These awards, along with lectures by the winners, will be presented during the AACR's 94th Annual Meeting, being held April 5 – 9, 2003 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, in Toronto, Canada.
"The AACR prizes are being given to scientists and physicians who, collectively, have made significant contributions to our understanding, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer," said Margaret Foti, Ph.D., chief executive officer of AACR. "The body of research represented by these awards offers hope that we are getting closer to the day that we can conquer cancer."
The following scientists are being honored this year by AACR:
Mario R. Capecchi, Ph.D., professor of human genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, is the recipient of the 6th Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Cancer Research. This award, established in 1997, honors a scientist "who has a made significant contributions to understanding cancer and where ongoing work holds promises for further outstanding contributions." The award carries a $75,000 (euros) cash prize. Dr. Capecci's lecture, "Gene Targeting into the 21st Century: Mouse Models for Human Cancer," will be delivered Sunday, April 6, 12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m., in Hall AB.
Ronald A. DePinho, M.D., professor of medicine and genetics, Harvard Medical School, and American Cancer Society research professor, department of medical oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, is the recipient of the 43rd AACR-G.H.A. Clowes Memorial Award. This award is the oldest award given by the AACR. It recognizes outstanding recent accomplishments in basic research. Dr. DePinho's lecture, "Modeling Cancer and Cancer Genomes in the Mouse," will take place on Sunday, April 6, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., in Hall AB.
Carlos L. Arteaga, M.D., professor of medicine and cancer biology, and director, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Breast Cancer Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, is the recipient of the 27th AACR-Richard & Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award. This award recognizes research that has made, or gives the promise of soon making, a notable contribution to improved clinical care in the field of cancer and provide incentive to scientists who are relatively early in their careers. Dr. Arteaga's lecture, "From Sarcoma Growth Factor to TGF-beta and ErbB Receptor Targeted Therapeutics in Human Neoplasia," will be delivered Tuesday, April 8, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., in Hall AB.
Malcom F. Stevens, OBE, Ph.D., Sc.D., Cancer Research UK professor of experimental cancer chemotherapy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom, is the recipient of the 22nd AACR-Bruce F. Cain Memorial Award. This award recognizes an individual or research team for outstanding preclinical research leading to the discovery of a significant new therapeutic agent for the improved care of cancer patients. Dr. Stevens' lecture, "Chemical Whispering and Drug Discovery: Matching Molecules and Mechanisms," will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., in Hall AB.
Martin J. Blaser, M.D., the Frederick H. King professor of internal medicine, and chairman, department of medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, is the recipient of the 12th AACR-American Cancer Society Award for Research Excellence in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention. This award recognizes outstanding achievements in the fields of epidemiology, biomarkers, and prevention. Dr. Blaser's lecture, "Indigenous Human Bacteria and Causation of Cancer: H. pylori as Model System," will be delivered Wednesday, April 9, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m., in Hall AB.
David S. Alberts, M.D., professor of medicine, pharmacology, and public health, and director, Cancer Prevention and Control, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona, is the recipient of the 8th AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Clinical Cancer Research Award. This award recognizes outstanding achievements in clinical cancer research. Dr. Alberts' lecture, "Cancer Treatment vs. Cancer Prevention: Identical Disciplines with Different Wrappers!" will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m., in Hall AB.
Graham A. Colditz, Dr.P.H., FAFPHM, M.D., professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School; professor of epidemiology, Harvard School of Pubic Health; head, Chronic Disease Epidemiology Group, Channing Laboratory; and program leader, Cancer Epidemiology, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, will deliver the 8th AACR-DeWitt S. Goodman Memorial Lecture. This lectureship acknowledges outstanding work in the fields of nutrition and cancer and cancer prevention. Dr. Colditz's lecture, "Epidemiology and Prevention of Breast Cancer," will take place on Sunday, April 6, 1:00 –2:00 p.m., in Room 216.
Janet D. Rowley, M.D., D.Sc., Blum-Riese distinguished professor of medicine, of molecular genetics and cell biology, and of human genetics, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, will deliver the 6th AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lecture. This lectureship acknowledges an outstanding female or male scientist who has made meritorious contributions to the field of cancer research and who has, through leadership or by example, furthered the advancement of women in science. Dr. Rowley's lecture, "Chromosome Translocations: Keys to Success," will take place on Saturday, April 5, 6:30 – 7:45 p.m. in Auditorium/Theatre.
Editors Note: Research summaries are attached.
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is a professional society of more than 20,000 laboratory and clinical scientists engaged in cancer research in the United States and more than 60 other countries. AACR's mission is to accelerate the prevention and cure of cancer through research, education, communication and advocacy. Its principal activities include the publication of five major peer-reviewed scientific journals (Cancer Research; Clinical Cancer Research; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics; Molecular Cancer Research; and Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention). AACR's annual meeting attracts more than 15,000 participants who share new and significant discoveries in the cancer field, and the AACR's specialty meetings throughout the year focus on all the important areas of basic, translational and clinical cancer research.
RESEARCH SUMMARIES FOR AACR AWARDS
Mario R. Capecchi, Ph.D.
The 6th Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Cancer Research
The AACR and the Pezcoller Foundation honor Dr. Mario R. Capecchi for his discovery, development, and application of targeted mutagenesis in mouse embryonal stem cells. His laboratory's refinement of this approach ultimately revolutionized the field of mouse genetics. This enabling technology has now generated thousands of "knockout mice" in laboratories throughout the world leading to numerous breakthrough observations and biological insights that would otherwise not have been possible. The generation of models of human cancer in mice, stemming from his work, has made an enormous impact on cancer research elucidating the molecular mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis and allowing new therapeutic strategies to be tested in laboratory animals. In his own work, Dr. Capecchi has used knockout technology to study the function of several key genes, including the int-2 oncogene and the Hox gene family, which play critical roles in normal development and in cancer cells. The impact of this discovery has changed the face of modern biology.
Ronald A. DePinho, M.D.
The 43rd AACR-G.H.A. Clowes Memorial Award
The AACR honors Dr. Ronald A. DePinho as a pioneer in the discovery of vital molecular steps taken by human cancer cells as they emerge into potentially lethal tumor masses. Dr. DePinho's discoveries have illuminated major aspects of the tumorigenic process that were heretofore surrounded by dense mystery. He made several penetrating insights, starting with the elucidation of key molecular elements underlying the transforming action of the myc oncogenes. He also revealed previously unperceived linkages between a failure of telomere elongation and the selection of genomically unstable tumor cells as a dominant population within an organ. Dr. DePinho later demonstrated the overt reversibility of seemingly fixed oncogene (ras)-driven neoplastic properties of tumor masses, and revealed that certain oncogenes operate by licensing transforming pathways driven by other dominant cancer genes.
Carlos L. Arteaga, M.D.
The 27th AACR-Richard & Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Award
The AACR honors Dr. Carlos L. Arteaga as a physician-scientist who has made important advances in the understanding and treatment of breast cancer. He has contributed to our understanding of the role of signaling by TGF-â receptors and the erbB (EGF) receptors in breast carcinogenesis and progression; the use of this information has led to the conception of clinical trials investigating new, highly promising directions for early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Dr. Arteaga's early studies of the overexpression of TGF-b1 led to the seminal observation that tumor-host TGF-b-mediated interactions were critical for tumor establishment and metastatic progression. This important observation became one of the bases for the targeting of TGF-b in cancers with a therapeutic intent, a hypothesis currently under investigation. His later studies of HER2 led to ongoing trials of Herceptin in combination with cytotoxic drugs in patients with advanced breast cancer. More recently, Dr. Arteaga demonstrated the ability of EGFR/HER2 kinase inhibitors to reverse antiestrogen resistance in human breast cancer cells, providing one of the bases for currently impending clinical trials of antiestrogens with HER2 inhibitors.
Malcom F. Stevens, OBE, Ph.D., Sc.D.
The 22nd AACR-Bruce F. Cain Memorial Award
The AACR honors Dr. Malcolm F. Stevens for outstanding and unique contributions to antitumor drug discovery and development. Dr. Stevens has conducted groundbreaking research resulting in the design, synthesis, and development of a range of anticancer agents including radiosensitizer, akylating agents, antifolates, and others -- one of which, Temozolomide, is demonstrating a tangible effect on patient care in the treatment of malignant melanoma and glioblastoma multiform. A remarkable feature of Dr. Stevens' career has been his willingness to experiment across disciplines to pursue the development of clinical candidates, leading him to conduct metabolism, disposition, and pharmacokinetics of the target agents in addition to designing and synthesizing them. In several cases, this additional research has been instrumental in getting the compounds advanced to clinical trials.
Martin J. Blaser, M.D.
The 12th AACR-American Cancer Society Award for Research Excellence in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention
The AACR honors Dr. Martin J. Blazer for his pioneering and major contributions to our understanding of the prevention of gastric cancer through the control of infection with Helicobacter pylori. In 1985, Dr. Blaser entered the field of cancer research with studies on H. pylori that formed the basis for developing the first accurate serologic assay to detect individuals carrying H. pylori, and opened the door to epidemiological analysis. A later study using a large patient population led him to formulate theoretical models for the interaction of H. pylori with the host, demonstrating the dynamic equilibrium between bacterial populations and their hosts. The importance of this work extends beyond H. pylori pathogenesis, providing a model for other persisting co-evolved microbes at mucosal surfaces.
David S. Alberts, M.D.
The 8th AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Clinical Cancer Research Award
The AACR honors Dr. David S. Alberts for his contributions to cancer prevention in a wide range of fields. Beginning in the 1970s, Dr. Alberts conducted landmark studies on the analytical chemistry and pharmacokinetics of retinol, 13-cis-retonoic acids, and other retinoids. These studies laid the groundwork for Phase I, II, and III trials; the results included an important report in 1997 declaring that retinol is effective in preventing squamous cell skin cancer. Continuing his work in this area, he investigated biomarkers of skin carcinogenesis, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53, polyamine levels, and apoptosis. Together with his research group, the Chemoprevention of Skin Cancer Program Project, he developed topically administered chemopreventive agents that can be incorporated into sunscreens. In 2000, Dr. Alberts published an important study in which he was able to reject the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with wheat bran fiber could prevent colon cancer; this landmark study has become the benchmark for the conduct of large population-based studies in which healthy subjects are recruited from the practices of community physicians. His studies of nuclear karyometric features as a biomarker of early neoplasia could have a major impact on identification of individuals at high risk for cancer and as a sensitive biomarker of response to chemopreventive agents.
Graham A. Colditz, Dr.P.H., FAFPHM, M.D.
The 8th AACR-DeWitt S. Goodman Memorial Lecture
The AACR honors Dr. Graham A. Colditz for his seminal work on aspects of diet, physical activity, and hormone replacement therapy that have contributed greatly to our understanding of how these exposures may be targeted for cancer prevention. With the Nurses' Health Study as his primary base, Dr. Colditz studied benign breast disease and the risk of breast cancer, and he refined mathematical models of breast cancer that incorporate the temporal relationships between risk factors and disease incidence. Translation of these and other findings from epidemiology to cancer prevention strategies have led to important consideration of societal as well as individual changes that will reduce cancer risk for the whole of society. He has been remarkably effective in developing individualized risk prediction programs on the internet for the purpose of disseminating population-wide cancer prevention strategies. This population-oriented public health initiative serves as an extremely unique cancer prevention model and a first, important step in the translation of academic success to real-time practical strategies to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cancer.
Janet D. Rowley, M.D., D.Sc.
The 6th AACR-Women in Cancer Research Charlotte Friend Memorial Lecture
The AACR honors Dr. Janet D. Rowley for her outstanding contributions both as a basic and translational scientist, and as a mentor for women scientists, many of whom have gone on to establish themselves as distinguished investigators in their own right. Her scientific accomplishments have greatly enhanced our understanding of hematopoietic malignancies and laid much of the foundation for improved diagnosis and rational design of cancer-specific treatments. Over the years, Dr. Rowley has revolutionized our thinking about chromosomes and cancer by examining translocations in different types of leukemia. These discoveries changed the view of cancer researchers regarding the critical importance of recurring chromosome abnormalities in cancer cells, facilitated identification of novel oncogenes at the breakpoint junctions, and galvanized the scientific community in support of the Human Genome Project.
Photos of the award winners can be found at: http://www.aacr.org/2003awards.asp