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Under the leadership of Dr. Alphonse E. Sirica, Chair of the Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis in the Department of Pathology, a new research initiative in GI oncology research has been initiated under the auspices of the new major strategic research plan of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and in conjunction with the VCU Massey Cancer Center, a NCI-designated cancer center. New faculty are now being recruited to join an expanding basic science and translational research effort focused on investigating the cellular and molecular pathology and target-based therapeutics of hepatobiliary and pancreatic duct cancers. Key areas of study include:
- the establishment of novel preclinical animal models of hepatobiliary and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas that recapitulate the clinical and molecular features of the human disease,
- the cellular and molecular pathology of cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic duct cancer development and progression,
- the roles played by aberrant bile acid signaling, growth factor receptor signaling, and tumor microenvironment in relation to cholangio-and pancreatic ductal cell carcinogenesis and tumor progression, and
- the development of novel molecular target-based cancer therapeutics and chemoprevention strategies.
The more immediate goals of this initiative are to (1) expand and perpetuate long-standing NIH funding for research on hepatobiliary and pancreatic duct cancer, (2) foster successful multi-investigator interactions between existing and new faculty with interests in GI oncology research, (3) serve as a paradigm to synergize current and future research efforts leading to increased peer-reviewed research papers and multi-disciplinary grants in GI oncology research, and (4) to provide effective mentoring and training to Postdocs and Clinical Research Fellows, as well as selected Ph.D. graduate students having strong interest in GI oncology research. With increasing successes, it is hoped that this new research initiative will be expanded to include investigations of other GI cancers, most notably, gastric and esophageal cancers, and gallbladder cancer. In addition, as multi-investigator projects develop, there will be opportunities that might lead to the submission of a new NIH Spore grant focused on hepatobiliary cancer. Ultimately, the overall goal of this initiative is to translate new innovative research findings into clinical trials that would benefit patients with hepatobiliary and pancreated duct cancers, for which there are currently limited treatment options, and a prognosis that is most often dismal.
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Dr. Sirica's research from the April 2008 cover of
Hepatology
click here for full-size cover image (pdf)
Alphonse E. Sirica, PhD, MS
Professor, Departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine
Chairman, Division of Cellular and Molecular Pathogenesis
click here for an abbreviated CV |
