Media backgrounder – Innovation Grants
19 March 2013
Toronto -
Dr Catherine O’Brien studying the link between bacteria in the colon and cancer development
Dr O’Brien and her colleagues will be the first to study the role of intracellular bacteria – bacteria found inside colon cancer cells – in colorectal cancer development and metastases (spread). Early research shows that intracellular bacteria may be playing a key role in the formation and spread of colon cancer.
Many cancers have already been linked to infectious viruses and bacteria. For example human papillomavirus, or HPV, is considered the primary cause of most cervical cancers. H. pylori bacteria can cause stomach cancer and some strains of hepatitis can lead to liver cancer. However, the link between bacteria and colorectal cancer is relatively unexplored.
“With this project, we’re looking at the development of colorectal cancer in a completely new way and it could change the way we think about and treat colorectal cancer,” says Dr O’Brien.
A few of the other new Innovation Grants :
Dr Dirk Lange, Vancouver, $185,578 – Using a freshwater bacterium that is effective at treating cancers in mice, Dr Lange is developing a new treatment for bladder cancer, a disease which has an 80% recurrence rate. Dr Lange will refine the bacteria to make it more effective at slowing early tumour growth, decreasing the size of later tumours, and activating the cancer fighting cells of the body’s immune system to provide a new treatment option.
Dr Spencer Gibson, Winnipeg, $200,000 – Dr Gibson is studying the role of a new form of cell death ‑‑ lysosome membrane permeabilization (LMP) ‑‑ in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common form of adult leukemia that is often drug resistant and results in relapse. Dr Gibson will determine how LMP induces cell death and how this process can be used to make CLL more sensitive to chemotherapy.
Dr Michel Tremblay, Montreal, $200,000 – T cells, a crucial component of the body’s immune system, can kill tumours but cancers can put the brakes on their cancer fighting abilities. Adoptive T cell therapies have emerged that isolate these cells from cancer patients, modify them, and then transfer them back into patients. Dr Michel Tremblay and his colleagues are testing a promising new strategy to boost T cell activity which limits a protein – TC‑PTP – in order to enhance T cell survival and function.
About the Canadian Cancer Society
For 75 years the Canadian Cancer Society has been with Canadians in the fight for life. We have been relentless in our commitment to prevent cancer, fund research and support Canadians touched by cancer. From this foundation, we will work with Canadians to change cancer forever so fewer Canadians are diagnosed with the disease and more survive. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website at cancer.ca or call our toll-free bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333; TTY, 1 866 786-3934.
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.