DISCOVERIES

December 2024

side by side image of Guillem Lambies Barjau and Cosmio Commisso

Controlling cancer cells’ gluttony for glutamine

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys discover new insights about how pancreatic cancer cells adapt when resources are scarce and find fuel for their unchecked growth.

Cancer cells are like booming cities without urban planners. They expand quickly, and in doing so, the resulting tumors consume more energy and other resources than they can acquire from nearby blood vessels.

Rather than limiting their growth to more sustainable rates, cancer cells adapt by finding alternative ways to scavenge what they need. One scrounging strategy prevalent in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) involves cancer cells reshaping their cell surfaces to snatch extra nutrients from the jelly-like substance between cells or extracellular matrix.

This cellular contortion is a process called macropinocytosis. Blocking it and cutting off the energy and protein building blocks it provides has been shown to significantly suppress tumor growth. While scientists have uncovered many details about the functional importance of macropinocytosis in PDAC, many mysteries remain about how PDAC cells control their cell surface gymnastics when confronted with a lack of adequate nutrients.

Researchers at the NCI-Designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys published findings December 3, 2024, in Nature Communications that describe two enzymes newly identified for their roles in regulating macropinocytosis.

How cancer cells change as they metastasize

Most cancer deaths are caused by metastasis, but how cancer cells and tumors modify themselves and spread from their origins to other parts of the body remains largely a mystery — and fundamentally challenging.

In a new paper published December 6, 2024 in Science Advances, study co-author Sanju Sinha, PhD, assistant professor in the Cancer Molecular Therapeutics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys, and colleagues, investigate whether primary and metastatic tumors more closely resemble the tissues of origin or target tissues in terms of gene expression.

Their findings suggest movement and evolution, providing a comprehensive transcriptome-wide view of the processes through which cancer tumors adapt to their metastatic environments before and after metastasis.

3D rendering of a strand of messenger RNA

Combining long- and short-read sequencing in single cells reveals new mRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys used two sequencing methods in tandem to uncover gene product mRNA alterations and relationships from brains affected by three common diseases.

Diseases marked by progressive deterioration of the brain — neurodegeneration — have proven challenging to understand and treat. These common conditions affect millions of patients and families around the world, yet efforts to develop new therapies have largely been unsuccessful.

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys are uncovering new ideas for future treatments by better understanding the effects of neurodegenerative diseases on our brain cells.

Philanthropy

Happy Holidays from the Office of Philanthropy

As we approach the end of the year, we want to say thank you for your partnership.

At Sanford Burnham Prebys, our mission is to conduct lifesaving research. Your partnership enables our research teams to work on leading-edge discoveries to improve treatments for patients and provide hope for families.

Thank you for supporting our mission and accelerating research in our focus areas – cancer, aging, heart and muscle disease, brain and nerve disease and metabolism.

With our best wishes to you and your family during this holiday season.

With appreciation,

Sandy Liarakos

Learn more about our Office of Philanthropy >>

Community

David Brenner MD Randal Kaufman PhD and Tariq Rana PhD

Three Sanford Burnham Prebys faculty members ranked among the world’s most influential scientists

Over the last decade, the publications of David A. Brenner, Randal J. Kaufman and Tariq M. Rana are among the top 1% in the world by number of citations.

Three faculty members at Sanford Burnham Prebys are among the most influential scientists worldwide in the 2024 rankings by the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate.

Clarivate publishes the Highly Cited Researchers list each year to recognize individuals demonstrating significant and broad scientific influence.

David A. Brenner, MD, president and CEO of the institute, was recognized for contributions in the cross-field category, which focuses on researchers who have advanced multiple research areas.

Randal J. Kaufman, PhD, director of the Degenerative Diseases Program, also was cited for contributions in the cross-field category.

Tariq Rana, PhD, an educational affiliate professor in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, was noted for contributions in the cross-field category.

“The Highly Cited Researchers list identifies and celebrates exceptional individual researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys who are having a significant impact on the research community as evidenced by the rate at which their work is being cited by their peers,” said David Pendlebury, head of Research Analysis at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate.

“These individuals are helping to transform human ingenuity into our world’s greatest breakthroughs – and it is an honor to celebrate their achievements.”

Denny Sanford in lab with researchers working behind him

Sanford receives first Erkki Ruoslahti Award for Transformational Leadership

At a special event December 11, attended by trustees from Sanford Burnham Prebys and featuring brief talks by many of the Institute’s newest faculty, the inaugural Erkki Ruoslahti Award for Transformational Leadership was presented to T. Denny Sanford.

The new award honors recipients whose visionary leadership drives positive change, inspires groundbreaking solutions and contributes to the transformation of industries and society.

Six questions with Lab Manager honoree Sushmitha Vallabh

Sushmitha Vallabh, a senior lab manager at Sanford Burnham Prebys, was recognized for her outstanding contributions by Lab Manager magazine during the publication’s celebration of Lab Manager Appreciation Month in October 2024.

The magazine encouraged readers to nominate peers who demonstrate exceptional leadership in their labs. The team behind the publication also plans virtual and in-person professional development events for lab managers, as well as offers digital learning and certificate programs through The Lab Manager Academy.

Vallabh works in the lab of Carl Ware, PhD, a professor in the Immunity and Pathogenesis Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys. We caught up with Vallabh to discuss this national recognition.

David D. O’Keefe, PhD, named vice president of research development at Sanford Burnham Prebys

David D. O’Keefe, PhD, has been named vice president of research development at Sanford Burnham Prebys. His duties will include working with scientists to maximize research funding and increase research capacity at the Institute by nurturing a culture of grant writing and collaboration.

He officially joined Sanford Burnham Prebys December 16, 2024.

In the News

Opinion: Vaccines are still saving scores of lives in U.S., across world

In his latest essay for The San Diego Union-Tribune and elsewhere, David Brenner, MD, reminds us of the vital importance of vaccines — in lives saved, disease prevention and in anticipating pandemics to come.

Opinion: Santa’s health is Claus for concern

Santa may be more than 1,000 years old, but his overall health is suspect due to diet, lack of exercise (most of the year) and work-life balance issues. He may be an iconic case of metabolic syndrome, writes David Brenner in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Science in Pictures

What says happy holidays and Happy New Year better than a transverse section of rachis (stem) of bracken fern, created using differential interference contrast microscopy?

Image courtesy of David Maitland and Nikon Small World.