For Immediate Release
October 30, 2007

BUFFALO, NY – Kelvin P. Lee, MD, has been awarded a grant by the National Cancer Institute to characterize the molecular and cellular components of potential therapeutic targets on multiple myeloma (MM) cells. The first year of the grant is funded in the amount of $290,757, and is renewable at the same amount for up to five years for a total of $1,484,653. Dr. Lee is the Jacobs Family Chair in Immunology, Vice Chair of Medicine (Hematologic Malignancies) at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Dr. Lee will build on previous clinical observations that implicate CD28 – a receptor expressed on the surface of normal plasma cells and MM cells – as an important contributor to the survival of myeloma cells and their ability to eventually become resistant to chemotherapy. These studies found a highly significant correlation between the progression of multiple myeloma and CD28 expression and identified CD28 expression as a significant predictor of poor prognosis.

Dr. Lee will focus on defining the components of CD28 activation in myeloma cells; to characterize the cellular responses to CD28 activation; to define the cellular partners that activate myeloma CD28; and to determine if targeting myeloma CD28 cells alone, components of its signaling pathway, or its cellular partners can be exploited therapeutically in a laboratory model.

Multiple myeloma – a cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow – is the second most common hematologic malignancy and remains an incurable disease. Results of this study will hopefully bring researchers one step closer to transforming multiple myeloma from a terminal disease to a chronic condition.

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 prestigiousNational Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China, For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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