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2007 Research Grants Dedicated in loving memory of
Targeting Multiple Cancer Cell Mechanisms Used to Escape Death
Principal Investigator: Sandra A. Hudson PhD
With the help of the $50,000 grant from the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY, Inc., we are investigating the effect of targeted therapy on breast cancer cells by combining radiation with several different agents that have been shown to have tumor-killing properties. Each agent works differently to induce apoptosis, a very important form of cell death, which isn¡¯t damaging to surrounding tissue. However, many tumors are resistant to these agents when they are administered individually. It is our plan to use multiple agents targeting different parts of the apoptotic, or cell-death pathways, to achieve the best tumor growth inhibition while prevent tumor cells from blocking various cell death signals. Combining these agents with radiation will further sensitize the tumor cells to die.
Dedicated in loving memory of
4D and Parametric Breast Imaging for Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection using PET/CT and MRI
Principal Investigator: Andrzej Krol, PhD
The preferred method of breast cancer diagnosis is breast biopsy. However, it is relatively expensive, highly invasive and possibly painful procedure that might result in complications (including infection and pneumothorax); it produces scar tissue that might complicate future mammographic examinations. Over 50 percent of biopsies are negative. This translates to over 300,000 of retrospectively unnecessary biopsies every year in the US.
Through a $50,000 grant from the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY, Inc., our aim is to develop noninvasive, painless and risk free virtual breast biopsy. It will consist only of specially designed series of breast imaging using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Many kinds of advanced imaging protocols will be utilized. The information about breast tissue characteristics will be extracted and combined into one image volume that will be presented to physicians. We will investigate how to modify imaging approaches to match specificity of conventional breast biopsy.
Dedicated in loving memory of
Predicting Bone Fracture in Metastatic Breast Cancer Lesions
Principal Investigator: Kenneth Mann PhD
Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage (stage 4) of breast cancer. In these cases, the cancer cells have spread from the breast tissue to other parts of the body. Bone is the most common site for metastases causing bone tumors to develop which can weaken the bones to the point of fracture.
A difficult challenge for doctors treating these tumors is deciding which patients require surgery or other treatment to prevent debilitating fractures. The goal of this proposal is to develop new methods to combine current imaging methods, such as CT scans, with engineering methods to accurately predict bone strength. With this method, patient-specific computer models can be built of the bone with the tumor, and these can be used to predict what load it will take to fracture the bone. When this information is combined with known forces on bones, we could then predict which patients are at risk of a fracture.
This approach also has potential to monitor improvements in bone strength from other therapies including drug and radiation treatment. |
