NCC researchers win awards

Researchers Caine Leong and Ong Choon Kiat won first and third prize for best presentation respectively at the “Life Sciences in Singapore, 5th Combine Annual Meeting 2004” organised by National University of Singapore, on 12-14 May.

Caine Leong presented experimental findings on novel uterine and ovarian specific gene (HuUO-44) that is being functionally characterised in NCC laboratory. Over-expression of this gene was observed in 86% of ovarian tumours and it was established that the gene was involved in ovarian cancer cell attachment and proliferation. Understanding the role of HuUO-44 in the initiation and progression of ovarian and uterine cancers may lead to the development of a novel target for therapeutic interventions.

Ong Choon Kiat presented research findings on the study of a novel ovarian, kidney and liver specific tumour suppressor gene, OKL38, that is being characterised in the lab. By cloning and characterising the OKL38 gene, the team hopes to understand its functions and regulations in order to develop a rat model for prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of ovarian, kidney and liver cancers.

Both researchers are from the Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, headed by Principal Investigator A/Prof. Hung Huynh.

NCC Presentations at ASCO
The annual meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology was recently held in New Orleans, USA. Senior medical oncologist, Dr Tan Eng Huat, presented on his randomised trial that confirms that EGFR inhibitor prolongs survival after 1st or 2nd line chemotherapy for NSCLC. The Head and Neck team, lead by Drs Tan Eng Huat and Joseph Wee, presented a clinical trial that show combining radiation and chemotherapy improves survival rates in advanced nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients as compared to radiation alone. Drs Toh Chee Keong and Donald Poon presented their studies on prognostic index and phase II study results of CPT-11 (irinotecan) as a new salvage treatment for advanced NPC.

International journals publish NCC research
International journal Gene Therapy has in its May issue highlighted the collaborative work of researchers from NCC, SGH and NNI (X-L Moore, J Lu, L Sun, C-J Zhu, P Tan and MC-Wong, 1-8, May2004). The paper describes how a specific cell type can be derived from blood stem cells, with capability similar to a "homing missile" to "home in" to the brain tumour, with marked accuracy.

In the past, the Brain Tumour Research Lab, Division of Medical Sciences, has published articles describing gene therapy against experimental brain tumour models. A major problem limiting many treatment methods is getting the treatment delivered to the brain tumour.

Congratulations
The editorial team extends its heartfelt congratulations to postgraduate researcher Ng Gim Yew for being granted a fellowship to participate in the Australia and Asia Pacific Clinical Oncology Research Development (ACORD) workshop in Palm Cove Australia on 8-14 August, 2004. At the workshop, she presented her research on the quality of life of cancer patients, and how family support can help patients cope with depression and anxiety.