BUFFALO, NY - The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation with national headquarters in Dallas, Texas, has awarded four grants totaling $883,986 to researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) studying innovative approaches to treating and preventing breast cancer. Grants awarded and researchers funded included:

Gokul Das, PhD, Assistant Member, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, received $250,000 to study the interaction between estrogen receptor alpha (ERa)—which regulates growth and development of breast tissue and promotes onset and progression of breast cancer — and a tumor suppressor protein known as p53.

Chi-Chen Hong, PhD, Research Affiliate, Department of Epidemiology, was awarded a $250,000 grant to analyze weight gain in women with early-stage breast cancer. This is the first study to comprehensively examine hormonal changes, genetic makeup, diet, physical activity and psychological and social well-being as reasons for weight gain in cancer patients.

Fengzhi Li, PhD, Assistant Member, Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, was awarded a grant of $250,000 to investigate a new concept for an anti-breast cancer drug combination, which takes into account the modulation of “survivin” expression in a tumor. Survivin is a protein that is highly expressed in cancer, but undetectable in most normal adult tissues.

Nicoletta Sacchi, PhD, Distinguished Member, Department of Cancer Genetics, was awarded a grant of $133,986 to support the research of her postdoctoral fellowship Stefano Rossetti, PhD. Dr. Rossetti will identify mechanisms associated with the loss of the tumor suppressor gene, MTG16, located in the nucleolus in human mammary epithelial cells. By finding these markers, it is hoped that a new tool will be available to detect nucleolar dysfunction in women with early breast cancer, so that the disease can be beaten.

"Investing in the top-tier research done at Roswell Park Cancer Institute is one of the ways we make good on our promise to do everything possible to end breast cancer [as a life-threatening disease],” said Rebecca Garcia, PhD, Vice President Health Sciences, for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. “We will continue to cultivate the best and brightest researchers, both at Roswell Park and around the globe, in our efforts to seek new ways to attack this disease."

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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