatment regimens that would be risk-adapted to prevent treatment-related toxicity. 

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute- designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York.  RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers.  For more information, visit the RPCI website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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