- About Us
- Milestones
1975
Description of a radioassay to measure folic acid and folate binding proteins (in use today).
1976
Isolation and characterization of an abnormal vitamin B12 binding protein produced by liver cancer.
1976
The SWCRF is founded with funds donated by fashion executive Irving Alpert. From left: Barry Finn, Shelly Finn, Miriam Alpert, Dr. Samuel Waxman, Marion Waxman and Irving Alpert.
1978
Demonstration that leukemia cells can be made to undergo differentiation and gain a normal function that became the basis for differentiation therapy.
1980
Demonstration that a folic acid derivative can improve the clinical efficacy of a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of colon cancer, which is still in use today.
1982
Collaboration with the Shanghai Second Medical University and Shanghai Institute of Hematology begins.
1986
We reported on the principles for combing differentiation agents in the treatment of cancer.
1986
Organized the first of 14 Conferences on Differentiation Therapy of Cancer.
1988
Design of combination cytotoxic-differentiation therapy.
1988
Differentiation therapy with retinoic acid resulted in complete remission in patients with promyelocytic leukemia, a treatment still in use today.
1989
Demonstration that breast cancer cells can be made to undergo differentiation in the laboratory.
1992
Demonstration of a mechanism which blocks gene expression and causes leukemia.
1993
Cloning of the PLZF gene and mechanism whereby it blocks the response to retinoic acid treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia.
1994
Identification of agents that can enhance retinoic acid differentiation therapy.
1996
Samuel Waxman receives Honorary Professorship from the Shanghai Second Medical University and the Magnolia Award from the Shanghai Municipal Government for contributions to the treatment of leukemia.
1997
Demonstration that breast cancer is associated with abnormal vitamin A gene function.
1997
Use of arsenic trioxide as a targeted treatment for acute promyelocytic leukemia, a procedure that is still in use today.
1998
Tumor dormancy is created in the laboratory by a single gene insertion.
1998
Laboratory reports that combining a chemotherapeutic agent with a differentiation agent is effective in colon cancer. Subsequent clinical trials demonstrate feasibility and safety.
1999
Laboratory reports that arsenic trioxide is effective in malignant lymphoma.
2000
SWCRF launches an expanded research initiative.
2000
Laboratory report demonstrating the effectiveness of a combination cytotoxic differentiation therapy with interferon and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent blocks growth of human colon carcinoma cells.
2001
Identification of a differentiation associated gene, which can be used as gene therapy in patients with lung cancer.
2002
Laboratory demonstration that arsenic trioxide is effective in multiple myeloma and can be enhanced by vitamin C, and initiated several clinical trials.
2002
Tested a model to predict whether blocking EGF receptor may be clinically useful.
2002
The Shanghai/ SWCRF Co-PI program launches.
2003
The SWCRF launched programs on abnormal gene expression in blood malignancies, tumors dormancy, and liver cancer.
2003
Designed cancer-specific targets in lung cancer and initiated a clinical trial.
2004
Demonstration that a specific mutation in lung cancer may predict whether blocking EGF receptor may be helpful to treat lung cancer (will be done in all lung cancers in the near future).
2004
Funding for scientists to develop drugs that block a gene defect in 80% of patients with melanoma.
2004
Design of small compounds that block a specific site in lymphoma cells as a potential treatment.
2004
Genetically engineered to block in vitamin A metabolism in a mouse, results in an increased incidence of breast cancer. Vitamin A derivatives will be used to interfere with this process.
2005
Discovery of a switch that allows cancer cells to become both dormant and chemotherapy resistant.
2005
Discovery of the hPNPase gene, a regulator of normal and cancer cell differentiation and senescence.
2005
Discovery of a novel target for Bortezomib, useful in treating lymphoma and breast cancer.
2005
NQ01 serves as a gatekeeper for protein removal, a new cancer-specific target.
2005
Report that inhibitors that block NF-kB enhance the effect of chemotherapy and radiation.
2005
Discovery of a new distinct class of EGFR inhibitors effective in lung cancer.
2005
Discovery that arsenic trioxide may be effective in treating other forms of leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.
2005
Discovery of inhibitors that selectively kill melanoma cells with the B-Raf mutation.
2005
Report of a set of genes that separates pre-liver cancer from liver cancer.
2005
Demonstration that combining arsenic with Gleevac is more effective in treating the aggressive phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia.
2007
Development and implementation of a window of opportunity trial platform to validate in human cancers the same pathways uncovered in the laboratory.
2010
Designed and implemented a robotic-based platform resource for linking cancer mutations to response or resistance to novel anti-cancer drugs.
2011
Developed a therapy to block metastasis formation.
2014
Collaborating SWCRF researchers discover mutated enzymes that cause Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a deadly liver cancer.
2014
SWCRF scientists win international joint grant for AML research from Israel and China.
2015
Identification of two avermectins - compounds with insecticidal properties - that may serve as therapeutic agents against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer cells.
2015
SWCRF researchers identify a microRNA that promotes the onset of CML and Down Syndrome AML.
2016
SWCRF celebrates awarding nearly $90 million in cancer research grants to 200 scientists throughout the world over 40 years.
2018
The Partnership for Aging and Cancer Research Program launches as a two-year collaboration with the SWCRF, National Cancer Institute, and National Institute on Aging.