The LDSRC has recently acquired an AB SCIEX Quadrupole Time of Flight (GTOF 5600+) mass analyzer. This high resolution mass analyzer allows the core to carry out investigative analysis of biological systems. 

To learn more about the new equipment and the typical workflow of the core, visit the LDSRC website. 

This message continues with more on:

• The Minority/Underserved NCI Community Oncology Research Program grant
• The U.S. News' rankings
• Massey's new research members
• Positions open for recruitment

In a recent study led by Steven Grant, scientists induced autophagy using obatoclax while simultaneously blocking the production of p62 with the use of a CDK inhibitor. Several experiments involving animal models and cultured multiple myeloma cells demonstrated that blocking p62 disrupted autophagy and killed far more cancer cells than administering the anti-cancer agents alone. 

A team of scientists led by Devanand Sarkar demonstrated that the protein AEG-1 binds to retinoid X receptors (RXR), which help regulate cell growth and development. RXR is typically activated by retinoic acid, but the overexpressed AEG-1 proteins found in cancer cells block these signals and help promote tumor growth. Using complex animal models, the researchers showed that blocking the production of AEG-1 allowed retinoic acid to profoundly kill liver cancer cells.

Massey was awarded a 5-year, renewable grant from the NCI to support a statewide network for cancer clinical research in Virginia that brings state-of-the-art clinical trials to patients in their own communities and emphasizes the inclusion of minorities in clinical trials and a focus on research that addresses cancer disparities.

For the third year in a row, Massey was the top scoring hospital in Virginia providing high-performing cancer care in U.S. News & World Report's annual Best Hospitals list. Massey received the best score in cancer care of the 24 Virginia hospitals that made the list of the nearly 130 total hospitals in the state.

Clinical Cancer Research (Also featured in Time magazine)