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The T.J. Martell Foundation Announces Discovery of Gene
Identified as a “Master Regulator” that Will Have a Major
Impact on the Development of Treatments for Prostate Cancer
Celebrating its 40th Anniversary,
the T.J. Martell Foundation Has Provided over
$270 Million To Cancer Research in the Fight Against
Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS.
New York, New York – (March 3, 2015)
– The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS
research celebrating its 40th anniversary this
year has made a ground breaking announcement regarding the
development of treatments for prostate cancer. The
Foundation has supported scientists in identifying a “master
regulator” gene driving aggressiveness in prostate cancer.
This discovery could have a major impact on the development
of treatments of prostate cancer. The gene that acts as a
switch and activates the aggressiveness of tumor cells is
part of this important discovery and potential ultimate cure
for prostate cancer.
Scientists at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York have made the
discovery with the continued support of the T.J. Martell
Foundation which has funded over $270 million in medical
research for a cure for Leukemia, cancer and AIDs.
Prostate
cancer is the most common tumor and one of the leading
causes of cancer death in men. In about 10-15% of patients,
prostate cancer has an aggressive disease course
characterized by the appearance of tumors in distant organs
(metastasis) and the acquisition of resistance to anticancer
drugs, which contributes to the death of the patients with
prostate cancer in whom it is fatal.
The
groundbreaking study which was led by Dr. Josep Domingo-Domenech
and supported by the T.J. Martell Foundation, describes a
mechanism by which prostate cancer cells become aggressive
and survive standard treatment. The key is a gene called
GATA2, which encodes a transcription factor capable of
reprogramming and activating aggressive cells through
activation of multiple signaling pathways.
Using
computational biology techniques that integrate genetic
information from prostate cancer cells in humans and
experimental models, it has been possible to identify the
master regulator gene GATA2. It was observed that
experimental prostate cancer tumor cells with high levels of
GATA2 initiated aggressive tumors that were resistant to
chemotherapy. The GATA2 gene acts as a master gene,
controlling the activation and expression of many other
genes. It activates other genes in cells, putting them to
work invading healthy tissue and initiating metastasis.
Other genes are set to activate survival pathways that help
initiate tumors and make cells resistant to anticancer
drugs. This is the case for the gene coding the growth
factor IGF2, which is activated directly by GATA2 triggering
a signaling cascade that increases tumor cell survival under
adverse conditions.
Importantly the discovery of the master gene, GATA2, that
regulates expression of IGF2 led to the identification of a
new therapeutic strategy for patients with prostate cancer.
The new treatment strategy combines chemotherapy with IGF2
pathway inhibitors which improves the results of
chemotherapy and allows more durable responses. Dr. Domingo-
Domenech explains, ‘the combination of chemotherapy with
IGF2 pathway inhibitors helps enhance the antitumor effect
of chemotherapy and was well tolerated in animal models. Now
we are looking forward to translate these studies into
patients”
“This
important finding is a clear example of the excellent
science with important clinical implications for cancer
patients that the T.J. Martell Foundation is currently
funding” says Dr. James Holland. “The support that the T.J.
Martell Foundation has given Dr. Domingo-Domenech during the
last years has helped enormously to uncover new therapeutic
targets against this devastating disease.”
The T.J.
Martell Foundation, which celebrates its 40th
Anniversary this year, is the music industry’s largest
foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on
finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDs. It was founded
40 years ago by music industry executive Tony Martell and
his colleagues in loving memory of his son T.J. who died of
leukemia. To date the Foundation has provided more than
$270 million dollars for research that supports top
hospitals across the United States and annually awards the
Young Investigator Award to further research for a cure. For
more information on the T.J. Martell Foundation and this
breakthrough discovery go to
www.tjmartell.org
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