Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Opportunity Fund
Pilot Project Fund for Innovative Breast Cancer Research
The eight funded projects funded in 2002 are:
- Identification of Genes that Regulate Cyclin E and p27, Dr. Bruce Clurman, Clinical Research and Human Biology divisions. This research aims to identify genes that regulate p27 and cyclin E, key components of the cell cycle, and to determine their relevance in cancer cells with abnormal cyclin E and p27 function.
- Gene Expression in Fibroblasts Surrounding Breast Tumors, Dr. Hilary Coller, fellow in Roberts lab, Basic Division. This research aims to identify genes consistently expressed differently by fibroblasts surrounding breast tumors and genes that are predictive of metastasis.
- Studies of a Novel Bcl-xL Small Molecule Inhibitor in Animal Models of Breast Cancer, Dr. David Hockenbery, Clinical Research and Human Biology divisions. This pilot project investigates the activity of 2-MeAA in pre-clinical models of breast cancer. 2-MeAA is an inhibitor of Bcl-xL, a protein that blocks cell death that is frequently overproduced in cancer cells.
- Combined Oncolytic Adenoviral Therapy and Stimulation of an Anti-Tumor Immune Response, Dr. Andre Lieber, University of Washington. This project investigates whether combining immuno-stimulatory mechanisms with cancer-fighting gene therapy enhances anti-tumor effects of the treatment.
- Patterns of Gene Expression in Breast Cancer Patients with Resistance to Systemic Therapy and Unique Tumor Phenotype Determined by PET Imaging, Dr. David Mankoff, Division of Nuclear Medicine, UWMC. This pilot study performs gene array analysis of tumor biopsy for patients resistant to systemic therapy whose tumors have unique in vivo phenotypes identified by PET imaging.
- Mammographic Breast Density as a Noninvasive Surrogate Marker of Breast Epithelial Proliferative Activity in a Phytoestrogen Trial of Breast Cancer Survivors, Dr. Anne McTiernan, Public Health Sciences Division. This is an ancillary study for the UW/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Phytoestrogen Trial, which studies the effect of a phytoestrogen intervention on normal breast tissue in postmenopausal breast-cancer patients. This study measures mammographic density (using a specialized laser film digitizer) as a noninvasive marker for breast glandular proliferation.
- Indentifying the mechanism of gene amplification and the amplified oncogenes in breast cancer by using snap-back DNA, Dr. Hisashi Tanaka, fellow in Yao and Tapscott labs, Division of Basic Science. This pilot project aims to identify the mechanism of gene amplification and the amplified oncogenes in breast cancer.
- Epstein-Barr Virus Antibody Titers, Cytokines, and Proteomic Markers of Breast Cancer Risk in Japanese Women, Dr. Yukata Yasui, Public Health Sciences Division. This project tests whether patterns of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody titers and proinflammatory cytokines are associated with breast cancer risk and identify proteomic markers of breast cancer in blood via the use of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry technology.
The four projects funded in 2003 are:
- Gut bacteria and breast cancer risk: Interindividual differences in colonic microfloral metabolism of estrogens, Charlotte Atkinson PhD, staff scientist in Johanna Lampe lab, Public Health Sciences Division. This project aims to determine whether the in vitro metabolism of estrogens by fecal bacteria differs according to equol-producer phenotype.
- Functional analysis of the Myc effector Miz-1 in breast cancer, Bob Eisenman PhD, Division of Basic Science. This research aims to provide the basis for understanding the role of Miz-1, and important effector of Myc function, in the genesis of breast cancers.
- Biochemical and structural analysis of the BRCA1/ER binding interaction, Jacqueline McGourty PhD, Senior Fellow in Klevit lab, Biochemistry and Biomolecular Structure Center, UW. This pilot project studies the mechanism and molecular details of the BRCA1/ER-LBD interaction.
- A novel functional screen for mutator genes in breast cancer, Piri Welcsh PhD, Assistant Professor, Medical Genetics, UW. This project identifies novel DNA repair genes that cause alterations in breast tumors.
