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The Michael Cuccione Pediatric
Oncology Laboratory
$3 million dollar campaign will secure
the Michael Cuccione Laboratory at the Research
Institute at BC
Children's Hospital for childhood cancer Research
until we find a cure!
To ensure that childhood
cancer research continues
to progress to greater heights, the Michael Cuccione
Foundation has reached an agreement to fund the
Michael Cuccione Laboratory for Childhood Cancer
Research at the Research Institute at BC Children's
Hospital.
Your donations will be directly forwarded to
fund ongoing childhood cancer research. The Michael
Cuccione Foundation is committed to educating
you on where your donations are going and how
they are helping the fight against childhood cancer.
The letter below has recently been written by
Dr.
Sandra Dunn molecular biologist, who is working
to find new effective treatments for childhood
cancers in the Michael Cuccione Laboratory for
Childhood Oncology Research:
"... One of the most crucial things in
successfully treating childhood cancer is developing
therapies that target the cancer cell's survival,
yet allow healthy cells to remain unscathed.
Finding ways to do this allows children with
cancer to be treated using relatively low doses
of chemotherapy, which is so critical in helping
kids handle treatment and recover strong.
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My research group and I are looking at several
common drugs that have been shown to stop the
growth of cancer cells. Through our research,
we've found a key process in cancer cell function
- the interaction of two proteins that help
cancer cells survive treatment; if we can block
the interaction of these proteins, we can destroy
the cancer cells without hurting the healthy
cells. This protein is also found in breast
cancer. So what we learn from this will also
benefit breast cancer.
Our research is also trying to develop new
diagnostic tools for early cancer reoccurrence.
At this time, unfortunately, the available tests
that detect a returned cancer are expensive
and invasive. However, my research has found
a serine protease known as urokinase plasminogen
activator (UPA) that clearly shows when cancer
has returned. It is our hope that this discovery
will lead to the development of a new blood
test, which is especially good news for childhood
cancer survivors because, with long lives before
them, early diagnosis of a relapse is essential
for fast, life-saving treatment..."
 Biographical
Information:
Dr.Sandra Dunn PhD is an Assistant Professor at
UBC's Department of Pediatrics and a Primary Researcher
with the Johal Program in Pediatric Oncology Basic
and Translational Research at the Child &
Family Research Centre.
This program focuses on research into diagnosing
and treating childhood cancers.
One of the difficulties in treating cancer is that malignant cells are sometimes resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Molecular biologist Sandra Dunn is researching cancers affecting women and children to find the weaknesses in cancer cells and develop new, more effective treatments. The key is identifying and eliminating what cancer cells need to survive.
Dr. Dunn's work focuses on the AKT pathway that makes tumor cells resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Her goal is to inhibit key points along this pathway to improve survival rates and to reduce morbidity associated with cancer therapy. A protein that interacts with AKT known as YB-1 has been found in many cancers yet does not exist in healthy tissue. Dr. Dunn is looking at the possibility that some cancers are dependent on YB-1. Using new technologies (Cellomics high-content screening, small interfering RNA's and cell permeable peptides), she hopes to block the interaction of AKT and YB-1, and inhibit the ability of certain cancers to resist treatment. The ability to target a cancer cell's survival mechanisms, while allowing healthy cells to thrive could increase the effectiveness of relatively low doses of chemo- or radiation therapies. This would be especially important in childhood cancers where patients are particularly vulnerable to healthy cell injury.
Dr. Dunn's research is also critical to developing new tools to diagnose cancer relapse. Presently, there are few inexpensive and non-invasive tests that reveal the reoccurrence of cancer. However, Dr. Dunn's research has identified that the presence of a serine protease known as urokinase plasminogen activator (UPA) indicates a returned cancer. The discovery of UPA could lead to the development of a simple blood test that will reveal a relapse.
Some of her honors
and awards include:
- The Training and Research Award from the
National Institute of Health,
- An Award for Academic Excellence Award from
Eastman Kodak
- A Student Travel Award from the Society of
Toxicology
- A Travel Award from the Centre for Gastrointestinal
Biology & Disease
Please check back for further updates on how
your donations are making a difference.
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Michael's Story 
