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Discovery offers hope of increased survival for leukemia patients
Canada NewsWire
26 September 2006
TORONTO, Sept. 26 /CNW/ -- TORONTO, Sept. 26 /CNW/ - The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) today congratulated Dr. John Dick of the University Health Network for his discovery, supported with research grants from all four organizations, that offers hope of increased survival for leukemia patients.
Dr. John Dick is the principal investigator of a team that found a way to destroy the leukemia stem cells that cause a recurrence of the disease after chemotherapy. Whereas traditional chemotherapy kills cancer cells, leukemia stem cells have special growth properties that allow them to survive, posing an important new challenge to find therapies that target them.
Dr. Dick showed that cancer stem cells require a unique micro-environment in the bone marrow to thrive. Interfering with the bone marrow environment makes it impossible for the cancer stem cells to grow and multiply. The method he used targets the cancer stem cells without harming normal stem cells.
Approximately 4,000 Canadians are diagnosed with leukemia each year and only half survive the disease. Dr. Dick's research offers the hope that leukemia can be eradicated and the method used may be applicable to other types of cancer.
"Leukemia can be a devastating disease," says Heather Logan, director, Cancer Control Policy, CCS. "This discovery is an important breakthrough that carries the hope of improved treatment for this disease."
"This finding has important implications for leukemia patients and their families as well as our health care system. Dr. Dick and his colleagues have taken an entirely new approach to the treatment of leukemia and perhaps other cancers such as breast cancer," said Dr. Alan Bernstein, president of the CIHR.
"It is gratifying to see the investment in groundbreaking technologies associated with large-scale genomics and proteomics projects, like Dr. Dick's, leading to results that not only enable the international scientific research community to move forward, but that also have direct implications for improving human health," says Christian Burks, president and CEO of OGI.
"Dr. Dick's research points the direction for a novel new way to treat leukemia by attacking the tissue where the cancer grows rather than the traditional approach of focusing therapy directly on the cancer," says Dr. Thomas Hudson, president and scientific director of OICR. "It is likely that Dr. Dick's strategy will also work in many other cancers. OICR is pleased to have contributed funds towards his discovery."
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and to enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. It is the largest charitable funder of cancer research in Canada. This year, the Society is funding more than $47 million in leading-edge research projects across the country. <http://www.cancer.ca>www.cancer.ca
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's agency for health research. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to catalyze its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to over 10,000 health researchers and trainees across Canada. <http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca>www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) is a not-for-profit corporation focused on building a globally-competitive life sciences industry in Ontario. With the support of Genome Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, and other partners, OGI attracts investment in genomics and proteomics research; supports development and commercialization of leveragable genomics resources; and, facilitates public dialogue on genomics and its impact on society. <http://www.ontariogenomics.ca>www.ontariogenomics.ca
The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research is a centre of excellence, moving Ontario to the forefront of discovery and innovation. It is dedicated to research in prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Institute is a not-for-profit corporation funded by the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Research and Innovation. <http://www.oicr.on.ca>www.oicr.on.ca
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