To spotlight Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month, ICRF Project Grant recipient Professor Ittai Ben-Porath of the Hebrew University, whose research is among the nine ICRF-funded projects currently related to melanoma and skin cancer, discusses skin lesions in the epidermis and how to prevent the formation of cancer.

There are two main types of skin cancers. Melanoma occurs when mutations develop inside cells called melanocytes. While not very prevalent, it is extremely deadly. Epidermal cancers, which we are currently studying, start with the epidermal cells, which form the skin’s layers. These tumors are among the most common in humans. While many are not malignant, about one in 25 will become deadly. Since so many people suffer from these skin lesions — squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas — their management poses an immense health burden to the public and to patients. Our study aims to reduce the rate of early tumor formation in the skin, and the ability of early skin lesions to progress to malignancy.

A driver mutation is a term used to describe changes in the DNA sequence of genes that cause cells to become cancerous and grow and spread in the body. Eran Meshorer, PhD, the recipient of an ICRF Project Grant at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is studying a specific driver mutation that only occurs in pediatric glioma patients. This mutation affects a protein that regulates gene expression. The experiments that he will perform should identify the specific mechanisms by which this mutation may drive malignancy, provide insights into the mechanisms underlying childhood brain tumor development, and potentially identify targets for therapeutic intervention.

Genes are packaged by proteins called histones, which regulate gene activity, and studies have shown that many gliomas carry mutations in genes that encode histones. Efrat Shema, PhD, the recipient of an ICRF Research Career Development Award (or RCDA) at the Weizmann Institute of Science, is trying to identify new drug targets and improve future treatments for glioma patients. To achieve this goal, she has recently developed a novel, single-molecule technology to study changes in the modifications of histones and related proteins that regulate gene expression, and will use it to study mutations in both pediatric and adult gliomas. Her analyses should yield new data on genome regulation in cancer, and open the way to new therapeutic opportunities for glioma patients.

International Board Member, Dr. Gerald Soff, a Professor of Medicine and Chief of the General Hematology Service at the University of Miami Health System/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, is “paying it forward” with the launch of The Soff Family and Friends Fund for ICRF. The fund's goal is to raise $150,000 for a three-year ICRF Career Development Award for a new Israeli scientist embarking on a career in cancer research. Diagnosed seven years ago with multiple myeloma, Soff is now cancer-free thanks to a scientific breakthrough from Nobel Prize winners, Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko, both ICRF-funded scientists.

For more information, visit our website.

Israel and its cutting-edge research is at the heart of ICRF’s mission to end the suffering caused by cancer. Join us on this life-changing trip as you walk along Israeli streets with buildings both modern and ancient, enjoy the art, culture, and cuisine, speak with people impacted by ICRF’s work, from researchers to cancer survivors, and see for yourself why ICRF is so important. Any questions, please contact Chief Development Officer Caitlin Shmidheiser at caitlin.shmidheiser@icrfonline.org.

ICRF is proud to be selected as an Official Charity Partner of the TCS New York City Marathon.

Be a part of this iconic race as 50,000 runners cover 26.2 miles across all five boroughs of NYC. Fifty million dollars will be raised for charitable causes during this event.

Push yourself to run an exhilarating race while helping in the fight against cancer by supporting Israel’s best and brightest research scientists. Team ICRF has a limited amount of Marathon entries. The minimum fundraising requirement is $3,600.

Please contact New York Executive Director Alan Herman, alan.herman@icrfonline.org, for more details.

Celebrate your birthday, observe a special occasion or milestone in your life, or honor a loved one by creating your own fundraiser for ICRF on Facebook.