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Leukemia and Lymphoma Research
An estimated 138,530 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2008. Leukemias are the most common form of childhood cancer. Chemotherapy is the standard treatment. Some new targeted treatments have emerged for particular types of leukemias, such as treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with the ATRA/arsenic regime pioneered by SWCRF and the Shanghai Institute of Hematology and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with Gleevec®.
The SWCRF-funded projects below all focus on cell signal malfunctions that are common in many cancers. The goal in each case is to identify the molecular process and to develop a drug that corrects molecular malfunctions. So the research is expected to have an impact on fighting other cancers in addition to leukemia.
Dr. Anthony Capobianco (Wistar Institute) is leading a lab which is investigating the signal pathways that control the cancer cells in T-ALL, acute lymphocytic leukemia which attacks the T lymphocytes. T-ALL is found primarily among children. The lab is developing a drug to target a specific signaling pathway (Notch) whose mutation is known to cause T-ALL and other types of cancer. As an example of collaboration and the wider applicability of much SWCRF-funded research, this drug is also being tested in a collaborative project with Dr. Nabeel Bardeesy (Massachusetts General Hospital) against Notch-controlled development of pancreatic cancer, a cancer for which no effective treatment exists.
Drs. Shai Izraeli (Sheba Cancer Research Center, Israel), John Crispino and Jonathan Licht ( both at Northwestern University) are investigating a gene mutation which is found in all cases of hyperdiploid acute lymphocytic leukemia. In addition to being broadly applicable, this is also an example where SWCRF is funding the initial research that produces the data used to obtain larger research grants.
In chronic myeloid leukemia and glioblastomas Drs. Albert Baldwin (University of North Carolina) and William Weiss (University of California, SF) are investigating a malfunction in the instructions that give normal immune cells extra longevity when they are fighting an infection, as well as the ability to move around the body to the infection’s location. When those instructions are applied to other cells, the other cells also develop resistance to death and the ability to spread, characteristics of cancer cells. Some existing drugs may work, which would speed up changes in patient care.
Dr. Ari Melnick (Weill Cornell School of Medicine) is developing a drug which would be a dramatic breakthrough in treatment of B-cell lymphomas. Current treatment is toxic chemotherapy, which fails to cure about 50% of patients. This compound is the first to target the signals that control cell behavior in this aggressive cancer. Because the drug is precisely targeted, it has minimal side effects. It has shown a significant impact in destroying lymphomas in mouse models.
Pancreatic Cancer Program 
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