Machado Awarded $2.4 Million Grant to Study
Role of Macrophages in Breast Development
|
|
associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, was recently awarded a five-year, $2.4 million grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development.
Her proposed studies aim to understand how macrophages – cells that are part of the immune system – help to maintain mammary gland tissue stability during critical windows of development. Understanding these processes is important for determining how alterations in the mammary gland, such as in response to a mutagenic event, contribute to breast cancer.
"There are critical windows throughout a woman's life that we consider hot spots for breast cancer risk," said Machado. "These include puberty, pregnancy, lactation, and changes that happen after lactation, when the breast is returning to its non-pregnant state."
Macrophages are a variety of immune cells with many different functions. Some help to induce healing when there is injury to the body. They stimulate inflammation, which brings other immune cells to the injured area, ready to begin repair.
At some point during the repair process, there's a switch. A different type of macrophage comes in and shuts it all down. "And that's required in order to complete the healing process," said Machado. "We don't want to be inflamed forever. We want the healing process to conclude."
Macrophages also play a major role in maintaining normal tissue stability and function. Hormones induce changes in the mammary gland during key developmental periods, and macrophages are there to make sure everything stays in check.
"Without macrophages, the breast would be in a terrible state," said Machado. "For example, after lactation dynamic changes occur in the breast. Anti-inflammatory macrophages are required to come in and promote the mechanisms to get that gland back to normal."
However, some of these immune cells can actually promote a tumor-forming environment. So for a high-risk woman who is going through these changes, macrophages can provide an environment conducive to tumor formation and further serve to accelerate tumor growth.
"It's well established that macrophages are tumor-promoting in breast cancer," said Machado. "But why doesn't our immune system attack and clear the cancer? That probably does happen, but sometimes tumor cells find a way to escape. They hide from the immune system, and once they've done that successfully, they can re-program immune cells to help them grow. This is a well-established phenomenon and why immunotherapies are currently at the forefront."
This process hasn't been studied in the context of what happens during normal development. The purpose of this grant is to better understand why these macrophages are there, what they're doing and to identify their mechanisms of action.
"In terms of these critical windows, we want to determine how can we control these hot spots," said Machado. "We want to identify preventive strategies to lower the risk of a patient – especially one who is at high risk to begin with – during these important stages."
|
|
AACR Cancer Progress Report Highlights
Advances that Improve, Extend & Save Lives
|
|
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) recently released the 12th edition of its annual Cancer Progress Report, which chronicles how basic, translational, and clinical cancer research, and cancer-related population sciences, primarily supported by federal investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), remain vitally important to improving health and saving lives.
The comprehensive report provides up-to-date cancer incidence, mortality, and survivorship statistics and discusses the latest research advances that improve, extend, and save lives. Highlights of progress achieved during the twelve months covered by the report (August 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022) include:
- More people than ever before are living longer and fuller lives after a cancer diagnosis, with more than 18 million people with a history of cancer living in the U.S. as of January 2022.
- The decline in the rate of cancer mortality has accelerated in recent years, as reflected by a 2.3 percent decrease in cancer deaths every year between 2016 and 2019.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved eight new anticancer therapeutics, including the first drug to treat uveal melanoma, the most common form of eye cancer in adults; the first molecularly targeted therapeutic for treatment of cancer patients with Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, a rare inherited genetic disorder; and the first new immune checkpoint inhibitor against a novel target in eight years.
- In addition, the FDA expanded the use of 10 anticancer therapeutics and approved two new diagnostic imaging agents.
- There has been intense research and exciting progress in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the clinic, leading to numerous FDA approvals for AI-based tools that can help clinicians detect cancers earlier in their evolution and provide more complete diagnoses, with potentially curative outcomes.
Additionally, the report addresses ongoing challenges in cancer research, including cancer health disparities and the physical, psychosocial, and financial hardships faced by cancer survivors, and outlines policy recommendations to ensure that the U.S. maintains its momentum against cancer for all patients.
“Basic research discoveries have driven the remarkable advances that we’ve seen in cancer medicine in recent years,” said AACR President Lisa M. Coussens, PhD, FAACR. “Targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and other new therapeutic approaches being applied clinically all stem from fundamental discoveries in basic science. Investment in cancer science, as well as support for science education at all levels, is absolutely essential to drive the next wave of discoveries and accelerate progress."
|
|
Thursday, October 20
7 - 10 PM
Baton Rouge Renaissance Hotel
7000 Bluebonnet Ave.
This event, which mainly benefits Tulane Cancer Center's Prostate Cancer Research Program, is a wine and food experience, featuring signature dishes from nearly 20 vendors, plus fine wines, festive beverages, and beer. Guests are encouraged to dress in blue – the color of prostate cancer awareness – while also enjoying a raffle and a cork pull, plus silent and live auctions with a variety of exciting prizes, including:
- Dinner for eight prepared by Chef Jeremy Coco
- $2,500 toward braces from Sherman/Balhoff
- $2,000 landscaping package from Mark Culotta Landscape
- Blue Dog print
- Blue Runner painting
Soiree was started over 10 years ago by the family and friends of Larry Ferachi and Joel Nasca, who sadly lost their battles with prostate cancer. They had each conducted extensive research and traveled the country participating in clinical trials and were most impressed with Dr. Oliver Sartor, head of Tulane's Prostate Cancer Research Program.
"Our purpose is to increase awareness of the importance of early detection of prostate cancer as well as raise funds for research," said Ricky Lato, co-chair of the organizing committee. "We have raised over a million dollars since our first year, and we feel it is important to continue in Joel & Larry’s quest to help Dr. Sartor, who has devoted his life to finding a cure."
Soiree tickets are $100 each and can be purchased in advance at https://blueribbonsoiree.org/buy-tickets/ or at the door on the night of the event. If you can't attend, but would like to support the cause, donations can be made via check or credit card here, and sponsorship opportunities are also still available. For sponsorship details, please click here. |
|
ACS Patient Transportation Grant
Helps Lift Barriers to Cancer Care
|
|
Due to a variety of circumstances, not all cancer patients are able to travel to their clinical treatment appointments as easily as others. Thanks to a $5,000 Patient Transportation Grant from the American Cancer Society, Tulane Cancer Center can continue to quickly and conveniently mitigate transportation issues for many of our needy patients.
According to the latest statistics from the United States Census Bureau, approximately 23% of the population in and around the Greater New Orleans region live at or below the federal poverty line. Many of these individuals – approximately 11% of the regional population according to the Census – are also chronically un- or under-insured, while they disproportionately suffer higher cancer incidence and mortality rates.
"There is a widespread lack of access to clinical care among our socio-economically disadvantaged populations, and transportation issues are often to blame," said Prescott Deininger, PhD, Tulane Cancer Center director. "This additional funding will allow us to continue to mitigate the burden of transportation issues for many of our patients, and we are extremely grateful to the American Cancer Society for making that possible."
|
|
Trevino Named Honorary "Shucker" for
ACS "Shuck Cancer" Fundraiser
|
|
This party with a purpose is hosted by the ACS’s Junior Executive Board – consisting of young professionals in the New Orleans business community – and Superior Seafood, and features:
- 25 oyster-tasting stations
- 50 wine pairings
- Cuisine from 23 restaurants serving non-oyster dishes
- Three live musical acts
- A robust silent auction
In addition to Dr. Trevino, 21 other "shucker" honorees will be recognized at the event this year. Shuckers are tasked not only with advocating for the ACS but also raising funds for its lifesaving mission.
Since its inception in 2018, Shuck Cancer has raised $1.2 million dollars for ACS New Orleans. Of that, $542,000 has benefited the Patient Transportation Grant Program. That's equivalent to providing 35,870 rides to and from treatment for cancer patients in our community.
"I am honored and humbled to be part of such a great event," said Dr. Trevino. "My hope with Shuck Cancer is to aid patients who have to travel for their cancer care. They deserve quality care regardless of where they live, and I strongly believe travel funding will help bridge this gap."
Dr. Trevino's fundraising goal is $5,000 for the cause, and he's almost there with a month to go before the event!
If you would like to help him reach his goal while supporting the Patient Transportation Grant program, please visit his fundraising page here.
|
|
NOLA Bluedoo Fest Raises Awareness &
$170K for Prostate Cancer Research
|
|
Attendees enjoyed all those things that make New Orleans parties great – live music, fantastic food, and costumes! The event also included a two-mile walk/run hosted by the New Orleans Track Club.
"After three long years, what a tremendous joy it was to host the Seventh Annual NOLA Bluedoo Fest – live and in person," said Oliver Sartor, MD, head of Tulane's Prostate Cancer Research Program.
"It was definitely the celebration we all remembered it to be – fun, a little funky, and all New Orleans! We made our prostate cancer survivors and their families feel special, AND at the same time, we raised awareness and research funds to support our work. I can’t imagine a bigger win for our team, our community or our patients! My deepest thanks go to the sponsors, volunteers and other supporters who helped make it possible."
|
|
Artist-In-Residence / MedArt Volunteers Celebrate Completion of Clinic Mural |
|
Tulane Cancer Center's Artist-in-Residence Ann Zatarain (top row, far left), along with medical student volunteers from Tulane's Medical Art Society recently celebrated the completion of the cancer clinic mural installation.
After months of planning and COVID-related delays, work on the inspirational project started in July.
"It's been a wonderful experience for all, from our initial ideas, to planning, to execution," said Zatarain,
"and we are already hoping for another Cancer Center mural to work on soon!"
To view the mural's progress, read the Inroads stories on the mural installation in our July and September issues.
|
|
or visit
To make a tax-deductible donation to Tulane Cancer Center
(Federal Tax ID# 72-0423889) please click here.
Thank you for your generosity and support!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
