Research Headlines
UF awarded $11.9 million for prostate cancer research comparing proton and X-ray therapies
A UF research team has been approved for a five-year, $11.9 million award to directly compare the potential benefits and harms of proton therapy to standard radiation therapy when treating prostate cancer. The study of 3,000 men between the ages of 30 and 80 will compare 1,500 patients treated with proton therapy with 1,500 patients treated with standard radiation therapy from a total of 42 treatment centers across the United States. READ MORE
Drug trio shows effectiveness against deadly type of breast cancer in mouse model
UF researchers have found a promising mix of compounds that significantly inhibit the growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells in mice: forskolin, a compound derived from the Indian coleus plant that is used to treat high blood pressure; probenecid, a gout medication; and rolipram, a potential antidepressant that was discontinued in the 1990s. Tumor weights were reduced by about 80 percent in mice that received the drug cocktail for six weeks. READ MORE
Immunotherapy treatment shows effectiveness against deadly brain tumor during early tests
UF researchers have found a way to target a molecule, known as CD70, found on the surface of glioblastoma tumors, that lets the tumor grow, migrate and evade the body’s immune system. The UF researchers discovered that T cells, a type of white blood cell, can be extracted from a patient and genetically reprogrammed to recognize and attack glioblastoma tumors that feature CD70. READ MORE
UF Health researchers develop novel ring distortion strategy to fight diseases
A novel strategy developed by UF researchers has yielded several promising compounds to ght in ammation and diseases such as colorectal cancer. The novel ring distortion approach generates compounds that complement existing screening libraries that house many structurally simple compounds used to discover new drug therapies. By introducing dozens of complex small molecules developed from yohimbine and related natural products, researchers will add to the arsenal of compounds available to drugmakers. READ MORE
Higher air pollution exposure linked to denser breast tissue
Women who have higher exposure to fine particulate matter in the air are more likely to have dense breast tissue, a well-established strong risk factor for breast cancer, according to UF researchers. The team analyzed data collected from nearly 280,000 women age 40 and older who have no history of breast cancer and live in locations in the northeastern, southwestern and western United States. While more research is needed before establishing a causal relationship between air pollution and dense breasts, compounds in particulate matter have the potential to interfere with the normal functioning of the body’s endocrine system, according to researchers. READ MORE
Common, edible mushroom has potential to kill one type of leukemia cell
The Coprinus comatus mushroom contains a protein that is a potent killer of a certain leukemia cell, a group of UF researchers has found. The mushroom, commonly known as the lawyer’s wig or shaggy mane, killed human T-cell leukemia cells during laboratory tests. Its potency and ability to selectively target leukemia cells makes it a promising candidate for cancer treatment. The findings provide a strategy for characterizing the functions of small proteins that are encoded in the mushroom’s genome and demonstrate specific interactions with diseased cells. More broadly, the research suggests that the shaggy mane and other mushrooms are an untapped source of drug discovery and development. READ MORE
UF researchers identify novel genetic links between herpes virus and cancer
A dormant herpes virus uses its proteins and small RNAs to create genetic changes that can cause cancer in patients with AIDS and other immune deficiencies, a team of UF researchers has found. The virus, known as Kaposi’s sarcoma- associated herpesvirus, is the agent that causes Kaposi’s sarcoma and blood cancers. Kaposi’s sarcoma a ects about 20,000 people in the United States and is the most common tumor among AIDS patients in Africa, according to the World Health Organization. Knowing more about the genetic interactions between the herpesvirus and Kaposi’s sarcoma is an important step in understanding how the virus contributes to tumor formation and ultimately in developing virus-specific cancer therapies. READ MORE
1 in 9, or 11 million, U.S. men are infected with oral HPV
A study led by a UF researcher offers recommendations for monitoring and treating precancerous anal lesions in a high-risk group that could lower patients’ risk of developing anal cancer by 80 percent. The team developed a mathematical model to simulate a patient population of men with HIV who have sex with men. Using the best available data, including patient health outcomes, cancer risk, treatment cost and impact on quality of life, the team built a computer model that acts like a virtual randomized clinical trial to track 100,000 simulated patients over the course of their lifetimes.
Approximately 11 million men and 3 million women in the U.S. are infected with oral human papillomavirus, or HPV, according to a new study led by UF researchers. Men were also almost six times more likely to be infected with cancer-causing oral HPV strains. Additionally, researchers identified several demographic and behavioral risk factors. This study is critical for guiding the design and development of strategies targeted toward prevention of oropharyngeal cancer among high-risk individuals. READ MORE
Grant will help researchers create a better test for pancreatic cancer
A UF surgeon hopes a new project and alternative testing method can more accurately detect the presence of pancreatic cancer — reducing the number of false negatives to as low as one in 20. He and his colleagues believe that measuring levels of protein signals called cytokines and chemokines that are secreted by scar tissue surrounding a pancreatic cancer tumor might lead to a less invasive, more sensitive way to test for the disease. The current standard of care procedure is an endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy, which can miss the diagnosis of cancer in up to 32 percent of cases of operable disease in patients where the tumor is confined to the pancreas. READ MORE
UF researchers identify gene variant to personalize therapy for deadly form of leukemia
Advancements in chemotherapy drugs have improved the survival rates for acute myeloid leukemia patients, but the cure rate for this disease is dismal — which is why cancer researchers are exploring genetics to identify new drug targets and therapies and to make smarter decisions using existing chemotherapy agents. UF researchers recently found that genetic variation within patients with CD33 — a surface molecule that acts as a receptor for drug therapy on a leukemia cell — can predict the effectiveness of the anti- leukemic drug gemtuzumab ozogamicin, or GO. By identifying patients who are more likely to benefit from GO based on their genotype, those treated with the drug may have a lower risk of relapse, which is a big step toward precision medicine. READ MORE
Brain cancer trial first clinical research collaboration of UF Health & Orlando Health joint program
A new phase two clinical trial currently enrolling patients with glioblastoma, the most common and most lethal form of brain tumor, is building on prior UF research, including a small, randomized phase one trial that resulted in several patients with the disease living longer than average — and, in a few cases, markedly delayed tumor progression. The new trial will assess the intervention used in the prior study with a larger population. READ MORE
