Interrogation of Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog Activity in Primary Tumor Samples

NCT02006550 | Terminated

• 1 other identifier: 20100200
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 227
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Cancer results when undifferentiated cells grow in an uncontrolled manner, crowding out normal cells, causing morbidity and ultimately mortality. The cancer stem cell theory suggests that most tumors undergo a process of differentiation through which a relatively rare cancer stem or progenitor cell (CSC) gives rise to more differentiated populations of cells (including transiently amplifying cells) comprising the bulk of the tumor. As a result of this cellular diversity, one or more cells within the tumor are likely to be resistant to therapy. Among cells resistant to a given therapy, only CSCs can repopulate the tumor. A key feature of this resistant subset of CSCs is that they repopulate a tumor resistant to the original intervention. The cellular programs driving the uncontrolled proliferation of many solid tumors result from aberrant activity of Wnt, Shh, and/or Notch signaling pathways in CSC. Thus, therapies that down-regulate the activity of these fundamental pathways in CSCs will be effective in the treatment of cancer. The investigators' research program focuses on the elucidation of signaling mechanisms, control of cellular processes and discovery of small molecules that selectively target Wnt, Shh, and Notch signaling pathways that are fundamental to CSCs. Our preliminary results identified a novel Notch associated protein NACK that functions as a transcriptional co-activator of Notch. Moreover, Nack is expressed in human solid tumors and is required for cell survival and tumor growth in notch -dependent tumor cells. The investigators' aim is to further interrogate the link between Notch and Nack.

Conditions

Cancer

Keywords

Wnt; Notch; Hedgehog; Tumor Sample

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Identify and isolate the cancer stem cell populations from primary tumor samples.

  5 years

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

These are samples derived from discarded tissue obtained through the routine surgical resection of tumors

You may qualify if:

• Patients diagnosed with a primary cancer tumor scheduled for a surgery to remove it.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients not diagnosed with a primary cancer scheduled for a standard of care (SOC) surgery.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Miami: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Miami

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Neoplasms

Study Officials

• Anthony Capobianco, PhD

  University of Miami

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 4, 2013
• First Posted: December 10, 2013
• Study Start: June 16, 2010
• Primary Completion: October 25, 2018
• Study Completion: October 25, 2018
• Last Updated: April 1, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-03

Locations

US (1)