UNC laboratory draws map of cancer

Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill are helping create the national Cancer Genome Atlas to map mutations found in cancer tumors. The goal is to point the way to better tests and treatments.

Chuck Perou's laboratory at UNC-CH is conducting an analysis of hundreds of tissue samples from lung, brain and ovarian cancer tumors and plans to build an map that could aid doctors in finding better treatments for the cancers.

News and Observer
March 14, 2007
Jean P. Fisher, Staff Writer

UNC helps draw map of cancer
Genetic study of tumors might help scientists with detection, cure

The scientists in Chuck Perou's laboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill plot cancer genes like towns and roads on a map -- coordinates that one day will result in a cancer atlas guiding doctors to smarter treatments.

In the next few weeks, Perou, a cell biologist and geneticist, will lead his research team in an analysis of hundreds of tissue samples taken from lung, brain and ovarian cancer tumors. All three have limited treatment options and have never been thoroughly analyzed at the genetic level.

Advances in care for other types of cancers have shown that understanding the genetic characteristics of tumors can be clinically valuable.

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Stem cell researchers have alternative to embryonic stem cells

Research at North Carolina's Wake Forest University may lead the way for stem cell research without the heated deadlock seen in recent political debates. Dr. Anthony Atala found a new class of stem cells that may provide an alternative to using embryonic stem cells. This could allow research to continue and avoid tight financial restrictions imposed by the Bush administration.

Scientists have found cells in many more places than once thought possible, including the brain, bone marrow, the blood, skeletal muscle, skin -- even fat. Doctors at Duke University have pioneered life-saving treatments using stem cells harvested from umbilical cord blood but the cords generally produce only enough cells to provide treatment for children.

Exerpt from the news release...

News and Observer
January 8, 2006
Catherine Clabby, Staff Writer

New stem cells offer promise
A scientist at Wake Forest helped discover the cells in amniotic fluid. Their harvest requires no destruction of embryos. Researchers envision a human repair kit

WINSTON-SALEM - A Wake Forest University scientist says he has discovered a new class of stem cells in the wombs of pregnant women that may provide an alternative to embryonic stem cells.

The new cells, unlike embryonic cells, could be harvested without the destruction of early-stage human embryos. That means research and development of treatments using these cells would probably not be subject to the tight financial restrictions the Bush administration has imposed on scientific work involving embryonic stem cells. Read more...