Excellence in Research

1998-1999

Interdisciplinary basic, translational and clinical research conducted at M. D. Anderson flourished last year. In addition to several major scientific achievements reported, the new Clinical Research Building opened. "The research activities at M. D. Anderson have never been stronger. Our faculty continued making important contributions to biomedical research and advancing our knowledge of the cancer process, how to treat the disease more effectively and exploring new ways to prevent cancer," says Dr. Frederick F. Becker, who at the close of the fiscal year ended his tenure as vice president for research and scientific director of the Tumor Institute.

One of the most significant accomplishments was the renewal of a five-year Cancer Center Support Grant from the National Cancer Institute to support shared resources, help fund new research initiatives and provide start-up funding for young investigators. The $27.1 million "core" grant represents a 135 percent increase over the previous $11.5 million grant.

A core grant extends research resources that are shared by many faculty. Additionally, a core grant enhances implementation of emerging technologies aimed at speeding up application of laboratory findings to better treatment for patients. This marks the 23rd consecutive year for M. D. Anderson to benefit from core grant funds.

Diverse research highlights include:

• Identification of genetic variants of the common brain chemical dopamine, which appear to influence the probability of nicotine addiction. Other studies will seek to design targeted chemical interventions for smokers at high risk for tobacco-caused diseases.
• Expansion of gene-based therapy techniques that demonstrate missing or abnormal genes associated with several cancers can be replaced. More than 120 patients have been enrolled in gene therapy trials for lung, head and neck, prostate, bladder, breast and ovarian cancers.
• Publication of a series of articles showing a strong correlation between high levels of some normal genes found in patients' tumor specimens with the propensity of those malignancies to metastasize or spread. Ongoing research focuses on a molecular diagnostic test that can predict which patients with such common cancers as colon, lung, prostate and breast are most likely to develop metastasis.
• Extension of laboratory studies to understand why many cancer patients fail to achieve durable remissions due to developing resistance to chemo- therapy. One culprit identified is the molecule glutathione, which may prevent powerful anti-cancer drugs from reaching the nucleus of cancer cells.
• Investigations with mice demonstrating that certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents — of which aspirin is the best known — are effective in preventing ultraviolet sunlight-induced skin cancers. Animal studies of three of these agents suggest the compounds could prevent other forms of cancer.

Among organizational changes, the new Department of Cancer Biology was created by merging the former Departments of Cell Biology and Tumor Biology. In addition to chairing the department, Dr. Isaiah J. Fidler was named director of the new Center for Cancer Metastasis Research. He holds the R. E. "Bob" Smith Distinguished Chair in Cell Biology.

The Office of Research Administration was established last year to enhance the process of approving and financing clinical trials, to coordinate multiple regulatory and compliance committees, and to monitor grants and contracts for all types of research.

Dr. Leonard A. Zwelling, associate vice president for research administration, says almost 7,000 patients were enrolled in 531 clinical trials at M. D. Anderson. His office oversees the Surveillance Committee, which is the Institutional Review Board that evaluates patient protection issues of clinical trials prior to patients enrolling in the studies.

"One of our main objectives is to eliminate any barriers for the facultywho conduct studies throughout the research continuum. We now can estimate in advance the costs associated with clinical research, more and more of which is being sponsored by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Virtually everything we do to track research activities is on-line, which is improving everyone's efficiency," Dr. Zwelling notes.

M. D. Anderson's array of research programs was supported at fiscal year's end by more than $137 million. Funds from federal grants and contracts have grown 63 percent in the last five years.

Moving into the new Clinical Research Building provided modern laboratories for collaborative projects in the Divisions of Medicine, Surgery, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Anesthesiology and Critical Care. New Veterinary Medicine and Surgery facilities, which support basic and clinical research investigators, also are included.

The nine-level Clinical Research Building is located on the northwest corner of M. D. Anderson's main complex in the Texas Medical Center. It contains 55 laboratories in 230,000 square feet of space. All physicians and scientists headquartered in the new building use a convenient central glass washing and media preparation area.

Looking to the future, Dr. Becker says planning for another research facility is "a high priority" to replace some of the older, crowded laboratories located in various parts of M. D. Anderson. He also cites the ongoing need to recruit "brilliant new researchers" and to retain "the many dedicated physicians and scientists we already have."

Only through supporting and expanding basic research, as well as the innovative and productive multidisciplinary research for which M. D. Anderson is widely known, will the conquest of cancer be possible, states Dr. Becker, who holds the Hubert L. and Olive Stringer Distinguished Chair in Basic Science in honor of Sally Stringer.