Jefferson Establishes New Center to Study Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
Thomas Jefferson University has established a new center to study the biology, behavior and the potential medical uses of
adult stem cells in a variety of diseases, including neurological disease and cancer.
The
Jefferson Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine Center will be
directed by renowned cell biologist Michael P. Lisanti, M.D., Ph.D.,
professor of Cancer Biology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas
Jefferson University in Philadelphia and the Kimmel Cancer Center at
Jefferson.
According
to Dr. Lisanti, who is also the Margaret Q. Landenberger Professor of
Breast Cancer Research at Jefferson, one center focus will be on the
uses of adult stem cells for tissue regeneration in a variety of
injuries and disease conditions, such as brain injury after stroke,
Parkinson’s disease and the damaged heart and cardiovascular system
after heart attack.
The
other area of concentration will be on cancer stem cells, both in solid
tumors such as breast, prostate and pancreas and in blood cancers such
as leukemia and lymphoma. “It’s thought that cancer stem cells that are
resistant to therapy are also important in conveying drug resistance,”
notes Dr. Lisanti.
“We
want to identify and develop new biomarkers to perform patient
stratification so that we can do early detection and potentially find
out who might benefit from chemotherapy and/or radiation,” he explains.
“The
new stem cell biology and regenerative medicine center, under Michael
Lisanti’s leadership, will be catalytic in clinical translational
science initiatives across cardiovascular, neurological disease and
cancer disciplines at Jefferson,” says Kimmel Cancer Center director
Richard Pestell, M.D., Ph.D. “This center at Jefferson will serve as a
national hub for our ongoing collaboration with other national and
international stem cell center partners.”
Dr.
Lisanti says that Jefferson scientists plan to use both cell and mouse
models to identify potential biomarkers and then test their validity
with tumor microarray technology. For example, using a mouse model of
pre-cancerous conditions in breast or prostate tissue, researchers can
use gene-based microarrays to actually profile the individual genes
involved. “Once you come up with a new gene signature, you can rapidly
screen these candidate biomarkers using tumor tissue microarrays to see
if they have predictive value. Then you could potentially offer
alternative therapies very early on rather than after the development
of drug resistance,” Dr. Lisanti points out. “We think we have some
novel cancer stem cell biomarkers in the pipeline.”
The new center consists of seven programs: blood and immune cells; bone, cartilage and muscle; brain and nervous system; cancer;
tissue and organ regeneration; reproduction and fertility; and skin.
The
center will also encourage more scientific relationships at Jefferson.
“We’ve already set up collaborations across the university in both the
basic and clinical sciences,” Dr. Lisanti notes, adding that Jefferson
already has a stem cell working group. “The center will be the focus
for new multi-investigator grants and new educational opportunities.”
In addition, the center is establishing ties with other local
institutions, such as Lankenau Institute for Medical Research in
Wynnewood and Christiana Care’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in
Wilmington. International collaborations are also underway.
Media Only Contact:
Steve Benowitz
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Phone: (215) 955-6300
Published: 3/14/2008