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for hereditary cancer genes includes a very small subset (less than 1%) of the 20,000 known coding genes for humans. Research in these families provides the opportunity to identify novel changes in their genetic information. One example of this is a family who has classic familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome, where family members can make hundreds to thousands of colon polyps and are at a 100% risk of developing colon cancer at
a young age if screening and surgery are not initiated. Clinical testing for the genes associated with colon polyp formation and colon cancer was negative in this family. Research testing unveiled a chromosomal inversion and upon further analysis
noted that the gene was interrupted and, therefore, not working. These types of changes are missed with clinical testing based on the technology used. For this family, the breakthrough is life-changing as we can now identify who carries the change and needs increased surveillance or surgery to prevent colon cancer, while those that do not carry the change return to general-population risk and do not need increased surveillance, which saves health care dollars. This type of research has the potential to impact many families and change the understanding of genetic testing and the nuances of how genes
can be altered. In addition, this type of research can reduce the morbidity and mortality from cancer through prevention.
Lastly, in January 2017, the HFGCCRI genetic counseling program under the direction of Zohra Ali-Khan Catts, MS, LCGC, in conjunction with Thomas Jefferson University, received approval from the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling for an advanced-degree training program in genetic counseling,
at the HFGCCRI in September of 2017.
In addition, the HFGCCRI genetic counseling program provides opportunities for internships and fellowships for the undergraduate students from the University
of Delaware to gain research experience and knowledge about genetic counseling, which enhances the acceptance rate into a highly competitive master’s level genetic- counseling training program.
Wistar-HFGCC Inter-Institutional Collaboration for Patient- Focused Cancer Research
Center to merge basic, translational,
and patient-oriented cancer research in
entered in 2011 into a historic inter- institutional partnership with the HFGCCRI in the State of Delaware.
and only inter-institutional partnership between a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated “basic” Cancer Center (Wistar) and a Community Cancer
Center (HFGCCRI), member of the
NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).15 This partnership was introduced in the 2013 NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) renewal
as a developing conduit to support translational and patient-focused cancer research at Wistar. The partnership was described by the NCI as “exceptional and innovative.” The goal was to leverage
a unique degree of complementarity between the two institutions and develop a collaborative framework to bring together Wistar scientists and HFGCCRI clinicians around shared objectives in translational and patient-focused cancer research.
As envisioned, a Wistar-HFGCCRI partnership provided several distinctive elements, as follows:
• Opportunity for statewide impact • Access to a unique, treatment-naïve
population of cancer patients
• Sustained institutional commitment from both organizations
• Strategic value added for both organizations (opportunity for faculty recruitment, fundraising, medical education, and technology transfer)
• Convergence of basic and clinical research interests (immunotherapy, early diagnosis, new clinical trials)
New Wistar faculty involved in collaborative projects with HFGCCRI clinicians include Alessandro Gardini, PhD (characterization of non-coding RNAs in deregulated gene expression
in acute myeloid leukemia); Paul Lieberman, PhD (role of Epstein Barr Virus-directed transcription in viral tumorigenesis); and Qing Chen, PhD
(role of astrocyte-tumor cell interaction
in breast cancer brain metastasis). HFGCCRI neurosurgeon Pulak Ray, MD and hematologic oncologist Scott Hall, MD are collaborators. A collaboration between researchers at the Wistar Vaccine Center (Drs. David Weiner and Alfredo Percales Puchalt) and clinicians on the HFGCCRI’s Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Multidisciplinary team (Joseph Bennett, MD; Greg Tiesi, MD; and Michael Guarino, MD) developed a pilot project
to determine the optimal time frame for effective immunotherapy treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer.
CONCLUSION
Translational cancer research holds the key to therapeutic progress in oncology. The scientists and clinicians in the CTCR at the HFGCCRI — together with the unique partnership with the Wistar Cancer Institute — continue
to work on broadening our knowledge
• • •
Unique model of collaboration for translational cancer research
No institutional redundancy or competition
Novel opportunity to bring cutting- edge cancer research to the community (where 85% of oncology care is given in the United States)
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