Penn State College of Medicine researcher to head new NFCR Center for Metatastic Cancer ResearchNational Foundation for Cancer Research Dan Welch, Ph.D. will lead partnership between Penn State, University of Chicago and National Foundation for Cancer Research to identify what causes cancer to spread to the bone A dynamic group of respected national research institutions today announced the formation of a new partnership with the basic goal of finding out what causes cancer to metastasize or spread - and how the spread of cancer to the bones of an individual can be prevented.  Penn State University, Penn State College of Medicine, The University of Chicago and the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) today announced the creation of a new national cancer research center. Center researchers will work to identify the fundamental molecular changes in cancer cells that cause them to metastasize and translate those basic findings into strategies to prevent metastasis and better treat patients who have metastatic cancer. To achieve this goal, NFCR has assembled a team of investigators who have expertise in the many scientific disciplines necessary to fully study the process of metastasis. This team of world-class investigators has a wealth of knowledge in the areas of breast cancer, prostate cancer and bone biology. The team will focus on the most difficult and challenging problems related to metastasis using state-of-the-art methodology and interactive collaboration. Their strategies will combine studies utilizing molecular biology, biochemistry and in vivo approaches. Danny Welch, Ph.D. of the Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Institute at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center was named Director of the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) Center for Metastatic Cancer Research at Penn State University. Welch is widely credited with identifying several genes that block metastasis in breast cancer and melanoma. One gene, called breast cancer metastasis suppressor or BRMS1, could be a key to preventing the growth of cancerous tumors when they escape from the original tumor. Welch cites this new partnership as a crucial step towards unraveling the answers to one of cancer's more difficult challenges. "Metastasis is the ultimate step in a tumor cell's progression toward autonomy from the host and it is a highly complex process," says Welch. "What makes this group so special is how we are bringing together people from the cancer fields and bone fields. This alliance of researchers with different, but complementary, expertise could help us make significant inroads in ultimately preventing the spread of cancer." Accordingly to Welch, $3 billion are the costs of treating problem associated with bone metastases from breast cancer. Even more money is spent on cancer research, although the majority is not focused on metastasis. "Roughly $5.5 billion dollars will be spent this year on cancer research through the National Institutes of Health. By comparison only about $3 million is typically spent each year trying to understand the fundamental mechanisms of bone metastasis," according to Welch. "Yet, metastasis is the primary cause of cancer deaths." Initially, the group will develop research models that mimic the bone metastasizing potential seen in patients. The initial focus of the research will be on how tumor cells and bone cells communicate. Researchers already know that tumor cells that enter the bone environment disrupt the normal balance. The PSU-NFCR team will ask how tumor cells do this. Research at the Center will focus initially on metastasis to the bone. Two of the most common cancers -- breast and prostate -- exhibit propensity to metastasize to bone, yet the number of studies in these areas is severely limited. The dearth of studies in the area is represented in the lack of treatments and/or prevention strategies specifically addressing this clinical problem. a. Develop and characterize models of breast and prostate metastasis to bone. The initial investigators of the NFCR Center for Metastatic Cancer Research at Penn State University include: Danny R. Welch, Ph.D., Director Andrea M. Mastro, Ph.D. Carol V. Gay, Ph.D. Henry J. Donahue, Ph.D. Carrie W. Rinker-Schaeffer, Ph.D. Welch's selection as director of the team is a reflection of his expertise in the field of breast cancer. As director, Welch will lead a coordinated effort of shared information and expertise. Mastro and Rinker-Schaeffer are renowned experts in breast and prostate cancer, respectively. Gay and Donahue bring the same world-class credentials in bone biology. The complementary expertise of all of these investigators is expected to have an important positive effect on the success of the project. "Dr. Welch is one of the world's leading scientists in metastatic cancer research and his work in this field we believe will one day lead to a cure for breast cancer, prostate cancer, and many other types of cancer", said Dr. Sujuan Ba, science director for the NFCR. "This research center at the Penn State University under the leadership of Dr. Welch will be linked with our seven other centers around the world that are taking a shared approach which will create multiple possibilities to cure cancer." Since its founding in 1973, the National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) has provided more than $180 million to fund basic science cancer research in the laboratory. NFCR's support of discovery-oriented basic science cancer research in the laboratory has helped redefine cancer as a molecular disease and opened the way for better prevention strategies, earlier diagnostic techniques, and new anticancer drugs and treatments. NFCR is about Research for a Cure, and is dedicated to funding scientists at the Center for Metastatic Cancer Research who are discovering cancer's molecular mysteries and translating these discoveries into therapies the hold the key to the real hope to cure cancer. For more information, visit them on the web at www.NFCR.org or call (800) 321-CURE.
For more information, or to contact National Foundation for Cancer Research, see their website at: www.researchforacure.com |
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