8/29/2005

A. Prostate Cancer

Dr. Susan Deutscher, CRC award recipient and Dr. Linda Landon, Postdoctoral Fellow
Prostate cancer cells have a specific molecule on their surface known as the Thomsen-Freidenreich antigen. This may serve as a target for killing of the cancerous cells without harming the surrounding normal cells. The molecule also serves as a marker for prostate cancer cells and can be used as the basis of diagnostic tests. Bottom Line: Linking radioactive isotopes with drugs should lead to earlier diagnosis as well as destruction of tumor cells.

B. Pancreatic Cancer

Dr. Tim Hoffman, CRC award recipient, Dr. Charles J. Smith, Postdoctoral Fellow and Dr. Hermogenes Jimenez, Postdoctoral Fellow While pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer mortality in the U.S., there are still limitations in the effective diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Cancerous pancreatic cells have a distinctive marker on their cell surface that serves as the basis for detection and treatment of cancer. Drugs, including radioactive molecules, can be targeted to cancerous cells.
Bottom Line: This selective targeting approach should lessen the toxic effects of drugs that are in current use.

C. Malignant Melanomas

Dr. Thomas Quinn, CRC award recipient and Dr. Vladislav Glinskii, Postdoctoral Fellow
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers. While prompt diagnosis and removal of skin lesions offer the best outcome, some tumors go undetected and spread to other organs. This research focuses on targeting the cancerous cells for both detection and treatment without killing normal cells.
Bottom Line: Linking radioactive isotopes with drugs should lead to earlier diagnosis as well as destruction of tumor cells.

D. Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancers

Dr. Kattesh Katti, CRC award recipient and Dr. Kanchan Kothari, Postdoctoral Fellow
There is a need for more specific tests for the diagnosis of cancers. Most cancerous cells have some type of identifiable molecule on their surface that is related to their cancerous state. Radioactive compounds can be targeted to these markers. These molecules could be called “magic bullets” due to their ability to distinguish between cancer and normal cells.
Bottom Line: This targeted therapy linking radioactive isotopes with drugs should lead to earlier diagnosis as well as destruction of tumor cells.