At the Forefront of Cancer Care and Discovery® Fall 2013 | cancer.uchicago.edu

Special Series

Personalized Medicine

The UCCCC is transforming the future of medicine by using genetic, social, and environmental factors to predict cancer risk and customize prevention and treatment strategies for our patients. In this installment of a special series on personalized medicine, we describe an example of how genomics–the study of the entire human genome–is revealing clues about the molecular underpinnings of cancer.

UCCCC Investigators Use Genomics to Unravel the Complexities of Pancreatic Cancer

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not too many success Chicago Biological Sciences Division. This stories in pancreatic cancer. project largely originated from the Chicago Compared to other malignancies, Cancer Genome Project and seed funding pancreatic cancer is associated with poor from the Michael Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer overall survival rates––less than 15 percent Foundation that was awarded to Dr. Roggin at five years even when the cancers are to build a pancreatic benign and malignant diagnosed at an early stage. A multi-investissue repository and corresponding datatigator team at the University of Chicago base with clinical, molecular, and genomic Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center data. Establishment of these invaluable and is trying to change this bleak outlook with unique resources has been critical to idena generous gift from Gordon and Carole tifying factors that impact how well older Segal, the founders of Crate & Barrel. It was patients tolerate surgery and preoperative the diagnosis of two close friends within chemotherapy, such as physiological age just a few weeks of each other last winter rather than chronological age, and biological that led Gordon to reach out to his good predictors of surgical outcome. friend, Kevin White, PhD, James and Frank “We hope that these translational Family Professor in Human Genetics and Ecology and Evolution and director of the Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology (IGSB). The timing could not have been more The Pancreatic Cancer Genomic Medicine Initiative team includes (from back left clockwise) Mark Murphy, William Dale, MD, PhD, Kevin Roggin, MD, Kevin perfect. Dr. White was White, PhD, Jason Grundstad, Pei-Chun Lin, PhD, Jigyasa Tuteja, PhD, Aparna already making headPalakodeti, PhD, Tongjun Gu, PhD and Malini D. Sur, MD. Not pictured: Robert way in understanding Grossman, PhD, and Hedy Kindler, MD. pancreatic cancer after assembling a diverse and complementary set research projects can help us identify factors of clinicians and scientists, including pancre- that can predict a patient’s response to both atic cancer surgeons Kevin Roggin, MD, medical and surgical treatments for pancreassociate professor of surgery, and Mark atic cancer as well as help to identify novel Talamonti, MD, professor of surgery and therapeutic targets for innovative therapies,” chairman of surgery at NorthShore Univer- said Dr. Roggin. “We also hope to be able sity Health System; aging and social science to identify in advance which therapies will specialist William Dale, MD, PhD, associate have the least side effects, thereby minimizprofessor of medicine; medical oncologist ing toxicities for patients, further individualand pancreatic cancer expert Hedy Kindler, izing therapies,” added Dr. Dale. MD, associate professor of medicine; and The funding from the Segals is providing computational biologist Robert Grossa much-needed boost to the project at a man, PhD, professor of medicine and chief critical time and is allowing the investigainformatics officer for the University of tors to leverage the data and infrastructure here are

By sequencing DNA from tumor specimens, UCCCC researchers can robustly detect DNA translocations and copy number changes, depicted as lines between chromosomes (organized around the outside of the circle) in this CIRCOS plot.

they generated to seek answers to bigger questions. The team is further developing pancreatic cancer biomarkers predictive of treatment outcomes and toxicities, and analyzing patient and tumor genomes to identify novel therapeutic targets and minimize side effects. Dr. White and colleagues are also working to create a paradigm in which all pancreatic cancer patients seen at the University of Chicago Medicine and NorthShore will have their tumor genomes sequenced. By assessing a large patient population and mining the rich, centrally located database, the team will be able to identify markers that predict whether tumors will progress to advanced cancer and stratify low- and high-risk groups of patients. One of the most exciting aspects of the project is that this model can be replicated nationwide and will place the University of Chicago Medicine among the

national leaders in implementing genomeguided medicine to treat pancreatic cancer. Making these data available to the entire research community is a key piece to the success of the initiative. Dr. Grossman has developed a cloud computing system, called the Bionimbus Protected Data Cloud, to manage and analyze the enormous amounts of data generated from tumor sequencing. The IGSB is the only “Trusted Partner” of the National Cancer Institute and serves as a repository and analysis hub for genome data associated with the Cancer Genome Atlas project. “Combining the extensive tumor genome data with the clinical and physiological patient information we have, and making these data available to all pancreatic cancer researchers, will hopefully allow us to make discoveries that directly benefit patients,” said Dr. White.

From the Director Welcome to the Fall edition of Pathways to Discovery. This issue is packed with descriptions of new research as well as updates to ongoing research. We also take the opportunity to spotlight community outreach and recognize this year’s Shubitz Cancer Prize and Lectureship recipient.

Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD

In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, we provide an update on the University of Chicago Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Breast Cancer, which was established in 2006. The article touches on the work being done to develop genetic and imagingbased approaches for breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, as well as hopes of continuing the efforts. Also, a patient with

a rare type of breast cancer asks what she can do to give back. Her story is very heart-warming. An emphasis on future scientists is spotlighted in an article on the American Cancer Society Summer High School Research Program. You’ll meet Angela Schab and others who have had their eyes opened to the possibility of a career in the field of cancer research. You’ll be interested to read about a very ambitious project

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the Cancer Center is working on to understand the causes and risk factors of cancer. A team of field researchers is going door-to-door to target areas of Chicago asking residents to participate in an interview and provide a blood and urine sample. The goal is to establish a large cohort and determine if certain genomic, healthcare-related, and urban lifestyle, environmental, and behavioral factors contribute to risk for cancer and other chronic diseases. We include a conversation with Dr. Habibul Ahsan, the primary investigator on the project. And finally, in our second installment of articles focused on

personalized medicine, we look at pancreatic cancer and how genomics, the study of the entire human genome, is revealing clues about one of the deadliest cancers. We hope you enjoy reading about all the wonderful accomplishments and progress taking place at the Cancer Center. Regards, Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD Director, The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center; Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine

Pathways to Discovery

The University of Chicago Breast Cancer SPORE Translates Innovative Science into Patient Care

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of the leaves and crispness in the air, a sea of pink ribbons annually marks the arrival of fall and October’s designation of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For a team of breast cancer investigators at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC), the influx of pink also serves as a visual reminder of their steadfast commitment to reducing worldwide suffering from breast cancer. The University of Chicago Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Breast Cancer was established in 2006, and is one of only 11 National Cancer Institute (NCI) Breast Cancer SPOREs in the United States. Begun at the NCI in 1992, the SPORE program has made significant strides in promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary translational breast cancer research involving both basic and clinical scientists. The result has been the development of novel and far-reaching approaches to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat breast cancer over the past two decades. The focus on translational research in the breast cancer arena has been driven by the collective voice of tireless breast cancer advocates. For example, broad advocacy efforts have recently established the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Breast Cancer Deadline 2020® to end this disease by the end of this decade. The UCCCC Breast SPORE, directed by Olufunmilayo Olopade, MBBS, the Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, has taken advantage of the expertise of its talented investigators and institutional strengths to develop genetic and imagingbased approaches for breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Much of the work has focused on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an especially aggressive form of the disease that disproportionately affects women of African ancestry. According to Dr. Olopade, the focus on this subset of cancers benefited tremendously from UChicago Medicine’s unique patient population, which draws from the Chicago South Side all the way up to the North Shore (through a partnership with NorthShore University

project leaders and co-investigators, including Dezheng Huo, PhD; Linda PatrickMiller, PhD; Suzanne Conzen, MD; Rita Nanda, MD;Yang-Xin Fu, MD, PhD; M. Eileen Dolan, PhD; Gini Fleming, MD; and Peter O’Donnell, MD, from UCCCC, and Angela Bradbury, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, submitted a proposal for the UChicago Breast Cancer SPORE renewal. Partners from NorthShore University HealthSystem include Peter Hulick, MD; Katharine Yao, MD; Douglas Merkel, MD; Jonathan Silverstein, MD;Yuan Ji, PhD; and Karen Kaul, MD, PhD. The objectives for the next funding cycle are to implement the previous research findings in the clinic and expand studies that test new therapeutic targets in TNBC and understand immune resistance to anti-HER2 antibodies (such as trastuzumab, trade name Herceptin). In the current funding environment, nothing is certain; yet, the resolve to advance this Geoffrey Greene, PhD, Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor and Chair of the Ben May Department for Cancer groundbreaking work will continue. “The Research, presents his latest research finding at a UCCCC Breast Cancer SPORE retreat and acknowledges the science is outstanding and the researchindispensable contributions of SPORE patient advocates. ers are so committed to the cutting-edge the SPORE program. The UCCCC Breast translational research, I know we will be Health System), and extensive international Cancer SPORE has supported the best successful in continuing the progress we collaborations. and most promising breast cancer researchhave made so far,” said Dr. Olopade. Originally funded for five years, the ers with its Career Development Program One of the central reasons the UCCCC UChicago Breast Cancer SPORE lists (CDP). The Developmental Research Breast Cancer SPORE team has been so among its many accomplishments: 1) the successful is the involvement of patient assembly of a first-rate breast cancer research Program (DRP) funded key pilot studies advocates in many aspects of its team composed of basic and research program. For example, clinical scientists to foster interThe science is outstanding and patient advocates were critical to disciplinary research; 2) development of new magnetic resonance the researchers are so committed developing a universal consent for sample collection. “We can’t imaging (MRI) methods to detect ever thank our patients enough early-stage cancers; 3) demonstra- to the cutting-edge translational for their support of research that tion that using MRI every six research, I know we will be goes from the clinic to the labomonths in high-risk women may successful in continuing the ratory and is hopefully returned help to find the most aggressive back to them,” said Dr. Olopade. tumors at an early stage; 4) devel- progress we have made so far. UCCCC Breast Cancer SPORE opment of cell-based models to Olufunmilayo Olopade, MBBS advocate since its inception, Ilana identify predictive genetic markers that laid the foundation for larger initiaCohen, added, “It has been rewarding to of chemotherapy-induced toxicities; and 5) tives with broader impact. Several UCCCC participate in the SPORE as an advocate by identification of genetic variants for breast Breast Cancer SPORE CDP investigators helping to promote breast cancer research cancer risk in diverse populations using at the University of Chicago and impacting genome-wide association studies, and whole have developed into leaders in their respective fields, and two of the funded DRPs the work of the SPORE investigators by exome/genome sequencing. became new full projects in the pending providing input on their research from the In addition to innovative translational renewal application for funding. perspective of a breast cancer survivor.” science, the investment in young talent and In May, Dr. Olopade and her team of innovative ideas is a unique component of

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Open Cancer Clinical Trials Patient enrollment is under way for more than 350 clinical trials at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. A few of our newly launched clinical trials include:  hase I/randomized Phase II trial of idelalisib, lenalidomide, and rituximab in patients with relapsed/refractory P mantle cell lymphoma–Sonali Smith, MD, principal investigator. n P  hase I, single-center, cohort dose escalation trial to determine the safety, tolerance, and preliminary antineoplastic activity of OTS167, a MELK inhibitor, in patients with refractory locally advanced or metastatic solid tumor malignancies–Michael Maitland, MD, PhD, principal investigator. n R  andomized Phase II study comparing cabozantinib with commercially supplied sunitinib in patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma–Walter Stadler, MD, principal investigator. n P  hase IIIB, open-label, multi-center study of the efficacy and safety of rigosertib administered as 72-hour continuous intravenous infusions in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome with excess blasts progressing on or after azacitidine or decitabine–Lucy Godley, MD, PhD, principal investigator. To learn more about these or any other UCCCC clinical trial, call toll-free 1-855-702-8222 for adult clinical trials or 1-773-702-6808 for pediatric clinical trials, or go to cancer.uchicago.edu and click on Search Clinical Trials in the blue box. n

Pathways to ®

Pathways to Discovery is a quarterly publication of The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. Fall 2013, Volume 8, Number 4

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At the Forefront of Discovery®

Large-Scale Study to Tackle Cancer Prevention from a Population Perspective

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University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) is embarking on an ambitious project to investigate the causes and risk factors of cancer. To achieve this objective, the Chicago Multiethnic Prevention and Surveillance Study, or COMPASS, is establishing a large cohort of 100,000 Chicago residents for population research in cancer and other chronic diseases. The first-of-its kind study will establish the only such cohort in a geographically-defined urban environment with a focus on a medically underserved population. It will be a major population research resource for the UCCCC, as well as UChicago, for the study of genomic, healthcare-related, and urban lifestyle, environmental, and behavioral factors that contribute to risk for cancer and other chronic diseases (such as heart disease, high blood Habibul Ahsan, MBBS, MMedSc pressure, and diabetes) and, thus, the development of prevention strategies. tion-research perspective will complement hospital-based clinical Over the past year, a team of 12 field research staff have been trials. By identifying new biomarkers and applying these to expehired and trained to recruit 3,000 Chicago residents, including dite screening, UCCCC researchers can potentially reduce health English-speaking men and women ages 35 and above, to particidisparities by accelerating identification of those at increased risk pate in the pilot phase of the study. Each participant completes for cancer, developing interventions, and providing early diagnoa specially designed interview––which includes questions about sis and treatment for populations at risk. lifestyle, environmental exposure, and healthcare-related informa “Because a small fraction of individuals actually develop a tion, as well as medical history––and provides a blood and urine specific type of cancer and it takes years before a healthy indisample. These samples will be used to examine the relationship vidual develops cancer, a large sampling of the population needs between genetic factors and predispositions with hereditary, lifeto be followed to answer research questions with confidence,” style and/or behavioral factors that contribute to disease develsaid Dr. Ahsan. opment and progression. Additionally, follow-up questionnaires He explained that at the beginning, COMPASS will collect will be mailed every two to three years to obtain updated health as much broad and extensive data as possible so that, over time, information. population scientists can focus on certain aspects as they become The goal is to recruit up to 100,000 population-representative more and more relevant. The data will enable them to answer individuals across randomly selected Census tracts in the Chicago endless research questions about how genetic, lifestyle, healthmetropolitan area over the next five years. In Chicago, the disease care-related and environmental factors function alone or interact rates and severity of cancer and other chronic diseases, such as together to increase the risk of certain types of cancer and other diabetes, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, are often worse complex diseases. than those observed in other areas in the United States. By identifying patients at high risk across different ethnic “Chicago provides the ideal context for this type of research groups and developing new interventions and early diagnostics because of the prevalence of underserved multiethnic populafor these individuals, the UCCCC aims to make groundbreaktions,” said Habibul Ahsan, MBBS, MMedSc, Louis Block Profesing discoveries that translate to sustainable disease prevention sor of Health Studies, Medicine, and Human Genetics, UCCCC programs. associate director for population research, and principal investiga “This type of study of a large population-representative group tor of COMPASS. “Any knowledge we generate in relation to of people over an extended period of time has never been done this population’s cancer risk and approaches to prevention will be before,” said Dr. Ahsan. “The knowledge we acquire will be valumeaningful and have an impact in reducing cancer disparities.” able and applicable to the general population throughout the Approaching cancer prevention and treatment from a populanation.” he

A Conversation With…

Habibul Ahsan, MBBS, MMedSc Louis Block Professor of Health Studies, Medicine, and Human Genetics If you were not a physician, what would your profession be?

I always wanted to be a physician/public health scientist. If I had failed to become one, I probably would have tried some type of business-related profession – my back-up preference. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

I enjoy learning new things and incorporating them in my pursuit of new research ideas that have an impact on the health of the population; the most rewarding part is that I can pursue what I really enjoy as part of my job here at the University! Where have you been that you feel everyone should go?

Places where people have more sufferings or more happiness to appreciate what we have and what we don’t. If you had one piece of advice for someone considering your field, what would it be?

Enjoy the work you do and it will amplify the success and reward. Who inspires you?

My 87-year-old mother who always seems happier than I with what I do. Where would you like to go on your next vacation?

Probably Hawaii with my family. What is your favorite way to relax?

Walking along Lake Michigan.

Latina Community Members Walk Through Breast Cancer Services at the UCCCC

The Stanley Cup Makes Its Rounds at the University of Chicago Medicine Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman brought the Stanley Cup to the University of Chicago Medicine campus September 17 so that patients at the Center for Care and Discovery and Comer Children’s Hospital could have their pictures taken with the famed cup. Pictured is Bowman (left) and Justin Kline, MD, assistant professor of medicine, who treated Bowman for Hodgkin lymphoma and oversaw his successful stem cell transplant in 2008.

Although community-based education and awareness are important, studies show that knowledge alone rarely motivates behavior change and, therefore, may not be enough to improve cancer control and reduce disparities. To approach these issues, the UCCCC Office of Community Engagement and Cancer Disparities (OCECD) team has developed a program, “A Walk through the Cure,” that explores the associations between education, experiential learning, and familiarity with the medical system in motivating behavior change among Latina women. On September 14, the OCECD brought 45 members of the Latina community to visit the University of Chicago Medicine. Interactive walking tours were led by medical school students from the University of Chicago Pritzker Members of the Latina community learn about mammography services offered School of Medicine and consisted of designated stops by the University of Chicago Medicine. within the hospital along the breast cancer prevention and treatment continuum (Breast Health Center, Oncology Clinic and Infusion Center, Radiation Therapy, Ambulatory Surgery, and Cancer Resource Center). At each stop, a mini-lecture was given by the clinical provider and community members were encouraged to ask questions. The two-hour tour culminated with an interactive discussion led by breast cancer survivors who shared their stories of survival and triumph. Additionally, the Chicago Family Health Center informed participants about the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, which offers free mammograms and breast exams, among other services, to eligible women. The event, offered in both Spanish and English, was planned in partnership with Centro Comunitario Juan Diego, a grassroots community-based organization founded by Participants try to feel for lumps representing tumors in simulated breast tissue. eight Latina women in the South Chicago community. Many of the small tumors that lie too deep to be felt can be detected by The OCECD, which is led by Karen E. Kim, MD, MS, profes- mammography. sor of medicine, held its first “A Walk through the Cure” event last fall with members of Chicago’s Chinese community, followed by another event tailored to the African American community. The program is funded by a grant from the Exelon Corporation.

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Pathways to Discovery

Paving the Pathway for a Career in Cancer Research

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or Angela Schab, a

student from Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, this summer culminated with her new goal of joining a MD/PhD program after college, something she did not know even existed before her exposure to cancer research at the University of Chicago Medicine. It was her experience in the laboratory of UCCCC member Ravi Salgia, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, and work with Rifat Hasina, DDS, PhD, that opened her eyes to the possibility of a career that “allows me to work directly with patients and also in a lab.” Schab, studying the signaling pathways that control lung cancer, was one of four high school students performing research in laboratories at the University of Chicago as participants in the American Cancer Society Summer High School Research Program. And the effort she put into the program paid off. “By the end of the summer, she had a solid understanding of lung cancer biology as well as how to design a hypothesis-driven research project,” said Dr. Hasina. Since the Program’s inception in 2003, the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences Division has hosted several Chicago-area high school students each year. The major goal of the program is to introduce students to cancer research and promote career opportunities in the field of oncology. In the past decade, 100% of the more than 270 program alumni attended or are attending college. Many have gone on to obtain their undergraduate, graduate and/or medical degrees at some of the nation’s best universities, including Harvard,

American Cancer Society Summer High School Research Program participant Janet Martin, from Marian Catholic High School, and her mentor and UCCCC member Patrick La Riviere, PhD, associate professor of radiology. Ms. Martin’s project optimized imaging with multi-energy computed tomography in zebrafish models of cancer.

Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern, and our own University of Chicago. Importantly, minorities comprise approximately 57% of alumni, and more than 80% of each year’s class pay-it-forward and serve as American Cancer Society volunteers. The program’s success is due in large part to the partnership of the American Cancer Society and researchers at Illinois’ leading institutions who serve as program mentors. Beyond providing space in their laboratories and training in the technical

aspects of cutting-edge research, mentors engage the students in one-on-one skill development including testing hypotheses, designing experiments, data interpretation, trouble-shooting, and preparing presentations. The 8-week program augments the students’ laboratory training experience with interactive weekly lectures by leading cancer researchers on a range of cancerrelated topics, providing context to what the students learn in the lab. Anthony Mei, a Walter Payton College

Preparatory High School student, worked in the laboratory of UCCCC member Maryellen Giger, PhD, professor of radiology, analyzing imaging data to distinguish the prognostic and diagnostic features of distinct types of breast cancer. “I learned so much about the great steps that cancer researchers are taking,” said Mei. “The Summer High School Research Program gave me the chance to see the inner workings of cancer research. I’ve been amazed at how much researchers put in, and I have so much faith in the work they do and the things they achieve.” John Franklin from Whitney M.Young Magnet High School studied the effect of visceral fat on cancer prevention and added, “Once you finish your summer project, it’s more satisfying and gratifying than anything I can think of.” Research remains at the heart of the American Cancer Society’s mission, but their financial support for the Summer High School Research Program will end with this year’s class. “The spirit of the high school students is great, and it was a difficult decision that we did not make lightly. Our focus is on doing all we can to save as many lives as possible,” explains Elizabeth Jablonski, PhD, who directed the Society’s research program in Illinois. “Moving forward, the American Cancer Society will continue to identify the most innovative cancer research and the fund best young scientists and health care professionals – including many right here at the University of Chicago.”

High school biology teacher Jennifer McQuade (far left) with a group of students who spent a week learning about cancer research in the laboratory of M. Eileen Dolan, PhD, professor of medicine (far right).

High School Teacher Brings Students to Cancer Research Laboratory In August, a group of high school and undergraduate students spent a week at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center to learn about cancer research and work in the laboratory of M. Eileen Dolan, PhD, professor of medicine. Jennifer McQuade, a biology teacher at Hanover Central High School in Cedar Lake, Indiana, brought some of her Advanced Placement Biology class for the weeklong program. The students heard presentations from scientists and a cancer survivor, toured the University campus, and participated in an ongoing research project to study the use of cell-based models to evaluate genetic and biological changes after treatment with chemotherapy. To study neuropathy induced by chemotherapy, they treated neuronal cells with different concentrations of chemotherapeutic drugs and evaluated damage to the cells. Overall, Jennifer said the interactive experience inspired her students to explore a career path in science. Jennifer received a grant from the Lilly Foundation to work on a similar project during the summer in the Dolan lab.

Shirley Metz, a breast cancer survivor and patient advocate, shares her personal story with breast cancer and explains why research is so important to finding better treatments for cancer.

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The students learned how to use laboratory equipment.

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ACS CAN volunteers from across Illinois met with their members of Congress September 10.

Advocacy in Action

Oncology researchers and physicians are active in the fight against cancer on the front lines every day. Another way they make an impact is by being vocal advocates for cancer-related issues, such as protecting the fragile National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute budgets, promoting tobacco and tanning legislation, preserving funding for cancer prevention services, and enhancing access to cancer care. UCCCC Senior Science Writer and Director for Strategic Partnerships Kathleen Goss, PhD, met with Illinois legislators about these issues in Washington, D.C., as part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) 2013 National Lobby Day September 10 with 450 other volunteers from across the nation. Additionally, the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center was a sponsor of the Rally for Medical Research Hill Day held September 18, which was organized by the American Association for Cancer Research.

At the Forefront of Discovery®

Cancer Center News and Updates 1 Geoffrey L. Greene, PhD, Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer Research, has been named chair of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research. His research interests include triple-negative breast cancer, miRNAs, tumor heterogeneity, and novel approaches to targeting these therapy-resistant breast cancers. The role of chair was previously held by Marsha Rosner, PhD, Charles B. Huggins Professor. 2 Walter Stadler, MD, Fred C. Buffet Professor of Medicine and Surgery and associate dean for clinical research, has been named chief of the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine. Dr. Stadler joined the faculty more than 20 years ago, and has served as interim section chief since January. He succeeds Richard Schilsky, MD, who became the inaugural Chief Medical Officer for the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Stadler focuses his research on innovative treatments for urological cancers as well as clinical trial design. 3 Ernst Lengyel, MD, PhD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, has been appointed chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to being an accomplished clinician and teacher, Dr. Lengyel focuses his research on the biology of ovarian cancer metastasis, the use of novel drugs for its treatment, and how ovarian cancer cells manipulate their surrounding environments, reprogramming normal fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts. 4 Maryellen Giger, PhD, professor of radiology, has been selected as one of the International Congress of Medical Physics’ 50 medical physicists with the greatest impact on the field in the last 50 years. Dr. Giger, who is widely considered one of the pioneers in the development of CAD (computer-aided diagnosis), was nominated for this honor by the American Association of Medical Physicists. In addition, Dr. Giger was appointed the A. N. Pritzker Professor of Radiology. A named professorship is the highest academic honor accorded by a university and is awarded only to the most distinguished scientists and clinicians. 5 M. Eileen Dolan, PhD, professor of medicine, is the new UCCCC associate director for education, effective Jan. 1, 2014. In this role, Dr. Dolan will continue to expand, integrate and coordinate all cancer-related educational efforts across the institution. She brings extensive experience and commitment to education as a teacher and mentor of high school, medical, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as clinical and postdoctoral fellows. Dr. Dolan succeeds Ezra Cohen, MD, associate professor of medicine, who is acknowledged for his leadership and commitment to cancer education at the UCCCC. 6 UCCCC Director Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine, was elected to the executive committee of the American Society of Hematology. She will serve a four-year term as a councillor. Dr. Le Beau, who is also president of the Association of American Cancer Institutes, moderated its Annual Meeting, Sept. 29–Oct. 1, in Washington, D.C. She is pictured with Kathleen Sebelius, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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7 Everett Vokes, MD, John E. Ultmann Professor of Medicine, was included as one of OncLive’s 2013 “Giants of Cancer Care,” 12 luminaries selected by oncology industry peers for their remarkable achievements in research and/or clinical practice. OncLive recognized Dr. Vokes for being an innovator of concomitant chemoradiation therapy for head and neck cancers. Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, MD, Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, associate dean for global health, and director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, was presented with the Scientific and Medical Award of Distinction at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® event, “Honoring the Promise,” September 20 in Washington, D.C. She was honored for her research into the hereditary links to breast cancer, particularly in young women of African ancestry who are at higher risk for more aggressive cancers. Chuan He, PhD, professor of chemistry, has been named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. The institute provides investigators their full salary, benefits, and a research budget over their initial five-year appointment. Dr. He, who also directs the University of Chicago Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, will use the funding to assist with his efforts to understand how the addition and removal of methyl groups on genetic material reversibly alter gene activity. Susana R. Marino, MD, PhD, has been promoted to professor in the Department of Pathology. Dr. Marino is the director of the Transplant Immunology and Immunogenetics Laboratory. She is primarily a clinical scientist, who continues to stay involved in basic research. Dr. Marino is interested in identifying predictive risk factors and biomarkers to improve hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) outcomes and understanding the alloresponse. Jessica Kandel, MD, an accomplished surgeon and prolific investigator and researcher, joined the University in August as professor of surgery, section chief of pediatric surgery and surgeon-in-chief at the University of Chicago Medicine

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Comer Children’s Hospital. Dr. Kandel is an internationally recognized expert in the surgical treatment of childhood cancers, and focuses her research on the regulation of angiogenesis in pediatric solid tumors, including Wilms’ tumor, neuroblastoma and hepatoblastoma, among other areas. Two new cancer specialists have joined the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross in New Lenox. Daniel W. Golden, MD, is an assistant professor of radiation and cellular oncology, and focuses his research on malignancies of the central nervous system, as well as head and neck and gastrointestinal cancers. Grace K. Suh, MD, clinical associate of medicine, treats patients with complex malignancies. Three UCCCC members were recognized by the University of Chicago Department of Medicine for their contributions in education, patient care, research, and mentorship at a faculty awards ceremony held in late June. Lucy Godley MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, received a Leif B. Sorensen Faculty Research Award; Philip Hoffman, MD, professor of medicine, received the Clinical Teacher of the Year Award and the Medical Resident Teaching Award; and Kenneth Cohen, MD, assistant professor of medicine, received the Postgraduate Teaching Award. Raymon Grogan, MD, assistant professor of surgery and director of the endocrine surgery research program, is among the three physicians named as Junior Faculty Scholars by the Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence. Scholars are selected for their dedication to patient care, collaborative decisionmaking, and clinical excellence. They are encouraged to explore approaches to improve the doctor-patient relationship. The Bucksbaum Institute also named seven new Associate Junior Scholars, including Jonas de Souza, MD, instructor of medicine. Three UCCCC members were among 14 faculty honored at the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division (BSD) Distinguished Faculty Award Reception June 25. Nancy Cox, PhD, professor of

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medicine, received the Senior Award in the Distinguished Investigator category for her influential research in the field of human genetics, particularly her involvement in international consortia devoted to mapping the genetic underpinnings of a dozen major diseases. Bernard Roizman, ScD, Joseph Regenstein Distinguished Service Professor of Virology, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Distinguished Investigator category for his work since 1965 on the molecular biology of the herpes simplex virus. Kerstin Stenson, MD, professor of surgery, was chosen for the Senior Award in the Distinguished Clinician category because of her reputation as an outstanding patient advocate and a role model for patient care. Kay Macleod, PhD, associate professor of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research, has been named as the new chair for the Committee on Cancer Biology (CCB). Dr. Macleod focuses her research on the impact of autophagy and mitochondrial integrity on tumor initiation and progression. She fills the chair position after Geoffrey Greene, PhD, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor, who successfully led the CCB since 2004, recently became chair of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research. Kathleen Goss, PhD, has joined the UCCCC administrative staff as the Senior Science Writer and Director for Strategic Partnerships. Dr. Goss brings her expertise in cancer biology to the communications team in the Cancer Center and will enhance the UCCCC’s relationships with partnering institutions and cancer organizations, as well as integrate UChicago’s cancer training programs. Michelle Foley has joined the UCCCC administrative staff as the director for marketing and communications. Foley will work directly with the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences Division marketing department, fulfilling a key role in the strategic planning and implementation of marketing and communications initiatives for the Cancer Center. Foley joins us from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, where she was the manager of public relations.

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Pathways to Discovery

Research Highlights

The following represent some of the research accomplishments of UCCCC members published June–September 2013. The Tumor Suppressor NOL7 Controls Thrombospondin-1 and Angiogenesis New blood vessel growth, or angiogenesis, can be a rate-limiting step for tumor growth and metastasis, so much so that several current therapies for advanced cancer disrupt the balance of pro- and antiangiogenic factors. Mark Lingen, DDS, PhD, associate professor of pathology, has sought to understand the complex regulation of thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis and tumor growth. Dr. Lingen and his research team previously discovered a novel tumor suppressor called NOL7 that they demonstrated was lost in cervical cancer and, when reintroduced, blocked tumor development and angiogenesis. In a recent extension of these findings, they showed that NOL7 bound to the 3’ untranslated region of the THBS1 mRNA and increased its stability and expression. Interestingly, NOL7 appears to regulate other angiogenesis-related mRNAs, suggesting that loss of this tumor suppressor in cancers may globally drive the angiogenic phenotype. The clinical impact of this work lies in the discovery of a novel angiogenesis regulator and a promising potential therapeutic target. (Doçi et al., Oncogene 32:4377-86, 2013) This work was supported in part by Illinois Department of Public Health Penny Severns Cancer Research Fund.

Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Is Beneficial as Early Therapy for T-cell non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Although they are a diverse set of malignancies, peripheral T-cell lymphomas, such as T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are commonly resistant to chemotherapies and demonstrate poor outcome with standard treatments. Both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation show promise as effective treatments, but questions remain about optimal patient populations and the timing of transplant in the disease course. Sonali Smith, MD, associate professor of medicine, and her colleagues across the nation and worldwide, addressed these critical issues by examining the outcomes of a large cohort of autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients with the most common histological subtypes of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The investigators identified significant differences among the two types of transplantations in terms of baseline characteristics but, once adjusted,

did not observe differences in relapse or progression. Importantly, Dr. Smith and her team found that transplantation was typically offered late in the disease course and that this late referral led to a three-fold increase risk of relapse, and five-fold increased risk of overall mortality. Additionally, the subgroup of patients with anaplastic large-cell lymphoma were particularly responsive to autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation at relapse, suggesting that this may be a potential option for them. (Smith et al., J Clin Oncol 31:3100-9, 2013) This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants U24-CA76518 and 5U01HL069294; Health and Human Services contract HHSH234200637015C; Office of Naval Research grants N00014-06-1-0704 and N00014-081-0058; and grants from Allos Therapeutics; Amgen; Angioblast Systems; anonymous donation to the Medical College of Wisconsin; Ariad Pharmaceuticals; Be the Match Foundation; Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; Buchanan Family Foundation; CaridianBCT; Celgene; CellGenix; Children’s Leukemia Research Association; Fresenius-Biotech North America; Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture; Genentech; Genzyme; GlaxoSmithKline; HistoGenetics; Kiadis Pharma; The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; The Medical College of Wisconsin; Merck; Millennium Pharmaceuticals; The Takeda Oncology Company; Milliman USA; Miltenyi Biotec; National Marrow Donor Program; OptumHealth Care Solutions; Osiris Therapeutics; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical; RemedyMD; Sanofi; Seattle Genetics; Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals; Soligenix; StemCyte; STEMSOFT Software; Swedish Orphan Biovitrum; Tarix Pharmaceuticals; Teva Neuroscience; Therakos; and WellPoint.

Ethnicity Contributes to Breast Cancer Risk from Hormone Replacement Therapy Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use decreased significantly in the United States after reports more than a decade ago demonstrating its association with a pronounced increase in invasive breast cancer risk. Dezheng Huo, MD, PhD, assistant professor of health studies, and Olufunmilayo Olopade, MBBS, Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics, analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium consisting of more than 1.6 million screening mammograms and 9,300 breast cancer cases to assess whether high- or low-risk groups of HRT users could be identified. Their team found that breast cancer risk was increased more than 20% with HRT use in white, Asian, and Hispanic, but not black, women. The highest risk of breast cancer was observed in women with lownormal body mass index and very dense breasts, while there was no excess risk with HRT use in overweight/obese women with less dense breasts. This work will impact

breast cancer risk stratification in order to counsel women about the use of HRT for relief of menopausal symptoms. (Huo et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 105:1365-72, 2013) This work was supported by grants from the American Cancer Society (MRSG-13-063-01), National Institutes of Health (P50 CA125183) and the Dr. Ralph and Marian Falk Medical Research Trust.

Targeting Immune Regulators in Melanoma As a physician scientist, Thomas Gajewski, MD, PhD, professor of pathology and medicine, has turned to the immune system to identify new biomarkers and develop novel therapeutic strategies for malignant melanoma, a skin tumor type that is often very aggressive and deadly. Dr. Gajewski and his team recently analyzed melanomas from patients for specific characteristics of the tumor-surrounding tissue, or microenvironment, including immune cells. Using technology to identify the expression of thousands of genes in tumors at one time, his group found that some melanomas were infiltrated by abundant T cells, and patients with these tumors were more likely to respond to cancer vaccines. This subset of T cell-inflamed tumors expressed a specific profile of molecules, such as programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), that actually suppresses the immune response. They further demonstrated that these inhibitory mechanisms are important in animal models and come from the host rather than being directly promoted by the tumor. These findings may explain why some tumors respond to cancer immunotherapy, but others do not. Perhaps more importantly, Dr. Gajewski’s work suggests that patients with tumors expressing PD-L1 and IDO and accumulating T regulatory cells may benefit from novel targeted or combination immunotherapies. (Spranger et al., Sci Transl Med, 5:200ra116, 2013) This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grant numbers R01 CA127475 and R01 CA118153.

The HMGA2/TET1/HOXA9 Signaling Axis Controls Breast Cancer Growth and Metastasis Epigenetic changes play a critical role in tumor development and progression, and loss of DNA demethylases such as ten-eleven translocation (TET) 1 have been implicated in cancer. Yet, the upstream regulators and downstream effectors of TET1, and their precise action in tumor progression, was unknown. Marsha Rosner, PhD, Charles B. Huggins Professor of the Ben May Department for Cancer Research, in collaboration with Chuan He, PhD, professor of chemistry, and Jianjun Chen, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, identified the signaling pathway involving

TET1 using human breast cancer cells and in vivo models. They showed that depletion of the chromatin remodeling factor high mobility group AT-hook2 (HMGA2) induces TET1, and that TET1 in turn regulates its own expression and that of the homeobox A (HOXA) genes, including HOXA9. Functional studies using xenograft models illustrated that the HMGA2/TET1/ HOXA9 axis suppresses breast tumor growth and metastasis. Importantly, this pathway is also coordinately regulated in human breast cancer specimens and comprises a gene expression signature associated with patient prognosis. These findings uncover a new signaling pathway that regulates breast tumor epigenetics, and as a consequence, tumor behavior, and support the value of targeting DNA methylation as a potential therapeutic approach. (Sun et al., PNAS 110:9920-25, 2013) This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant GM087630, GM071440, CA125183, and CA127277.

Study Explores the Effect of Food on the Pharmacokinetics of Basal Cell Carcinoma Drug Vismodegib was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treatment of advanced basal cell carcinoma, the most common skin cancer and the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. As an orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of the Hedgehog signaling pathway currently in clinical trial for other types of cancer, there is concern that food may affect the metabolism of the drug, or physically or chemically interact with the drug. A multi-investigator team led by Ezra Cohen, MD, associate professor of medicine, and including colleagues Manish Sharma, MD, assistant professor of medicine, Mark Ratain, MD, Leon O. Jacobson Professor of Medicine, and Michael Maitland, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, analyzed the food effect of vismodegib because it has high permeability and low solubility, and has solubility limited absorption. Their pharmacokinetic study involving 63 enrolled patients with several tumor types, including basal cell carcinoma, found that a high-fat meal increased drug exposure after a single dose compared with fasting. However, there were no significant differences in exposure or drug safety between fasting and fed groups after daily dosing. These findings are important because they indicate that vismodegib may be safely taken with or without food for daily dosing associated with standard use or clinical trials. (Sharma et al., Clin Cancer Res 19:3059-67, 2013) This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants CA69852 and CA139160, and the National Cancer Institute Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program.

Basketball Tournament Supports Pediatric Cancer Research

The Executive Board of the Cure It On The Court Foundation: (left to right) Vice-President and Secretary: Shane Massel, 24, Roosevelt University, Northbrook, IL; Vice-President: Jason Krawetz, 24, The John Marshall Law School, Northbrook, IL; Founder and President, Zachary Bulwa, 24, Chicago Medical School, Northbrook, IL.

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The 6th Annual North Shore 3-on-3 Summer Showdown raised more than $5,000 to benefit pediatric cancer care and research at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital. The charity basketball tournament was held July 20th at the University of Illinois Chicago Student Recreation Facility, and brought together more than 100 athletes to play for the cause, as well as more than 100 attendees in the stands to cheer them on. Zachary Bulwa, a graduate of Glenbrook North High School and the University of Illinois, decided to combine his passions for basketball and medicine after shadowing physicians and scientists at UChicago. Zachary, along with his longtime friends Shane Massel and Jason Krawetz, began the tournament in 2008 and established the Cure It On The Court Foundation. Pediatric cancer leaders at the University of Chicago Medicine are working to help children and young adults with cancer through preventive genetic screening, early detection, and better, less toxic treatments.

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Cure It On The Court Foundation volunteers

At the Forefront of Discovery®

Focus on: Core Facilities

The Human Tissue Resource Center Fosters Translational Research

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he Human Tissue Resource Center (HTRC) remains one of the most widely used core facilities at the University of Chicago. It offers investigators a centralized infrastructure to optimize the efficiency and costs related to research involving biospecimens, such as tissue, urine, blood, cells, DNA, RNA, and protein. Led by Scientific Director Mark W. Lingen, DDS, PhD, professor of pathology, a team of research and pathology professionals ensures appropriate collection, storage, and distribution of research-quality human biospecimens for University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) investigators. The HTRC currently provides services for 160 Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved studies. The HTRC interacts with the UCCCC’s Epidemiology and Research Recruitment Core to help recruit study participants and collect biological specimens. Access to data from large cohorts of patients is critical for the development of more effective personalized cancer treatment and prevention strategies. The HTRC has also

recently begun supporting the Chicago Multiethnic Prevention and Surveillance Study (see story on pg. 3) by processing and storing the blood samples collected from study subjects in the community. From the time it was established, the HTRC has banked more than 250,000 samples. Over the past two years, the HTRC has undergone extensive renovations and equipment upgrades to further streamline efficiency and help researchers achieve their objectives. Now comprising 2,500 square feet of space in the hospital’s pathology department, the HTRC established a unified “freezer farm” to store its growing collection of biospecimens. Relocating the freezers freed up space to install additional research benches in the HTRC facility. “The renovation has allowed us to consolidate our freezers in a safe and dependable way and also improve our workflow in terms of the other services we offer,” said Dr. Lingen. In addition, the HTRC implemented a new digital pathology image analysis system called Aperio, which allows researchers to

Joe Hylander, a member of the HTRC staff, operates the Leica Laser Micro­ dissection System.

view and quantify images of stained tissue and analyze them using different algorithms that are either pre-populated in the system or created using their own parameters. By integrating image capture, viewing, management, and analysis solutions into a single workflow, Aperio helps scientists accelerate basic research and drug discoveries. In September, the HTRC acquired the newest version of the Leica Laser Microdissection (LMD) System. LMD is an advanced microscope that makes it possible to isolate cells or tissues of interest. The device uses a laser to separate a group of cells in a designated area from the rest of the tissue on the slide. Gravity causes only those selected cells to fall into a tube under the stage of the microscope. “Investigators then know that they’re capturing a relatively pure population of

cells for whatever they want to study,” said Dr. Lingen. “It allows them to ask something specific about a particular type of tissue with less interference from background noise.” Biospecimens are an ever-growing critical component to translational research, according to Dr. Lingen. The HTRC provides investigators with a streamlined mechanism to collect biospecimens and use them in histology, immunohistochemistry, laser capture microdissection, and image analysis. “Both in vitro and in vivo work in animals are important, but at the end of the day, if you’re talking about a diagnostic or therapeutic biomarker, you ultimately need to validate it in humans,” he said.

UCCCC Honors Todd Golub with 2013 Shubitz Prize

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he UCCCC and the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation presented the 2013 Simon M. Shubitz Cancer Prize to Todd Golub, MD, a cancer genomics expert best known for making discoveries in the molecular basis of childhood leukemia and laying the foundation for the diagnosis and classification of human cancers using gene expression analysis. He also pioneered the development of chemical screening approaches based on gene expression. Dr. Golub is the Founding Core Member, Chief Scientific Officer, and Director of the Cancer Program at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, Charles A. Dana Investigator in Human Cancer Genetics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He presented his lecture, “Genomic Approaches to Cancer,” to faculty and students on October 7 at the University of Chicago. The Shubitz Cancer Prize and Lectureship is awarded each year to recognize excellence in cancer research and to gain knowledge from internationally respected scientists who have made significant contributions to the study of cancer.

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Todd Golub, MD, receives the 2013 Simon M. Shubitz Cancer Prize from UCCCC Director Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine.

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Pathways to Discovery

UCCRF Associates Board Generates Funds for Immunology Research

save the dates! The University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation (UCCRF) presents a list of upcoming fundraising events:

The University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation (UCCRF) Associates Board is a group of professionals in their twenties and thirties who are dedicated to supporting the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center’s efforts to understand, cure, and prevent cancer. The Board has long been a supporter of innovative research in the burgeoning field of cancer immunotherapy, whereby disease is treated using the body’s own immune response. “Cancer is a disease that touches everybody on some level,” said Katherine Crouch, the Associates Board president. “It’s become a natural point for people to rally around, especially for people our age, and I think everyone wants to keep seeing strides made to cure it.” Crouch first became involved when she attended UCCRF events with her mother-in-law, a member of the Women’s Board. However, once Crouch learned that a Board existed for people in her age group, she joined and has remained an active member for the past four years. The Board regularly interacts with the UCCCC researchers they support. This past year, they supported the work of Thomas Gajewski, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, and Justin Kline, MD, assistant professor of medicine, who both study immunology and cancer. Dr. Gajewski’s research focuses on T cell activation and preclinical and clinical efforts to promote anti-tumor immunity in vivo. Dr. Kline studies how to overcome barriers to immune resistance mechanisms in tumors. He develops preclinical models to improve immune-mediated rejection of cancer that can be translated into clinical trials for patients with advanced malignancies. “The researchers are really terrific about filling us in about what’s new and stating it in a way that’s understandable to those of us who don’t have a scientific background,” said Crouch. The Board hosts several fundraising and membership events throughout the year to educate young Chicago professionals about cancer immunology and to encourage them to become involved in the Board’s work. This year, their major annual event, the No-Tie Ball, was replaced by the inaugural Gatsby Gala. The event, which featured a silent auction, raised nearly $46,000 in support of UCCCC research. Other smaller events include a pig roast called the Ham Jam, a Sunday afternoon tailgate for a Chicago Bears football game, and Karaoke for a Cure, among others. The Board’s membership

Ass o c i ate ’s B oar d

3-on-3 Corporate Challenge Basketball Tournament Saturday, January 18, 2014 Francis W. Parker School Gym Aux i li ary B oar d

Auction and Gala Saturday, March 1, 2014 Michigan Shores Club

Katherine Crouch

Ass o c i ate s Boar d

has grown stronger over the past year, increasing to almost 40 members. “Our goal is really not just to get new members and not just to raise funds, but also to start conversations about what the UCCRF is doing and how people our age can raise funds and awareness, hopefully to drive a cure,” said Crouch. With a strong core base of enthusiastic members and a clear sense of the research they help fund, the Associates Board seeks to take their fundraising to the next level. They plan to educate corporations about research in cancer immunology and why it needs to be supported. The Board would also like to become more involved with hands-on volunteer work, such as supporting the UCCCC Office of Community Engagement and Cancer Disparities’ mission to bring the latest cancer research to benefit all members of the community. “We’re happy to be a part of the fundraising that goes on at the UCCRF, and we’re all looking forward to remaining lifelong philanthropists committed to ending cancer,” said Crouch.

Gatsby Gala Saturday, March 22, 2014 Harold Washington Library Winter Garden For more information, please contact [email protected].

Pathways to

Fall 2013 cancer.uchicago.edu

At the Forefront of Cancer Care and Discovery®

In this issue…

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Scientists use genomics to unravel the complexities of pancreatic cancer.

The University of Chicago Breast SPORE translates innovative science into patient care.

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The UCCCC establishes a largescale population study to investigate the causes and risk factors of cancer.

The University of Chicago Medicine 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC1140 H212 Chicago, IL 60637 [email protected]

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A breast cancer patient supports research to find new targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancer.

High school students spend their summer learning from cancer researchers.

The Human Tissue Resource Center fosters translational research at the UCCCC.

Support cancer research through the UCCRF: cancer.uchicago.edu/donations