September 6, 2016
GUEST COMMENTARY
Paula Silverman
Paula Silverman
Cheryl Thompson
Cheryl Thompson
An invited commentary by Drs. Paula Silverman and Cheryl Thompson 
Combination Hormone Replacement Therapy and Risk of Breast Cancer
A recent study by Jones et al. in The British Journal of Cancer (BJC)(Jones ME. Br J Cancer. 2016 Aug 23estimated an almost 3 fold (2.74 times) increase risk of breast cancer among post-menopausal women who used combination estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT).  This risk was 3.27 fold for women who used the combination therapy for 15 years or longer.  As with other studies, the authors found no increased risk of breast cancer among women taking estrogen-only therapy.


Early studies from the Women's Health Initiative and Million Women Study showed a marked increase in breast cancer risk among women using combination therapy.  Since then, estimates, derived mostly from retrospective studies, consistently suggested an association of combination therapy and breast cancer risk, although not nearly as strong, with estimates mostly in the 1.5-2 times range. 


In 2002, the combination therapy arm of the Women's Health Initiative trial was stopped when the investigators concluded that the risks, including increased breast cancer risk, outweighed the benefits.  Since then, there has been a strong shift in prescribing practice, with fewer women being prescribed combination therapy each year.  With this changing practice, we expected the number of post-menopausal breast cancer cases to decline.  Indeed, this has been the case though there has been some controversy about whether the decline was due to less HRT use or fewer women receiving mammograms, another recent trend.


This new report in BJC that attempted to address shortcomings in previous studies by utilizing the Breakthrough Generations Study, which includes more detailed data on both HRT use and timing with menopause, suggests that the change in prescribing practices may have a larger than expected impact on cancer incidence.  Statistical analyses on their data suggest that not having yearly updated data on HRT and menopausal status, typical of most epidemiological studies, may have underestimated the effect by up to 59%. 



Paula Silverman, MD, is a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine, and Director of the Breast Cancer Program at UH Seidman Cancer Center; Cheryl Thompson, PhD is a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and Assistant Professor of Nutrition at the CWRU School of Medicine. 

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
Researchers find gene mutations lead to more aggressive colon cancer in African-Americans
Sanford Markowitz
Sanford Markowitz
Joseph Willis
Joseph Willis
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers, who last
 year identified new gene mutations unique to colon cancers in African Americans, have found that tumors with these mutations are highly aggressive and more likely to recur and metastasize. These findings partly may explain why African Americans have the highest incidence and death rates of any group for this disease.


The study is published online [Wang Z. JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst. 2016 108(12)] and will be printed in the December 2016 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) by members of a research team that a year ago found 15 genes in African Americans that are rarely or never detected as mutated in colon cancers from Caucasians. The current study investigated the outcomes associated with these mutations in African American colorectal cancer.


The researchers examined 66 patients who had stage I - III colorectal cancer and found those patients positive for the mutations had an almost three times higher rate of metastatic disease, and stage III patients positive with mutations were nearly three times more likely to relapse compared to patients without the mutations.
"This study is significant because it helps shed further light on why colorectal cancers are more aggressive in African Americans compared to other groups," said the study's senior author Joseph E. Willis, MD, Chief of Pathology at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Professor of Pathology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. "While mortality rates for Caucasian men with colorectal cancer have decreased by up to 30 percent, they have increased by 28 percent for African American men since 1960," said Dr. Willis, who is also director of tissue management in the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.


These findings and the earlier study only became possible because of technological advances in gene sequencing and computational analysis. These studies ultimately involved review of 1.5 billion bits of data.
"This study builds on our previous genetic research on colorectal cancer," said Sanford Markowitz, MD, PhD, a co-author and principal investigator of the $11.3 million federal gastrointestinal cancers research program (GI SPORE) that includes this project. "It illustrates the extraordinary impact that dedicated, collaborative teams can make when they combine scientific experience and ingenuity with significant investment." more>
NEWS FROM THE NCI
Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel to Present Report to National Cancer Advisory Board
The Cancer Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel will present its report on high-priority research areas and recommendations to the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) during the Board's meeting tomorrow morning, September 7.  Once approved, the National Cancer Institute will prepare Funding Opportunity Announcement concepts based on the recommendations, with funding to begin in summer 2017. 
CORE FACILITIES
SOM Core Facilities Web Link Change
The CWRU SOM Core Facilities website has moved. Please update your bookmarks to the new SOM Core Facilities URL: research.case.edu/corefacilities/som
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Call for Abstracts: 7th Great Lakes Nuclear Receptor Conference

Registration is open for the 7th Great Lakes Nuclear Receptor Conference. This two-day event will be held October 19-20 at the Tinkham Veale University Center on Case Western Reserve University campus. 


The program will feature talks from top researchers in this field, including keynote speakers Dr. Lorraine J. Gudas from Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University and Dr. Christopher Glass, from University of California, San Diego. The conference will touch on topics such as nuclear receptors in cancer, genome-wide nuclear receptor action, non-classical mechanism of receptor action, structure and cellular functions, and nuclear receptors and metabolism. 


Attendees are invited to submit abstracts for the poster session. Deadline to submit has been extended to September 15. 
Great Lakes Breast Cancer (GLBC) Symposium
Last chance to registration to attend the 2nd Great Lakes Breast Cancer (GLBC) Symposium,  Thursday, September 8 through Saturday, September 10, 2016. The event will be held at the Herberman Conference Center at UPMC Cancer Pavilion in Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA.


The GLBC Symposium is made possible through collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC), and The Ohio State University (OSU) Comprehensive Cancer Center (James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute). 


The 2016 GLBC Symposium aims to increase collaboration between these three cancer centers in the area of breast cancer research and clinical trials. A keynote talk will be given by Dr. Joyce Slingerland (University of Miami Health System).


We very much look forward to your attendance and participation in this meeting, and we especially encourage you to bring students and fellows.


Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.


The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.


Other health care professionals are awarded 1.4 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 14.5 contact hours.
Genomic Medicine Institute Annual Symposium
The Genomic Medicine Institute will host the 4th annual genetic education symposium, "Genetics Genomics: Advances Across the Lifespan," on Thursday, September 15. Join your colleagues at the Cleveland InterContinental Hotel for this educational event which will focus on genetic advances in diagnosis and treatment during all stages of life, from prenatal conditions to Alzheimer Disease. 
 
This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. NSGC Category 1 CEU credit pending. 


Contact Kim Linger ([email protected])with any questions.
Cancer Stem Cell Conference 2016 
Sep 20-23 Hilton Cleveland Downtown
In 2014, the National Center for Regenerative Medicine created the international Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) Conference to foster new collaborations across national and international boundaries.


This conference will address the translation of bench-top science to patient care. CSC 2016 is guaranteed to offer cutting-edge presentations in a variety of specialized areas within the field. Join us for this 4-day summit and network with scientists and clinicians advancing cancer stem cell research and therapeutic applications. 


CSC 2016 will feature:
  • Renowed speakers from over 25 different institutions
  • Preconference Workshop (Trainee Career Development)
  • Meet the Editors (Cell Stem Cell and Nature Cell Biology)
  • Young Investigator Awards (Junior level faculty and below)
  • Over 100+ posters
  • 15 Short Talks (selected from abstracts submissions)
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
American Cancer Society IRG Awards
LOI Deadline: Sep 16

Application Deadline: Oct 14


The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center is accepting applications for American Cancer Society Institutional Research  Grant (IRG) Awards
  • Pilot funding for cancer-related research in basic, clinical, prevention & control, behavioral, health services and epidemiology.
  • Up to $30,000 award.
  • Applications accepted for general cancer-related projects and for special interest projects in adolescent-and-young-adult cancer research.
ELIGIBILITY:
IRG pilot project grants are intended to support independent, self-directed investigators early in their careers (usually assistant professor or equivalent). Applicants for the pilot project grants should be within 6 years of their first independent research or faculty appointment and eligible to apply for an independent national competitive research grant, but do not currently hold such a cancer-related grant.


Recipients of IRG pilot project grants must be, at the time of the application, citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States or its possessions and territories, or must have been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence at the time of application. 
Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative Pilot Grant Program
LOI Deadline: Sep 15

Application Deadline: Nov 15

The CTSC Pilot Grant Program is now accepting letters of intent for the 2017 Annual Pilot RFA.



Successful applications will meet at least one of the following three criteria, as appropriate for this award:

  • Develop new methods and/or insights that are generalizable/scalable. 
  • Involve cross-institutional collaboration between investigators and/or trainees at CWRU and partner institutions. 
  • Have a high likelihood of leading to a strong extramural peer-reviewed grant application
Only applicants whose letter of intent has been approved will be able to submit an application.


The CTSC Pilot Grant Program strongly encourages applicants to contact the Pilot Grant Coordinator ([email protected]) with any questions you may have regarding the application process prior to the submission of the proposal.


AACR Basic Cancer Research Fellowships
LOI Deadline: Oct 11
Application Deadline: Jan 18, 2017
The AACR Basic Cancer Research Fellowships are open to postdoctoral and clinical research fellows working at an academic, medical, or research institution who have completed their most recent doctoral degree or medical residency within the past three years at the start of the grant term. The research proposed for funding may be in any area of basic cancer research. The fellowships provide one-year grants of $50,000-$55,000 to support the salary and benefits of the Fellow while working on a mentored basic cancer research project.
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR Pathway to Leadership Grant 
Application Deadline: Nov 15
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR Pathway to Leadership Grant represents a joint effort to ensure the future leadership of pancreatic cancer research by supporting outstanding early career investigators beginning in their postdoctoral research positions and continuing through their successful transition to independence. Applicants must hold a full-time, mentored research position, have completed their most recent doctoral degree or medical residency within the past five years, and not already have a full-time faculty position.


Leukemia Research Foundation Hollis Brownstein Research Grants Program
LOI Deadline: Feb 1, 2017
The Leukemia Research Foundation exclusively funds New Investigators - individuals beginning to establish their own laboratories that are no longer under the tutelage of a senior scientist mentor. It is difficult for them to get the level of funding they need at this critical point in their careers.


The Leukemia Research Foundation is unique in the level of support it provides to highly promising scientists in this absolutely critical research niche. Providing one year grants of $100,000 to selected New Investigator researchers, allows innovative scientists to act on their ideas, and try new procedures and experiments that will hopefully lead to significant,breakthroughs. The Leukemia Research Foundation funds the research of scientists that are from independent labs, not the labs of pharmaceutical companies.
NIH BULLETIN- Notices and Funding Opportunities
EVENTS
Wed, Sep 7
Hem/Onc Grand Rounds
Joseph Baar, MD

Associate Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology

CWRU/UH

"Prospects for the Immunotherapy of Breast Cancer"

8a Lerner B-151

Thurs, Sep 8
Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium 

Sep 8-10

Pittsburgh, PA

Registration 


Dermatology Grand Rounds
Barbara Bedogni, PhD

Assistant

 Professor, Biochemistry

CWRU

9:30a BRB 105
Fri, Sep 9
Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium 

Sep 8-10

Pittsburgh, PA

Registration 


Hem/Onc Fellows
8a Breen Conf Rm.


TCI Grand Rounds
Gabriel Brooks, MD   Dartmouth College
"Avoidable Hospitalizations in Cancer Care: Defining the Problem and Designing Solutions" 
8a R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic   


Cancer Center Seminar Series
Agne Petrosiute, MD
CWRU SOM/Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital   
"Cdk5: A Tumor Immune Response Modulator"
12p BRB 105    


Cancer Center Research in Progress
Peter Liao

MSTP Student, Barnholtz-Sloan Lab, General Medical Sciences (Oncology)

"Epigenetic Clock in Lower Grade Glioma"

and

Quinn Ostrom, MA, MPH

PhD Student, Barnholtz-Sloan Lab, General Medical Sciences (Oncology)

"SNP Pathway Modeling of Glioma Risk"  
4p WRB 3-136
Sat, Sep 10
Great Lakes Breast Cancer Symposium 

Sep 8-10

Pittsburgh, PA

Registration
Mon, Sep 12
GMI Seminar
Alan Tartakoff, PhD

Professor, Pathology

CWRU

"Genesis of Aneuploidy"

1p NE1-205 Cleveland Clinic
Wed, Sep 14
Hem/Onc Grand Rounds
8a Lerner B-151



CDDRCC Seminar
Amy Hise, MD, PhD

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Pathology and International Health

CWRU
12p WRB 1-413



Neurosciences + Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Speaker Series

Larry Benowitz, PhD

Harvard University

"Rewiring the primary visual pathway: Role of oncomodulin, pten, and zinc"

12:10p BRB 105
Thurs, Sep 15
Biochemistry Seminar
Goutam Gupta, PhD

Los Alamos National Laboratory

"Innate Immunity: what it can do for countering pathogens"

12p SOM W428
Fri, Sep 16
Hem/Onc Fellows
8a Breen Conf Rm.


TCI Grand Rounds
8a R3/002-003 Cleveland Clinic   


Cancer Center Seminar Series
Charles Rudin, MD, PhD

Chief, Thoracic Oncology Service

Co-Director, Druckenmiller Center for Lung Cancer Research

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
"Novel Therapeutic Opportunities in Small Cell Lung Cancer"
12p BRB 105    


Cancer Center Research in Progress
Sandra M. Mantilla

PhD Student, DiFeo Lab, Pharmacology

CWRU

"Playing Polo with PP2A: Small molecule activators of PP2A (SMAPs) as novel cell cycle targeting drugs in Ovarian Cancer"

4p WRB 3-136


ADDITIONAL UPCOMING SYMPOSIUMS & EVENTS


Conference on Geospatial Approaches to Cancer Control and Population Sciences
Sep 12-14 

Natcher Conference Center, NIH Main Campus, Bethesda, MD


Genomic Medicine Institute 4th Annual Genetics and Genomics Education Symposium
Sep 15
Intercontinental Hotel and Conference Center



Cancer Stem Cell Conference
Sep 20-23
Hilton Cleveland Downtown


Inaugural Cancer Care Symposium

Sep 30


Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Clinical Research Retreat 
October 27
5:30-7:30p Cleveland Clinic R3-002/003
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED OPPORTUNITIES


LOI Deadline: Sep 15
Application Deadline: Nov 15








Deadline: Open


Deadline: Open
Case Comprehensive Cancer Center 
11100 Euclid Avenue, Wearn152

Cleveland, OH 44106-5065



Case Comprehensive Cancer Center | 11100 Euclid Avenue | Wearn152 | Cleveland | OH | 44106-5065