AACR Grantees Share their Findings
We are extremely proud of our past and present grantees who published their findings this past year on their work that has been made possible through the support of the AACR and its funding partners.
January
Novel therapeutic strategy for uveal melanoma
- Pyruvate dehydrogenase inactivation causes glycolytic phenotype in BAP1 mutant uveal melanoma, Anna Han, PhD, 2020 AACR-Ocular Melanoma Foundation Fellowship, in honor of Robert C. Allen, MD
Dual anti-cancer and anti-cachexia benefits of targeting PERP in pancreatic cancer
- Anti-cachectic regulator analysis reveals novel Perp-dependent anti-tumorigenic properties of 3-methyladenine in pancreatic cancer, Jason D. Doles, PhD, 2017 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR Career Development Award
February
Insights into and implications of HER3 structure
- Extensive conformational and physical plasticity protects HER2-HER3 tumorigenic signaling
- Targetable HER3 functions driving tumorigenic signaling in HER2-amplified cancers, Marcia R. Campbell, PhD, 2009 AACR-Genentech BioOncology Fellowship for Cancer Research on the HER Family Pathway
March
Viral immunotherapy for osteosarcoma
- Local Treatment of a Pediatric Osteosarcoma Model with a 4-1BBL Armed Oncolytic Adenovirus Results in an Antitumor Effect and Leads to Immune Memory, Naiara Martinez Velez, PhD, 2018 AACR-AstraZeneca Immuno-oncology Research Fellowship
March-July
Optimizing next-generation technologies to gain novel insights
- A genome-scale gain-of-function CRISPR screen in CD8 T cells identifies proline metabolism as a means to enhance CAR-T therapy, Sidi Chen, PhD, 2017 AACR NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research
- Protocol for live-cell imaging during Tumor Treating Fields treatment with Inovitro Live, Gerben Borst, MD, PhD, 2019 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant and 2021 AACR-Novocure Career Development Award for Tumor Treating Fields Research
- Clonal barcoding with qPCR detection enables live cell functional analyses for cancer research, Sandra S. McAllister, PhD, 2013 AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award
July
Novel target to mitigate chemobrain
- Adenosine A2A receptor blockade prevents cisplatin-induced impairments in neurogenesis and cognitive function, Alfredo Oliveros A., PhD, 2019 The Bosarge Family Foundation-Waun Ki Hong Scholar Award for Regenerative Cancer Medicine
Role of environmental context on pancreatic cancer metabolism
- Metabolic requirement for GOT2 in pancreatic cancer depends on environmental context, Costas A. Lyssiotis, PhD, 2013 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR Pathway to Leadership Grant and 2017 AACR NextGen Grant for Transformative Cancer Research
Mechanisms of efficacy of Tumor treating fields in mesothelioma
- Tumor treating fields affect mesothelioma cell proliferation by exerting histotype-dependent cell cycle checkpoint activations and transcriptional modulations, Maurizio D’Incalci, MD, 2021 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant
August
Molecular insights on Richter transformation
- Detection of early seeding of Richter transformation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Ferran Nadeu, PhD, 2021 AACR-Amgen Fellowship in Clinical/Translational Cancer Research
Next-generation genetic tool to elucidate DNA-protein interactions
- Exploiting CRISPR/Cas9 to engineer precise segmental deletions in mouse embryonic stem cells, Arvind Panday, PhD, 2019 AACR-AstraZeneca Breast Cancer Research Fellowship
September
Potential strategy to block osteosarcoma metastasis
- UHRF1 overexpression promotes osteosarcoma metastasis through altered exosome production and AMPK/SEMA3E suppression, Claudia Benavente, PhD, 2018 AACR-Aflac, Inc. Career Development Award for Pediatric Cancer Research
Novel biomarker of disease progression
- Circulating Neoplastic-Immune Hybrid Cells Predict Metastatic Progression in Uveal Melanoma, Alison H. Skalet, MD, PhD, 2018 AACR-Ocular Melanoma Foundation Career Development Award
September-October
Interrogating the Impact of Tumor treating fields
- Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Reversibly Permeabilize the Blood–Brain Barrier In Vitro and In Vivo, Carsten Hagemann, PhD, 2020 AACR-Novocure Tumor Treating Fields Research Grant
October
Third generation therapeutic for rhabdomyosarcoma
- GATOR2-dependent mTORC1 activity is a therapeutic vulnerability in FOXO1 fusion positive rhabdomyosarcoma, Amit J. Sabnis, MD, 2017 AACR-Aflac, Inc. Career Development Award for Pediatric Cancer Research
Potential biomarkers of recurrence
- The lung microbiome, peripheral gene expression, and recurrence-free survival after resection of stage II non-small cell lung cancer, Brandilyn A. Peters, PhD, 2019 AACR-AstraZeneca Immuno-oncology Research Fellowship
December
Cancer health disparities in head and neck cancer
- Molecular Subtypes of Head and Neck Cancer in Patients of African Ancestry, Fatemeh Momen-Heravi, DDS, PhD, MPH, MS, 2020 AACR-The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research “Science of the Patient” (SOP) Grant