In May 2022 , Stephanie Si Lim , MD , introduced Hawai ‘ i to Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy ( CAR T-cell therapy ), which helps to modify a patient ’ s T-cells ( a type of immune cell ) making it more capable of fighting cancer . This can result in the development of life-saving treatments for cancers that are difficult to treat . Dr . Si Lim is leading the initiative to build a broader Cellular Immunotherapy Program at Kapi ‘ olani Medical Center for Women & Children , Hawai ‘ i Pacific Health .
$ 3.5M TO IMPROVE PROSTATE CANCER RISK PREDICTION
Lang Wu , PhD , and nationwide collaborators secured a $ 3.5 million research grant to support a study on prostate cancer . Funded by the National Cancer Institute , the purpose of the study is to increase the understanding of the causes of prostate cancer to improve the prediction of future disease . The research will identify proteins that play a role in prostate cancer development and progression through novel methods across African and European populations in the U . S . and other countries .
Moving forward , all patients living in Hawai ‘ i , who qualify for this clinical trial , will be able to receive treatment without having to travel out of state .
RESEARCH DISCOVERIES
Flavia Novelli , PhD , Mesothelioma Junior Researcher
A PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO MESOTHELIOMA
Michele Carbone , MD , PhD , along with co-authors , Raffit Hassan , MD , Chief of Thoracic Oncology , National Cancer Institute David Schrump , MD , MBA , FACS , Head of Thoracic Surgery , National Cancer Institute and Harvey Pass , MD , Chief of Thoracic Surgery , New York University , among others , found that patients with mesothelioma — a cancer of the membranes covering the chest and the abdomen — caused by BAP1 or other inherited genetic mutations , require a personalized therapeutic approach , compared to mesotheliomas not linked to genetic mutations . These personalized approaches can significantly improve cancer prognosis for many years and save lives .
RESEARCHER IDENTIFIES A PEPTIDE ACTIVE AGAINST CERTAIN CANCERS
UH Cancer Center researcher and professor at UH Hilo Daniel K . Inouye College of Pharmacy , Shugeng Cao , PhD , identified a rare bacterium that is active against certain cancers . The bacterium , Lentzea flaviverrucosa , that produces petrichorin A , was co-discovered by Chunshun Li , PhD and Xiaohua Wu , PhD , in collaboration with Joshua Blodgett , PhD of Washington University in St . Louis , MO . The research team proved that petrichorin A is active against cancers such as ovarian cancer , fibrosarcoma , prostate cancer , and T-cell leukemia . This highlights the importance of including petrichorin A in future research of pharmaceutical design and discovery programs .
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