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Your Dollars at Work
Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the “Weekend” participants, we have been able to accomplish the following:
The establishment of the Weekend to End Breast Cancer Distinguished Scientist Award. This has enabled us to: recruit Dr. Marc Tischkowitz, a medical oncologist and PhD in cancer genetics from the United Kingdom. Marc brings a rare and extremely powerful combination of knowledge and expertise to the JGH and is studying hereditary factors that increase breast cancer risk, looking beyond BRCA to other genes whose presence could indicate a predisposition to breast cancer. This past year, Dr. Tischkowitz was one on the researchers that jointly lead the research on the PALB2 gene discovery at the Jewish General Hospital in conjunction with Harvard University and Universities in the United Kingdom, Amsterdam.We have built and equipped two new state-of-the-art laboratories in the Segal Cancer Centre, known as the WEBC Laboratories.Funding of innovative research studies such as:
- Looking at gene signatures of breast cancer to identify those at highest risk of developing brain metastasis of breast cancer.
- Development of novel radio-tracers for PET analysis of mouse breast cancer models, to provide critical information on tumour biology. This will have a significant impact on tumour control and response to treatment.
- Identifying blood “biomarkers” that will identify which patients are most likely to respond to a particular therapy, to avoid giving an ineffective and potentially toxic treatment. This will allow us to provide more customized treatments.
- Research aimed at identifying novel therapies that specifically target the cancer.
The first hospital-based program in lymphedema care and research in Quebec.A specialized software system that will be used across Montreal and is the first of its kind in Quebec for mapping heredity cancers in families.Support for students, young research scientists and post-doctoral fellows who are the most promising breast cancer researchers of the future.A research program focusing on survivorship and wellness in women recovering from breast cancer.Innovations in radiation therapy that target tumours, avoid toxicity and shorten treatment duration.Support for highly innovative research ideas e.g. Micro-genetics and other new concepts.The recruitment of a nurse navigator who supports and coordinates care for breast cancer patients and their families, helping them navigate through the complex health care system and setting the standard for the rest of Quebec.Projects to evaluate the best models of nursing roles for breast cancer at all stages of care.Projects Funded by The Weekend to End Breast Cancer
In front, left to right : Drs. JianHui Wu, Krikor Bijian (WEBC postdoctoral fellowship), Raquel Aloyz, and Koren Mann;
Back, left to right : Drs. Jacques Galipeau, Bruce Gottlieb, Esther Schirrmacher, and Stéphane Richard
Pilot Projects
Investigators: Raquel Aloyz and Marc Tischkowitz
Title: Investigating how mutations in the PALB2 gene cause breast cancer
This new gene, recently discovered by Segal Cancer Centre scientists (with WEBC funding), is associated with hereditary breast cancer. It has been added to the list of other breast cancer-related genes, such as BRCA1 and 2. This project aims to examine this new gene in greater detail.
Investigator: William D. Foulkes
Title: MicroRNA, transcriptome, and Paclitaxel response in triple negative breast cancer
This project aims to understand the behaviour of a particular sub-group of breast cancers that appear to be resistant to most treatments. These are the so-called “triple negative” tumours. Through better understanding, we will improve therapy.
Investigators: Guillaume Galbaud Du Fort, Karl Looper and Zeev Rosberger
Title: Psychological distress, anxiety, and depression in breast cancer survivors
This study, conducted by psychologists and psychiatrists, tries to understand anxiety and depression that persist even in cured patients. This is a critical aspect of surviving the disease.
Investigators: Jacques Galipeau and Mark Basik
Title: Gamma-carboxylated periostin: a potential novel molecular target/marker for breast cancer
This project is working on a newly identified protein in breast cancer that may be useful in diagnosis and classification, but could also be the target of novel therapies.
Investigator: Antonis E. Koromilas
Title: Stat1 as a target for therapeutic intervention in breast tumorigenesis
This project builds on preliminary scientific work which suggests that this protein may be a target against which new treatments for breast cancer might be developed.
Investigator: Koren K. Mann
Title: Combination therapies to overcome mTOR inhibitor-indiced survival signals
This exciting project has tremendous potential for new breast cancer therapies against tumours that are particular in their expression of the protein mTOR. Yet another sub-group of patients will probably benefit from the more customized approach of this research.
Investigators: Richard Margolese and Mark Basik
Title: Pilot study of axillary reverse mapping in breast cancer
It may be possible to completely avoid the risks of lymphedema after surgery. This project will examine the possibility of limiting even further the axillary lymph node dissections that are needed.
Investigator: Stéphane Richard
Title: Targeting the breast tumour kinase (BRK) in breast cancer therapy
A new potential target in breast cancer, opens the opportunity for yet another entirely novel therapy. This project moves the work closer to the clinic.
Investigators: Nora Wong and Carmen Loiselle
Title: Mapping the decisional trajectory in breast cancer risk management among BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers
How do people with higher risk of breast cancer, due to BRCA mutation, use information to guide their approach to the risk? This project combines the expertise of a senior and accomplished research nurse, together with an experienced genetic counsellor.
Investigator: JianHui Wu
Title: Mining of traditional medicinal herbs for multi-component therapeutics against breast cancer
Dr. Wu, using a sophisticated series of computer-based algorithms, and his extensive knowledge of chemistry, examines the potential for active anti-cancer molecules in extracts of Chinese herbs.
Investigator: Mark Basik
Title: Targeting carcinoma-associated fibroblasts in breast cancer
Normal cells that surround the cancer appear to interact with the cancer cells. This project aims to determine whether this interaction can be used to control the growth of the tumour.
Investigators: Bruce Gottlieb, Mark Trifiro, Mark Basik, Tarek Bismar, and Baback Ghaizadeh
Title: Program for micro-genetic analysis of cancer tissues
This project is exploring an entirely novel approach to genetics. It is examining the significance of small differences in the gene sequence between individuals, and between cancers from different individuals.
Investigators: Esther Schirrmacher, Raquel Aloyz, and Uri Saragovi
Title: Targeted therapy for breast cancer
These three highly innovative researchers are developing a novel approach that specifically targets cancer cells and avoids normal cells. They develop small protein fragments that can identify the cancer, and attach to them lethal radio-isotopes that kill the cells to which they become attached.
Investigators: Marc Tischkowitz, Jean-Yves Masson, George Chong, William Foulkes, and Tarek Bismar
Title: Ten genes for hereditary breast cancer Estimating the contribution of breast cancer genes in Quebec hereditary breast cancer families
Dr. Tischkowitz and his colleagues are examining the impact of mutations in a selected number of genes on breast cancer development in the Quebec population. This has implications for diagnosis and for treatment.
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