Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Foundation
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Karen Wyckoff Rein In Sarcoma Foundation
A Fund for Sarcoma Cancer Research, Education and Survivor Support
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Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Fund (KWRISF)
and the
Karen Wyckoff Sarcoma Research Fund at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center
KWRISF Awards $164,000 for Sarcoma Cancer Research in 2007
In six short years since the founding of the Fun d the Karen Wyckoff Sarcoma Resaerch Fund has granted over $300,000 in sarrcoma cancer reasearch in the upper midwest. In 2007, the KWRISF made the largest grants in its history to the University of Minnesota Cancer Center. Sarcoma research grants committed by the Fund in 2007 alone totaled $164,006. Based on the prioirties of the Fund, three key areas are supported:
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Sarcoma Cancer Medical research
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Sarcoma education primarily directed to physicians to better detect sarcoma cancers, and
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Support for sarcoma survivors and loved ones.
As in past years, a significant portion of the research funds raised by the Fund in 2007 were used by the sarcoma doctors and researchers at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center to support projects focused on the detection, treatment and evaluation of sarcoma cancers.
Some of our earlier grants paid sizable dividends in 2007.
One of our initial $10,000 research project seed grants, made in 2004, led in 2007 to an award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in excess of $1,700,000.
Without the preliminary work funded by our "seed" grant, the Cancer Center would have not been in a position to apply for this very significant research funding which is now the largest osteosarcoma study in the country. The study is led by Dr. Logan Spector. For more information about this study click here.
In February, the Board approved the following grants totaling $35,000:
“Association of leptin expression with malignant progression in soft tissue sarcomas”
“Premature atherosclerotic vascular disease in survivors of childhood and adolescent osteosarcoma”
“Evaluation of PET/CT imaging as predictor of disease free survival following neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma”
| 2007 & 2008 Sarcoma Brainstorm Award Collaboration |
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Two additional grants totaling $25,000 were awarded in March to University of Minnesota researchers who are focusing on a laboratory study of the cause, progression, and treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcomas.
This grant was doubled thanks to a collaboration with the Children’s Cancer Research Fund and the Roby Thompson Endowment in Musculoskeletal Oncology. This project also represents the first all University sarcoma collaboration with researchers from multiple disciplines throughout the institution. The $50,000 collaborative Translational Sarcoma Cancer Research Award is also expected to be given in 2008. Click here for further information on the 2008 Award process.
In December 2007, the Board approved funding of $104,006 for the following grants from a direct grant from the KWRISF as well as the use of undedicated funds from the Karen Wyckoff Sarcoma Research Fund at the University of Minnesota Medical Foundation. These include:
1. Heritable Influence on VEGF Receptor Function in a Canine Endothelial STS
Principal Investigator: Jaime F. Modiano, VMD, PhD - Perlman Professor of Comparative Oncology, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota
Click here for more information on the Modiano Lab.
Co-investigator: Denis Clohisy, MD
Naturally occurring cancers of dogs offer a robust model to enhance our understanding of these diseases. The relative frequency of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is 5 to 10 times greater in dogs, providing ready access to case materials and patients for interventions. This lab identified a peculiar set of genes that are differentially enriched in canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) according to breed. The study proposes to analyze the impact of both a pharmacologic and a genetic approach to treating HSA cells in a lab cell culture dish based upon targeting the cell receptor related to blood vessel growth (ie, VEGF – vascular endothelial growth factor).
2. The role of p53 mutations in pediatric alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS)
Principal Investigator: Simona Ognjanovic, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator: Brenda Weigel, MD
The p53 tumor suppressor gene normally prevents tumor growth by modulating many cellular functions. It is abnormal (mutated) in about half of all human cancer cases, however, in rhabdomyosarcoma (a soft tissue sarcoma most common in very young children) there is a very high rate of abnormality. This study proposes to analyze 80 tumors to determine the frequency and diversity of p53 mutations in 2 common types of rhabdomyosarcoma (embryonal vs. alveolar). Furthermore, the study plans to use both standard pathologic and newer molecular biological techniques to investigate exactly how p53 affects cellular function in this tumor and search for abnormal genes that might be useful to exploit for therapeutic purposes.
3. MicroRNA Expression Profile of Synovial Sarcoma
Principal Investigator: Dr. Subbaya Subramanian, Ph.D
Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
Co-investigator: Denis Clohisy, MD
Synovial sarcoma represents 5-10% of all soft tissue sarcomas, typically occurring in the limbs of young adults, although it may arise at almost any age and anatomic location. Correct diagnosis of synovial sarcoma can be challenging, especially in small biopsies, as some synovial sarcomas (monophasic type) can appear similar to other soft tissue sarcomas such as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are derived from small pieces of genetic material and are a significant class of gene regulators. An emerging hypothesis is that miRNA deregulation plays an important role in tumor development. This study will attempt to analyze the contribution of miRNAs to the process of synovial sarcoma formation and develop new diagnostic markers that could aid in the identification of tumor in early stage.
The Final Grant award of the KWRISF for 2007 focused not on the medical research priority of the Fund, put rather on its mission of patient support.
4. Patient education video series:amputation, rotationplasty, and limb salvage
Principal Investigator: Edward Cheng, MD
Goal: To help patients understand the expected functional consequence of undergoing major limb reconstructive procedures, such as lower and upper extremity amputations, rotationplasty, and limb salvage surgery, by providing educational videos of patients who have previously undergone such types of surgeries illustrating their functional abilities performing various activities. A set of videos will be produced of patients undergoing a prescribed set of various activities of daily living. An interview with the patient by a physical or occupational therapist will be included. The cosmetic appearance of the surgical site would be included as well. These videos will be made available to patients with musculoskeletal tumors. When possible, at least 2 patients for each type of reconstruction will be documented on each video.
For information on previous grant awards of the KWRISF, click here.
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