Division Notes

Science Article
June 20, 2002

Radio campaign starts today to spotlight prevention research

Fred Hutchinson today introduces a series of radio public-service announcements to raise awareness of cancer-prevention research and how the public can help in the fight against cancer.

The statewide campaign, the first of its kind undertaken by the center revolves around three, 60-second radio spots, all designed to educate the public that one doesn't have to have cancer to participate in a cancer-research study.

Research projects accepting healthy participants range from an exercise study to assess the effect of physical activity on colon-cancer risk to a food study that will help determine how fruits and vegetables may influence the body's cancer-fighting ability.

"For many, Fred Hutchinson is synonymous with advancements in cancer treatment such as the bone-marrow transplant," said Dr. Lee Hartwell, center president and director, who recorded one of the radio spots. "But there is another, very important type of world-class research being conducted at Fred Hutchinson: cancer prevention research. This is one area of the cancer fight in which nearly anyone and everyone can participate."

In addition to raising awareness of the importance of cancer prevention and public-health research, the campaign aims to boost participation in Fred Hutchinson research projects that accept self-referrals by inviting listeners to visit the center's Internet site, http://www.fhcrc.org, and click on "How You Can Help," where they can find a list of prevention studies currently accepting eligible participants.

The radio spots also direct listeners to the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service, 1-800-4-CANCER, a source of information on cancer prevention and treatment and public-health studies that accept self-referrals.

Basic, Clinical researchers describe suspended animation in worms

The roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans can fully recover from 24 hours of oxygen deprivation by entering a so-called state of suspended animation, according to a recent study by Basic Sciences Division researchers.

The characterization of this phenomenon in a genetically tractable model organism ultimately may provide avenues for improved understanding and treatment of human conditions, such as cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction, that cause organs to be deprived of oxygen.

The findings, published in the May issue of Molecular Biology of the Cell, were reported by Dr. Pamela Padilla, Todd Nystul and Dr. Mark Roth. Ali Johnson and Dr. Richard Zager of the Clinical Research Division were co-authors.

Last year, Padilla and Roth discovered that zebrafish embryos undergo a reversible state of suspended animation upon oxygen deprivation with no subsequent effects on growth or development, the first demonstration of this phenomenon in a vertebrate organism.

In their new study, Padilla and colleagues found that worms at any stage of their life cycle enter suspended animation when deprived of oxygen. During this state, all microscopically observable movement ceases, including cell division, development and feeding. All of these activities resume upon re-exposure to normal oxygen concentration.

Further, the group discovered that a protein known as HIF-1, found in worms and mammals and previously shown to aid survival in low levels of oxygen, does not play a role in survival in the complete absence of oxygen. This suggests that there are distinct mechanisms that control survival in anoxia (complete absence of oxygen) and hypoxia (decreased levels of oxygen).

The authors also observed that during suspended animation, worms alter their energy metabolism, resulting in decreased levels of ATP, a chemical required to drive many metabolic reactions, within cells.

Prostate cancer, genitourinary meetings coming July 12-13 at UW

The University of Washington School of Medicine hosts a pair of meetings on Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13, one for prostate-cancer patients and a genitourinary symposium for medical professionals.

The second annual Pacific Northwest Prostate Cancer Conference, set July 12, is intended for patients with prostate cancer, their family members, those at high risk for the disease and interested public.

The second annual Pacific Northwest Genitourinary Symposium, on July 13 is geared to physicians and professionals who care for patients with genitourinary cancers including bladder cancer, testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

To register or get more information on the meetings, call 206-543-9496 or e-mail cme@u.washington.edu .

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