Promising Investigations — Dr. Edward Schwartz was awarded a $1.5 million grant over five years by the National Cancer Institute to study a promising new drug, AEAC (6-(2-aminoethyl)amino-5-chlorouracil) for the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, a small subset of pancreatic cancers that possess a high number of structurally abnormal blood vessels. AEAC inhibits the ability of a tumor to expand its network of new, nutrient-supplying blood vessels (angiogenesis) by blocking the pro-angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase. Building upon his laboratory’s recent discovery of this drug, Dr. Schwartz and his research team will employ mouse models of pancreatic cancer to investigate its activity and mechanisms of action, used alone and in combination therapy. The goal of these studies is to determine new approaches for treating pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer that could then be tested in clinical trials. Dr. Schwartz is professor of medicine (oncology).
Posted on: Friday, September 21, 2012