Science Market Update

USC Researcher Discovers Promising Treatment for HIV-Related Cancer

Posted by Katheryn Rein on Mon, Sep 02, 2013

The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center has been praised by scientists, researchers, and medical professionals alike since its inception in 1973 for its dedication toward a complete understanding of the most fundamental aspects of cancer, including cancer research, treatment, prevention, and education.


The National Cancer Institute has designated this division of the Keck School of Medicine at USC as one of the nation's 41 comprehensive cancer centers, a label held every consecutive year since its commencement. 

The research done by the 200+ professionals at this center is responsible for such scientific advances as 

-the discovery of the jun oncogene

-elucidation of links between steroid hormones and breast and prostate cancer

-the development of surgical techniques for orthotopic bladder reconstruction

-the establishment of the relationships between DNA methylation and cancer

-the roles of glucose regulated proteins in cancer

-the identification of a key genetic mutation in lymphoma development

And the list goes on. Most recently though, is the discovery of a promising new way to treat primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). This rare, yet aggressive, blood cancer has a very poor prognosis, with only an average 6 month survival time. PEL is most often found in those harboring HIV because it arises from the Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus, the most common cause of cancer in AIDS patients.

The researchers searching for critical therapies for this ailment, under the direction ofDr. Preet M. Chaudhary, have been experimenting with a group of BET bromodomain inhibitors and have noted very unexpected, yet positive, results.

USC Researcher HIV Cancer Treatment(Dr. Chaudhary, courtesy of Phil Channing)

As Dr. Chaudhary remarks,

"Our results suggest that this new class of drug may be an effective treatment for a wider range of cancers than previously thought."

Dr. Chaudhary, a recent recipient of the 2013 Ronald H. Bloom Family lymphoma Research Career Development Award (a STOP CANCER recognition), may be one of the newest faculty members at USC Norris; however, his insight as principle investigator of the study has proved very novel for the future of BET inhibitors and cancer treatment.

The current plan for these USC Norris researchers is to create new, safe drugs for testing in clinical trials and from there, expand the reach of these drugs to test their effectiveness with other cancers.

The researchers at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center are truly remarkable, and they are constantly receiving well-deserved recognition for their efforts to stop cancer once and for all. The STOP CANCER organization, among others, has awarded nine of these USC Norris researchers since 2010 for their research in specialties ranging from breast cancer to gynecologic oncology to lymphoma.

STOP CANCER has been running since 1988 and strives to help young scientists reach their full potential by providing seed funding and support to those associated with the City of HopeComprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center-Children's Hospital. Since its beginning, STOP CANCER has given monetary support of over $58 million dollars through over 187 grants to 146 researchers with these four centers. 

Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. will be holding its 8th annual USC BioResearch Product Faire FrontLine event on the Health Sciences campus October 9, 2013.  This professional show is an excellent opportunity for life scientists and lab equipment specialists to come together and discuss lab technologies to make every lab run at its best.  The USC Health Sciences event is one of three BCI tradeshows held over a three-day period in the greater Los Angeles area:

  • 10/08/2013 -- 13th Annual BRPF event, UC Irvine
  • 10/09/2013 -- 9th Semiannual Front Line event, University of Southern California, Health Sciences Campus
  • 10/10/2013 -- 32nd Semiannual BVS event, UCLA

For more information on exhibiting at USC Health Sciences, click the button below.  Explore our website and see the complete 2013 Show Schedule or our 2014 Show Schedule, then give one of our sales associates a call.

 

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Tags: 2014, CA, 2013, University of Southern California, Southwest, California, USC, Los Angeles, BioResearch Product Faire Event, Front Line event

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