According to Confucius, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step — but in science, significant discovery often begins through a few small grants.

That is the thinking behind the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program’s seed grant program. The Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Pilot Project awards grants to scientists and physicians that spur innovative research related to colon, rectal, stomach, pancreas and other cancers.

The variety of such research projects is so robust that the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program awarded five grants to scientists in its most recent funding cycle, rather than the original four.

“We are very enthusiastic about the breadth of novel, collaborative research projects under way,” said Julio Garcia-Aguilar, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Surgery and director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program. “The work aims to directly translate laboratory work to the clinic, and our funding will help the projects gain the data and momentum needed to expand and compete for federal grants.”

Researchers earn the one-year, $50,000 grants through a competitive application process. Grant holders also may apply for a second year of funding. The most recent grants supported these projects:

The Role of Bile Acids in the Anti-cancer Actions of Entero-metabolic Surgery

Barry Forman (Photo by Darrin S. Joy)

Barry M. Forman, M.D., Ph.D.
Ruth B. and Robert K. Lanman Chair in Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery Research

Studies show that obesity increases colon cancer risk and obese colon cancer patients have a worse prognosis than other colon cancer patients. The nuclear receptor FXR, a receptor for bile acids, plays a major role in diabetes and obesity. Forman is studying whether certain forms of bariatric surgery can slow tumor growth by activating FXR and starving cancer cells of glucose.

Development of a Multivalent Mimotope to Enhance Cetuximab Efficacy

Cindy Zer, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Molecular Medicine

The drug cetuximab, either alone or with irinotecan, is often the last effective option for certain patients whose colorectal cancer fails to respond to other therapies. Now Zer, part of the lab of John Williams, Ph.D., wants to make cetuximab better. She and her colleagues are designing special mimotopes that show promise in increasing cetuximab’s cell-killing power. A mimotope is a large molecule that mimics other molecules that are critical to immune response.

Antagonist Design for Chemokine Receptor CCR9 in Multi-targeted Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer

Joseph Kim, M.D.
Associate professor in the Department of Surgery

Kim and colleagues Natarajan Vaidehi, Ph.D., and Richard Yip, Ph.D., have their sights on potential new agents for pancreatic cancer. The team aims to target two chemokine receptors called CXCR4 and CCR9. The researchers already have identified two compounds against CXCR4 and plan studies in the lab to analyze its ability to fight pancreatic cancer. The new grant funds will spur the search for a compound that targets CCR9.

TGR5, A Promising Target for Liver Cancer Treatment

Yan-Dong Wang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow in the Division of Gene Regulation and Drug Discovery

Wang, part of the lab of Wendong Huang, Ph.D., is studying a bile acid receptor called TGR5, which regulates bile acid balance and glucose metabolism. No scientists have ever implicated TGR5 in liver cancer, but the City of Hope scientists have found that it may fight inflammation in the liver — making it a potential target for suppressing inflammation-related liver cancer.

Investigation of the Role of the Highly Over-Expressed SAE2 in Colorectal Cancer’s Growth and Treatment Outcome

Yuan Chen, Ph.D.
Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine

SAE2 is a protein that is highly expressed in colorectal cancers. Chen aims to determine the effects of SAE2 on colorectal cancer growth and how it may help cancer withstand drugs and radiation therapy. The research will guide further experiments to identify the cellular pathways regulated by SAE2, as well as how SAE2 level affects DNA damage response signaling and repair pathways.

For more information on the grants, contact Nicole Herrera, administrative program coordinator, at nherrera@coh.org.