Cancer Prevention

Overview

The Cancer Prevention (CP) program is led by Carol Fabian, MD and has as its primary goal the discovery of processes and biomarker changes important early in cancer development and use of these biomarkers as response indicators in early-phase translational trials of new prevention interventions. An additional goal is to test interventions which may enhance quality of life in cancer survivors. Our theme areas are:

1. Pre- Cancerous Biology and Risk Biomarkers
2. Prevention Translational Trials
3. Survivorship Research

Value added by the CP Program includes:

1. Multi-PI Awards: ( Komen Multi-PI Promise Grant awarded in 2010 involving 7 CP full members and 2 associate members)
2. Translational Clinical Trial accrual from NCI funded projects.

Total interventional trial accrual 2006-2010 is 477 with 136 subjects accrued to NCI-funded investigator-initiated Phase II primary prevention trials requiring breast tissue sampling. Key scientific accomplishments in Pre-Cancerous Biology and Risk Biomarkers are development of an orthotopic mouse model for in vivo growth of human breast DCIS, development of a model of simultaneous breast and ovarian pre-cancer, and demonstration that RNA binding proteins may play a key role in GI tumor progression; in Prevention Translational Trials is the demonstration in pilots of favorable modulation of breast tissue risk biomarkers by a flaxseed lignan, and an aromatase inhibitor in women on hormone replacement therapy; in Survivorship Research the development of a successful weight loss programs for breast cancer survivors with modulation of risk biomarkers. These pilots were converted to peer-reviewed funded controlled trials. Future directions in:

1. Pre-Cancerous Biology and Risk Biomarkers include characterization of precancerous molecular changes in several organs, development of novel pre-clinical models for prevention such as the p53 conditional knockout rat, and with investigators in D3ET, development of natural product derivatives which target identified molecular abnormalities.
2. Prevention Translational Trials along with CCPH and CB include flaxseed lignan, energy balance and omega-3 fatty acids for breast cancer prevention, curcumin for Barrett's with energy balance and natural products for prostate
3. Survivorship research along with investigators in CCPH and D3ET will continue efforts in energy balance, and prevention of late cardiac and cognitive dysfunction. Favorable survivorship pilots being developed as cooperative group trials.

Leaders

Carol Fabian, MD Program Leader, Cancer Prevention