Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Van Andel Research
Institute and Thomson Reuters participate in search for new drugs
to treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)
May 3, 2012
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) will lead a
multidisciplinary search for new drugs that could help treat the
most common and lethal form of brain cancer.
A $4.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
will fund the search to find new ways of treating glioblastoma
multiforme (GBM), the most common type of primary brain tumors.
Primary brain tumors are among the top 10 causes of cancer death in
the U.S., and more than 80,000 Americans have primary malignant
brain tumors.
Collaborating with TGen on this 5-year study are the
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham); Van
Andel Research Institute (VARI); the Intellectual Property &
Science division of Thomson Reuters; and the NIH's National Cancer
Institute (NCI).
"The exceptional team assembled for this study will mine vast
amounts of data to come up with possible cancer vulnerabilities and
the most promising ways to attack GBM, giving new hope to
brain-tumor patients," said Dr. Michael Berens, Ph.D., Director of
TGen's Cancer and Cell Biology Division, and principal investigator
of the project.
GBM grows rapidly and commonly spreads to nearby brain tissue. It
usually is treated by surgical removal of as much of the tumor as
possible, followed by radiation and conventional chemotherapy. The
prognosis is very poor, and patients survive a median of only 14
months after diagnosis.
The goal of this study is to use newly uncovered knowledge about
the genomes of hundreds of glioblastoma specimens to discover new
medicines that can precisely target tumors, shrinking or even
eliminating them, with minimal harm to other cells and minimal side
effects for patients.
In a discovery phase, TGen, VARI and Thomson Reuters will conduct
the most extensive scan ever undertaken of available public data
about the potential genetic causes of GBM. This search will
identify the most promising genes and cellular pathways to target.
These targets will be referenced against a database of 54 patient
tumor models, looking for small molecules that could lead the way
to new cancer drugs.
The resulting pre-clinical drug-treatment models will be tested and
validated by Sanford-Burnham, creating the best available data to
share with the general scientific community, including
pharmaceutical companies.
"We hope to put the scientific and technical competency of chemical
biology at Sanford-Burnham to work in this study, helping to
generate prototypes of new medicines that could eventually be
delivered to patients who desperately need them," said Dr.
Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., Sanford-Burnham's President and
Director of its NCI-designated Cancer Center.
In addition, the study team will meet monthly with the NCI's Cancer
Target Discovery and Development (CTDD) Network, sharing best
practices that will help other researchers avoid duplication and
pursue the most promising lines of investigation. The CTDD Network
goal is to bridge the gap between the enormous volumes of genomic
data generated by the comprehensive molecular characterization of
various cancer types and the ability to use these data for the
development of human cancer therapeutics.
"The computational tools we have developed to enable personalized
medicine will comb through extensive data sets, looking to
systematically identify novel drug targets and match the best
available therapies with patients' individual tumors," said Dr.
Craig Webb, Ph.D., Head of VARI's Laboratory of Translational
Medicine, which brings to the study expertise in bioinformatics and
personalized medicine. "Working closely with the CTDD Network will
ensure that our ongoing research remains cutting-edge."
In addition to the team led by TGen, the CTDD Network consists of:
Columbia University, Emory University, the Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute, University of California San Francisco, University of
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and the Broad
Institute.
The MetaCore and MetaMiner (oncology) offerings from Thomson
Reuters provide some of the world's best applications for systems
biology in the analysis of cellular pathways, the cascade of
chemical events that take place within the lifecycles of normal and
cancerous cells.
"Our unique biological systems technology enables complete
reconstruction of mammalian cellular functionality, providing
precise tumor analysis and accelerating target discovery," said Dr.
Yuri Nikolsky, Ph.D., Vice President of Research & Development
at Thomson Reuters.
The study, formally titled "Systematic Development of Novel,
Druggable Cancer Targets," will build on information from The
Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), an NCI project. TCGA is assembling vast
bodies of information about how errors in DNA cause cells to grow
uncontrolled, causing cancer. The TCGA is focused on several types
of cancer, including GBM.
"The study's combination of bioinformatics and experimental
approaches is innovative, and should enable development of novel
molecular targets not only in GBM, but also in multiple cancer
types," TGen's Dr. Berens said.
This research is supported by the National Cancer Institute of the
National Institutes of Health under Award Number U01CA168397.
# # #
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. For more
information, visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
*
About Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute is dedicated to
discovering the fundamental molecular causes of disease and
devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow. The Institute
consistently ranks among the top five organizations worldwide for
its scientific impact in the fields of biology and biochemistry
(defined by citations per publication) and currently ranks third in
the nation in NIH funding among all laboratory-based research
institutes. Sanford-Burnham is a highly innovative organization,
currently ranking second nationally among all organizations in
capital efficiency of generating patents, defined by the number of
patents issued per grant dollars awarded, according to government
statistics.
Sanford-Burnham utilizes a unique, collaborative approach to
medical research and has established major research programs in
cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and infectious, inflammatory,
and childhood diseases. The Institute is especially known for its
world-class capabilities in stem cell research and drug discovery
technologies. Sanford-Burnham is a U.S.-based, non-profit public
benefit corporation, with operations in San Diego (La Jolla),
California and Orlando (Lake Nona), Florida. For more information,
please visit our website (www.sanfordburnham.org) or blog
(http://beaker.sanfordburnham.org). You can also receive updates by
following us on Facebook and Twitter.
Press Contact:
Heather Buschman, Ph.D.
Scientific Communications Manager
858-795-5343
[email protected]
*
About Van Andel Institute
Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel in 1996, Van Andel Institute
(VAI) is an independent research and educational organization based
in Grand Rapids, Mich., dedicated to preserving, enhancing and
expanding the frontiers of medical science, and to achieving
excellence in education by probing fundamental issues of education
and the learning process. Van Andel Education Institute (VAEI) is
dedicated to strengthening science education and preparing and
motivating individuals to pursue science or science-related
professions. Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), the research arm
of VAI, is dedicated to probing the genetic, cellular and molecular
origins of cancer, Parkinson's and other diseases and working to
translate those findings into effective therapies. This is
accomplished through the work of over 200 researchers in 18 on-site
laboratories and in collaborative partnerships that span the
globe.
Press Contact:
Tim Hawkins
Communications Manager
616-234-5390
[email protected]
*
About Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent
information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry
expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical
information to leading decision makers in the financial and risk,
legal, tax and accounting, intellectual property and science and
media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news
organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in
London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs approximately
60,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more
information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.
Press Contact:
Laura Gaze
Director, PR & Thought Leadership, Intellectual Property &
Science
Thomson Reuters
203-868-3340
[email protected]
