TGen to take part in $10.7M breast cancer research grant

The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) has been given a primary role in a $10.7 million grant awarded to Fox Chase Cancer Center by the Department of Defense.

TGen will team with the Philadelphia-based research center to participate in the development of a new treatment model for breast cancer.

Although advances have been made in the treatment of breast cancer, a significant percentage of patients who receive anti-estrogen therapies are expected to become resistant to such treatments.

"This grant is a first step in trying to figure out why breast tumors become resistant to anti-hormone therapy," said Heather Cunliffe, head of TGen's Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research Unit.

According to Cunliffe, genomic technology is key to developing tests that predict ahead of time whether a patient will develop a resistance to current therapies.

Cunliffe will collaborate with V. Craig Jordan, vice president and scientific director of medical science at Fox Chase. Jordan is known for creating tamoxifen, the most widely used drug in breast cancer treatment since the 1970s.

"Metastatic breast cancer remains a devastating disease, and TGen's focus on hormone resistance is a key place to focus our efforts. Dr. Cunliffe's opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Jordan and colleagues could change the way we look at and treat breast cancer," said Jeffrey Trent, TGen's president and scientific director.

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For more information:

"Department of Defense grant focuses on developing a new treatment model for breast cancer," TGen press release, 09/14/2006

"TGen to participate in $10.7M grant-funded breast cancer research," Business Journal, 09/15/2006