WashU OBGYN
University of New Mexico
University of Oklahoma
The Route 66 Endometrial Cancer SPORE brings together interactive research teams from three institutions to create a dynamic translational research program aimed at developing and testing new strategies to prevent and treat endometrial cancer. This SPORE includes three research projects; an administrative core; a biostatistics and bioinformatics core; a biospecimens, metabolomics, and pathology core; and developmental research and career enhancement programs. The three projects, chosen and refined with extensive input from our internal and external advisory boards, are designed to have significant potential to change clinical practice within five years:
- Project 1: HSPA Proteins in Advanced and Recurrent Endometrial Cancer Therapy
- Project 2: Inhibiting AXL to Improve Treatment Response in Endometrial Cancer
- Project 3: Improving Primary Prevention and Uterine Preservation in Premenopausal Women with Obesity and Endometrial Hyperplasia
All three projects include clinical trials and represent carefully chosen marriages between selected endometrial cancer research priorities and the strengths of Washington University in St. Louis and our collaborators at the University of New Mexico and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. The overall aims are to:
- Test promising new therapies to treat or prevent endometrial cancer;
- Elucidate the key biologic processes that drive endometrial cancer and develop novel biomarkers to predict the development of endometrial cancer and response to therapies;
- Leverage and enhance capacities of shared research resources;
- Recruit and mentor new investigators and support innovative ideas in translational endometrial cancer research;
- Facilitate collaboration of those interested in endometrial cancer research; and
- Ensure equitable enrollment in clinical trials and involvement of diverse community members and investigators in research.
This features colleagues from all 4 Route 66 SPORE institutes (WashU, University of Oklahoma, University of New Mexico, and UC San Francisco), including the three main SPORE leaders and 2 of the CEP/DRP awardees.
From left to right, the people in the photo are: Kathleen Dwyer, PhD RN, Kimberly Leslie, MD, David Mutch, MD, Doris Benbrook, PhD, Veronica Davé, PhD, Katherine Fuh, MD PhD, Bethany Hannafon, PhD, Andrea Hagemann, MD, and Vishal Chandra, PhD.
In completing the work proposed, we will test new strategies to prevent or treat endometrial cancer. Future work can be directed at moving the most promising treatment approaches into larger trials. Additionally, we will obtain an unprecedented level of molecular, cellular, immunologic, and metabolomic detail regarding endometrial cancer and response to treatment, which will likely lead to the development of additional novel clinical trials. Finally, by developing new ideas, investigators, and collaborations, we will expand the breadth and depth of research aimed at treating or preventing endometrial cancer.