Functional Imaging of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Identification of Biomarkers to Predict Response to Combined Targeted Therapy
Jennifer M. Specht, M.D., Principal Investigator
University of Washington Medicine
Seattle, Washington
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The aims of this
research are:
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Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive cancer, which often recurs and may be resistant to chemotherapy. Survival for these patients is poorer than for other types of breast cancer. Patients with metastatic or Stage IV TNBC will be treated with a drug that targets blood vessel growth, and tumors will be evaluated before therapy, after two weeks of therapy, and after six months of therapy using PET and MRI scans. In this study, Dr. Specht will look at certain proteins (biomarkers) to determine whether this therapy works better than other traditional chemotherapies in patients with certain characteristics.
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1) Conduct a clinical trial on patients with metastatic or Stage IV triple-negative breast cancer, treating them with a drug that targets blood vessel growth.
2) Measure biomarkers to determine whether this therapy works better than traditional chemotherapies in patients with certain characteristics.
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Donor Natural Killer Cell Infusions as Prophylactic Adoptive Immunotherapy after MHC-Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Brenda M. Sandmaier, M.D., Principal Investigator
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, Washington
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The aims of this
research are:
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Treatment for many patients with high-risk blood cancers depends on related or unrelated donor transplantation. Survival rate can be as high as 90% for patients with suitably-matched donors. Often, however, family members are not suitable matches and that can lead to rejection of the transplant and low overall survival rates (36% at two years in recent studies). Dr. Sandmeier proposes a regimen of early post-transplant infusion of donor natural killer (NK) cells to current anti-rejection treatment. The NK cells are less toxic than other treatments and can promote strengthening of the immune system.
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1) Conduct a clinical trial on cell transplant patients with high-risk blood cancers to determine if an early post-transplant infusion of donor natural killer cells, added to current anti-rejection treatment, can strengthen the immune system.
2) Determine if this protocol can improve the survival rate of patients.
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Effects of Sulforaphane Dose Escalation in Men with Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Joshi J. Alumkal, M.D. Principal Investigator
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon
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The aim of this
research is:
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High consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli is associated with lower risk of prostate cancer in population studies, though it is not known what food components are responsible for this. Treatment with sulforaphane, a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, leads to reduced prostate cancer in laboratory cell lines. Dr. Alumkal proposes to determine the optimal dose of sulforaphane to achieve anti-cancer activity in men with recurrent prostate cancer.
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1) Conduct a clinical trial to determine the optimal dose of sulforaphane to achieve anti-cancer activity in men with recurrent prostate cancer.
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Phase II Study of MAOA Inhibitor plus Docetaxel in Patients Currently Receiving and Progressing on Docetaxel Therapy
Tomasz M. Beer, M.D., Principal Investigator
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, Oregon
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The aims of this
research are:
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Metastatic prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormonal therapy or chemotherapy now claims the lives of more than 30,000 Americans each year and countless others around the world. Dr. Beer proposes to use available and low-cost drug agents (no longer under patent protection) to target MAOA, a treatment pathway resistance mechanism that has caused docetaxel chemotherapy to be ineffective. If successful, this would provide a new therapy to allow docetaxel and other chemotherapy regimens to do their work.
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1) Conduct a clinical trial on patients with metastatic prostate cancer that no longer responds to hormonal therapy or chemotherapy.
2) Measure the use of available and low-cost drug agents to inhibit MAOA, a treatment pathway resistance mechanism, thus enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity.
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Improvement of Prostate Cancer Vaccines by Elimination of Suppressor Cells
Brendan D. Curti, M.D., Principal Investigator
Providence Cancer Center / Franz Cancer Research Center
Portland, Oregon
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The aims of this
research are:
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Dr. Curti proposes to advance prostate cancer vaccine effectiveness with a combination of promising vaccine GVAX and a mechanism to reduce T-cells in the blood. Once T-cells in the patient's own blood are reduced in the laboratory and transfused back to the patient, it is hypothesized that the use of the GVAX vaccine becomes more effective. Dr. Curti has obtained master cell banks to make the vaccine.
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1) Conduct a clinical trial combining GVAX vaccine and a mechanism to reduce T-cells in the blood, thereby making the GVAX more effective in treating patients with prostate cancer.
2) Study the toxicity and clinical effects of T-cell depletion in patients receiving the combined therapy.
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Clofarabine with Cytarabine for Minimal Residual Disease Positive Pediatric Leukemia
Blythe Thomson, M.D., Principal Investigator
Seattle Children’s Hospital & Research Foundation
Seattle, Washington
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The aims of this
research are:
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Unlike high survival rates for pediatric patients with acute leukemia, relapsed leukemia is the fourth most common cause of cancer in children and the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Dr. Thomson proposes to investigate the effectiveness of two drugs for use in relapsed leukemia patients, to be used as a bridge until the children are able to undergo bone marrow transplantation. Bone marrow transplantation is most successful when the patient has achieved complete remission and these drugs would be used in patients with low but significant levels of the disease in their bone marrow.
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1) Conduct a clinical trial of patients with relapsed leukemia using a combination of two drugs to bridge to a time when the patient is able to undergo a bone marrow transplant.
2) Determine if this drug combination can achieve complete remission in patients with low but significant levels of the disease in their bone marrow.
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Clinical Trial of DRibble Vaccine in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Walter J. Urba, M.D., Ph.D Principal Investigator
Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center
Earle A. Chiles Research Institute
Providence Medical Center
Portland, Oregon
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The aims of this
research are:
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Lung cancer is a huge public health problem, and currently there is no cure for patients with advanced disease. Our goal is to develop a vaccine that will improve survival and perhaps cure these patients.
Our research focuses on helping patients produce stronger, more effective immune responses. This project will test a new immunotherapy strategy for patients with advanced incurable lung cancer. Patients will receive docetaxel chemotherapy that kills tumor cells, induces an immune response, decreases the number of T regulatory cells, and reduces the white blood cell count (lymphopenia).
Chemotherapy will be followed by a novel vaccination, DRibbles, prepared from the patient’s own tumor cells, that targets T-cell responses to tumor-derived, short-lived proteins (SLPs).
The preparation of DRibbles includes an innovative step that inhibits the proteasome, a structure that chews up proteins and may eliminate antigens that the immune system can recognize. Inhibiting the proteasome allows the SLPs to accumulate in the cancer cells, and be presented to the host immune system for production of an immune response.
SLPs are known to be present in high concentrations on tumor cells, but because they don’t normally “live” long enough, tolerance to these tumor proteins would not be developed. An immune response to SLPs following vaccination with the DRibble vaccine should lead to potent immune responses and perhaps tumor regression. |
1) Conduct a clinical trial of DRibble vaccination in patients with lung cancer to evaluate safety and efficacy.
2) Measure the immune response in patients after chemotherapy and DRibble vaccination.
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Maximal Suppression of the Androgen Axis with Radiotherapy;
a Phase II Study
Kenneth Russell, M.D., Principal Researcher
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, Washington
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The aims of this
research are:
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The aim of Dr. Russell’s project is to develop a revolutionary new radiation therapy approach to address a major obstacle in the survivorship of men with intermediate to high risk prostate cancer − a 45% relapse rate. Based on valid, new insights, Dr. Russell questions the established treatment approach with a new theory that the prostate tissue cells, not the blood cells, hold the key to cancer relapse. By blocking the prostate tissue cells’ ability to make their own growth factors, Dr. Russell’s clinical trial investigation could vastly improve the prognosis of prostate cancer patients.
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1) establish a model for the design and evaluation of new hormone drugs
2) discover how to lower tissue hormone levels to more effectively kill prostate cancer cells; and
3) quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of hormone suppression in tissue.
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Acute Myeloid Leukemia Therapy for Older Patients−A Novel Combined, Targeted Approach
Roland Walter, Ph.D., M.D., Principal Researcher
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Seattle, Washington
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The aims of this
research are:
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Dr. Walter’s goal is to discover a successful and non-toxic therapy that will markedly improve the survival rate of older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Although chemotherapy can be successful for younger people, it is ineffective or dangerous for patients over 65 years of age, who represent two-thirds of all AML cases and face the grim prognosis of a 5% survival rate over five years.
Based on the results of earlier studies, Dr. Walter believes there is great therapeutic potential in simultaneously combining two drugs, Mylotarg™ and Zolinza™, which may be capable of producing a powerful and unexpected synergistic effect far exceeding the sum of their individual capacities. If successful, Dr. Walter’s clinical trial will offer a real treatment option for a segment of patients who have had virtually no hope.
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1) Discover a successful and non-toxic therapy that will markedly improve the survival rate of older patients with (AML)
2) To uncover the therapeutic potential in combining two drugs, Mylotarg™ and Zolinza™
3) Offer a real treatment option for a segment of patients who have had virtually no hope.
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Water System Improvements and Purchase of a Passenger Van
New Hope Farms
Goldendale, Washington
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The aim of this
grant is to:
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New Hope Farms has operated for 29 years as a home where adults with developmental disabilities live, learn, work and play with loving, caring staff and resident managers.
Set on a forty-acre farm site, New Hope Farms has four separate houses that are home to its 18 residents who range in age from 18 to 82. This grant will help the organization rebuild their water system, including construction of a new well and water storage and water distribution system to provide potable water to the facility. Without these water system improvements, New Hope Farms faced state regulation challenges and the threat of closure for lack of water.
The Kuni Foundation grant will also help with the purchase of a multi passenger van to transport residents to work sites, medical care, and recreational activities.
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1) Provide New Hope Farms with both a state-certified and safe water system, as well as transportation to transport rsidents to work sites, medical facilites and activities.
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Development of Kehillah Community Supported Housing
Cedar Sinai Park
Portland, Oregon
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The aim of this
grant is to:
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This challenge grant supports establishment of a fourteen-apartment supported living community for adults with developmental disabilities.
Cedar Sinai Park’s Kehillah Housing program will partner with Jewish Family and Child Service to offer adults with developmental disabilities affordable housing and access to an array of social services that support their ability to live independently in the community.
This housing community will be offered to residents with developmental disabilities, many of whom have continued to reside with their families of origin into adulthood. Kehillah Housing will provide much needed support to help transition these adults into independent living. An important component of Kehillah Housing is its focus on supporting residents’ inclusion into the community through social activities and supported employment. In addition, life skills training will be available to assist residents with their successful transition.
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1) To partner with Jewish Family and Child Services to offer adults with developmental disabilities affordable housing and access to an array of social services.
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