MCL1 encodes a protein that helps keep cells alive (anti-apoptotic); it is frequently overexpressed in cancer. Joseph T. Opferman, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘01-‘04) and colleagues at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, reported that different forms of MCL-1 reside in distinct locations in the cell’s mitochondria and exhibit separable functions. One form is anti-apoptotic, while a newly identified form that works inside the mitochondria is involved in energy production and is probably essential for tumor cell survival.

Sujun Hua, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘10-‘13), Costas A. Lyssiotis, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘10-‘13), Ji-Hye Paik, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘06-‘08) and colleagues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, discovered a new role for the Kras oncogene in controlling cell metabolism. They reported that a genetic mutation in Kras linked to initiation of pancreatic cancer also manipulates metabolic pathways to support tumor growth and progression.

Guo Wei, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘05-‘08), Todd R. Golub, MD (Innovation Award Committee Member, Board Member) and colleagues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Broad Institute, Cambridge, used chemical genomics to identify compounds that decrease activity of MCL1, a protein that helps keep cells alive (anti-apoptotic) and is frequently overexpressed in cancer. In addition, the researchers found that high expression of another gene, BCL-xL, confers resistance to MCL1 repression.

Scott A. Armstrong, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator ‘03-‘08) of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston, and colleagues, reported the role of a protein called β-catenin in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) stem cells. They demonstrated that reducing β-catenin in combination with treatment with Gleevec/imatinib decreases CML stem cells in mice, without harming healthy cells. These findings, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, suggest that this combination therapy may prevent recurrence of AML disease in patients. 

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) named Damon Runyon Scientists recipients of awards that recognize their scientific achievements and significant contributions to the understanding, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer. John Mendelsohn, MD (Damon Runyon Grantee ‘72-‘74 and former Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award Committee Member) of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, was honored with the AACR Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research.

Jedd D. Wolchok, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator ‘03-‘08) of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and colleagues, reported the results of a unique single-patient study, in which a melanoma patient was treated with the immunotherapeutic Yervoy in combination with local radiation to the site of one tumor.  Metastatic tumors all over the body disappeared. This phenomenon, called the abscopal effect, occurs only rarely; researchers believe that it occurs because radiation may help stimulate the immune system to fight cancer.

Elaine V. Fuchs, PhD (Damon Runyon Board Member, Damon Runyon Fellow ‘77-‘79) of The Rockefeller University, New York, has been named a recipient of the 2012 March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology. She will share the award with Howard Green, MD, of Harvard Medical School, Boston. The prize recognizes their revolutionary research in skin biology, which explains the molecular underpinnings of skin stem cells and inherited skin disorders, including cancers and certain birth defects. 

Ian Y. Wong, PhD (Damon Runyon-Merck Fellow ‘10-‘13) of Massachusetts General Hospital, Cambridge, and colleagues, developed a new microfluidic device that can isolate specific cells faster and more accurately than existing devices. These new devices could potentially be applied to the isolation of cancer cells from patient blood samples for use in diagnostics and personalized medicine. The study was published in Biophysical Journal. 

Alice Tsang Shaw, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘04-‘05) of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Pierre P. Massion, MD (Damon Runyon-Lilly Clinical Investigator ‘03-‘08) of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, and colleagues, reported the role of the ROS1 gene in certain non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC).

Rachael A. Clark, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator ‘08-‘13) of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, and colleagues reported that the drug Campath (alemtuzumab) effectively treats patients with Leukemic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (L-CTCL), a leukemia arising from a type of white blood cell called T-cells. This cancer can involve the skin and other organs, and patients often die within three years.