jshort, Author at Sanford Burnham Prebys - Page 9 of 13

Author: jshort

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The science behind the Pedal the Cause cancer research awards

Authorsgammon
Date

March 26, 2015

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Pedal the Cause, the nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for cancer research, recently announced the funding awards for collaborative translational research projects for scientists at Sanford-Burnham, UC San Diego (Moores Cancer Center), and the Salk Institute. This means that scientists from these organizations will join together and embark on projects centered on what occurs “from bench to bedside” in the development of new drug treatment options for patients. Continue reading “The science behind the Pedal the Cause cancer research awards”

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Expanding the options to treat melanoma

Authorsgammon
Date

March 16, 2015

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Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer with approximately 10,000 deaths per year in the U.S. and more than 65,000 worldwide. Although there are more and better treatment options available today than in previous years, there is still an urgent need to develop drugs that target the numerous pathways melanoma cells use to multiply, spread, and kill. Continue reading “Expanding the options to treat melanoma”

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Molecule that fixes “leaky” blood vessels can impact cancer, stroke, and blindness

Authorsgammon
Date

March 13, 2015

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In a new study by Masanobu Komatsu, Ph.D., associate professor in the Cardiovascular Pathobiology Program and Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis Programs, a cellular protein called R-Ras was found to suppress the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a signaling molecule that helps create new blood vessels and is overexpressed in many tumors. The findings create a new route to treat cancer as well as certain causes of blindness and ischemic diseases. Continue reading “Molecule that fixes “leaky” blood vessels can impact cancer, stroke, and blindness”

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Study explains control of cell metabolism in patient response to breast cancer drugs

Authorsgammon
Date

March 9, 2015

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A new research study has discovered a mechanism that explains why some breast cancer tumors respond to specific chemotherapies and others do not. The findings highlight the level of glutamine, an essential nutrient for cancer development, as a determinant of breast cancer response to select anticancer therapies, and identify a marker associated with glutamine uptake, for potential prognosis and stratification of breast cancer therapy. The study results were published online in Cancer Cell. Continue reading “Study explains control of cell metabolism in patient response to breast cancer drugs”

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Rare Disease Day gathers patients, clinicians, and researchers to discuss sugar therapy

Authorsgammon
Date

March 2, 2015

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“Treating Disease with Sugar” was the theme of this year’s Annual Rare Disease Day Symposium at Sanford-Burnham, a subject that drew scientists and patients together in an informal setting to share promising research on how sugar may be used to treat certain rare genetic disorders—and some not-so-rare disorders. While sugar may seem like an odd approach, for patients with mutations in the genes that attach sugar molecules to proteins (glycobiology), and sufferers of multiple sclerosis and cancer, the concept is proving both rational and effective. Continue reading “Rare Disease Day gathers patients, clinicians, and researchers to discuss sugar therapy”

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Melanoma’s addiction to glutamine is the basis for cancer growth

Authorsgammon
Date

February 17, 2015

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Researchers at Sanford-Burnham have discovered that without a source of glutamine—one of the 20 amino acids used to build proteins—melanoma cells will stop proliferating and die. Their craving for glutamine stems from their ability to “abuse” this essential nutrient by using it as an additional source of carbon and energy. The findings present a rational basis for a treatment strategy that limits the supply of glutamine to tumors, potentially through nutritional interventions or inhibitors of glutamine uptake. The results of the study appear online in Oncotarget today. Continue reading “Melanoma’s addiction to glutamine is the basis for cancer growth”

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You’re invited to Rare Disease Day at Sanford-Burnham in La Jolla

Authorsgammon
Date

February 9, 2015

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Did you know that in the United States there are more people with a rare disease than people with cancer and AIDS combined?

Rare Disease Day is an internationally recognized day to raise awareness about rare diseases and their impact on patients’ lives. There are more than 6,000 types of rare diseases, and most of them are genetic disorders that affect children. The term “rare disease” is a designation of disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 individuals. For most rare-disease patients, the rarity of their disorder makes the process of an accurate diagnosis a significant challenge—requiring extensive genetic and biochemical tests. Equally, if not more, challenging is the search for effective treatments to improve the health and lives of those that suffer. Continue reading “You’re invited to Rare Disease Day at Sanford-Burnham in La Jolla”

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New study sheds light on cancer stem cell regulation

Authorsgammon
Date

February 5, 2015

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Researchers at Sanford-Burnham have discovered a precise stem cell signaling process that can lead to intestinal tumors if disrupted. The findings add to our understanding of how stem cells give rise to tumors and identify specific stem cell molecules that may be targeted to prevent the onset, progression, and recurrence of intestinal cancers. The results of the study appear online in Cell Reports today. Continue reading “New study sheds light on cancer stem cell regulation”

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Using stem cells to grow new hair

Authorsgammon
Date

January 27, 2015

hair growth

In a new study, Sanford-Burnham researchers have used human pluripotent stem cells to generate new hair. The study represents the first step toward the development of a cell-based treatment for people with hair loss. In the United States alone, more than 40 million men and 21 million women are affected by hair loss. The research was published online in PLOS ONE.

“We have developed a method using human pluripotent stem cells to create new cells capable of initiating human hair growth. The method is a marked improvement over current methods that rely on transplanting existing hair follicles from one part of the head to another,” said Alexey Terskikh, PhD, associate professor in the Development, Aging, and Regeneration Program. “Our stem cell method provides an unlimited source of cells from the patient for transplantation and isn’t limited by the availability of existing hair follicles.”

The research team developed a protocol that coaxed human pluripotent stem cells to become dermal papilla cells. They are a unique population of cells that regulate hair-follicle formation and growth cycle. Human dermal papilla cells on their own are not suitable for hair transplants because they cannot be obtained in necessary amounts and rapidly lose their ability to induce hair-follicle formation in culture.

“In adults, dermal papilla cells cannot be readily amplified outside of the body and they quickly lose their hair-inducing properties,” said Terskikh. “We developed a protocol to drive human pluripotent stem cells to differentiate into dermal papilla cells and confirmed their ability to induce hair growth when transplanted into mice.”

“Our next step is to transplant human dermal papilla cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells back into human subjects,” said Terskikh. “We are currently seeking partnerships to implement this final step.”

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