The latest news and events from the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium.

Big Ten CRC News & Events
June 2020


Across the Consortium:   News from our member institutions
New Phase Ib study tests copanlisib plus nivolumab and rituximab in relapsed/refractory indolent lymphoma

A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium phase Ib study, led by Tycel Phillips, MD, of the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, will test the PI3K alpha/delta inhibitor copanlisib in combination with the immunotherapy agents nivolumab and rituximab in adults with relapsed or refractory follicular or marginal zone indolent lymphoma. The study, BTCRC-LYM17-145, is now open to accrual at the University of Michigan, and will enroll up to 35 eligible subjects.  The study is supported by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Bristol-Myers Squibb.


A randomized phase II Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium study for adults with stage I non-small cell lung cancer will evaluate whether pembrolizumab following surgical resection improves disease-free survival compared to observation following surgical resection in patients with primary tumors measuring 1-4 centimeters.  BTCRC-LUN18-153 , led by Greg Durm, MD, of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, is now open to accrual at Indiana University and will enroll up to 368 subjects. The study is supported by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

Correlative Sciences Working Group Hosts Virtual Series

The Big Ten CRC Correlative Sciences Clinical Trial Working Group (CTWG) is hosting Big Ten CRC Correlatives Virtual Summer Sessions the third Wednesday of each month in June, July, and August, from 4-5 PM ET. The series will explore the wide variety of techniques available for pursuing correlative strategies in clinical trials, highlight strategies being implemented within the consortium, and stimulate collaborations that can address complex problems in correlative research and potentially improve future treatment.


Four Big Ten CRC studies presented during ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program

The American Society of Clinical Oncology's  ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program  last month featured abstracts from four Big Ten CRC studies.

Studies highlighted as poster discussions included BTCRC-GYN15-013, led by  Daniela Matei, MD (top left),  of Northwestern University; and  BTCRC-LUN16-081, led by Greg Durm, MD (top right), of Indiana University.

Studies highlighted as posters included BTCRC-AML17-113, led by John Quigley, MD (bottom left), of the University of Illinois at Chicago, and BTCRC-ESO14-012, led by Shadia Jalal, MD , of Indiana University, and co-investigator Hirva Mamdani, MD (bottom right), of Karmanos Cancer Institute and a former hematology/ oncology fellow at Indiana University.

  Read more.
Big Ten CRC appoints new Steering Committee members

The Big Ten CRC Steering Committee recently welcomed three new members to the group, which meets on a regular basis to review activities of the consortium and decide matters of policy. The new appointees are (pictured from left)  Vu Hong Duong, MD, of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center; Monika Joshi, MD, MRCP, of Penn State Cancer Institute; and Jyoti Patel, MD, of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.
Purdue University
Investigator Spotlight

In this investigator spotlight, Purdue University's  Humaira Gowher, PhD, describes her research into  epigenetic mechanisms that control cell identity and determine how these mechanisms are disrupted in cancer. "Using embryonic stem cells and embryonal carcinoma cells as model systems, our research specifically focuses on the activity of distal regulatory elements of developmental genes, called enhancers, and insulators," she writes. "We also study the effect of somatic mutations of DNA and histone methyltransferases commonly found in cancer and other developmental disorders on the biochemical activity of these enzymes."

Read more.

Rutgers University
Investigator Spotlight

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey investigator Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSc, FACP, shares his research interests and expertise in this investigator spotlight. " My research career is focused on three areas: clinical investigation of novel and targeted therapeutic agents in lymphoma, including biomarker discovery; lymphoma biology with transcriptomics and systems biology analyses; and health outcomes in lymphoma, including epidemiology, pharmacovigilance, 'real world' prognostication, and clinical decision making/modeling," he writes.

  Read more.

Thought Leader Perspective

"As members of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium, we often engage in collaborative investigation to push the needle on finding new cancer treatments and better understanding an old enemy. Lately we find ourselves trying to understand a new enemy - COVID-19 - and the impact it has on cancer care and research. Now more than ever, a collaborative spirit is needed in order to defeat this current pandemic and prepare ourselves against others that may arise in the future."

Read more in this thought leader perspective by Steven K. Libutti, MD, FACS, director, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, and senior vice president of oncology services, RWJBarnabas Health.


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