Basic Research

Even after decades of research, the molecular basis for why spermatogenesis requires testosterone is not completely understood. This is in part because very few androgen-regulated genes have been definitively identified so far. It is likely that most androgen-regulated genes in the testis respond indirectly to androgen via activation or suppression of transcription by other trans-acting factors directly regulated by androgen.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. In the US, it claims more lives in Americans younger than 85 years of age compared to any other cause. As a nation, hundreds of billions of dollars are spent annually on cancer research and care, but cancer death rates have not changed significantly for most advanced-stage cancers. These grim statistics point to a need for novel and effective cancer prevention strategies, as prevention can be more clinically effective and is clearly more cost effective than most cancer treatment strategies.

Adipose stromal cells (ASCs) are the major source for some adipose tissue-derived, tumor-promoting factors including estrogens and various cytokines. Emerging evidence indicates that circulating ASCs are distinctly associated with obese individuals, in particular obese cancer patients. Functionally, circulating ASCs can travel to tumor stroma in distant organs to promote tumor progression. However, as circulating ASCs are relatively rare, they are unlikely to outnumber resident ASCs that are often abundantly present in tumor stroma.

Maintenance treatment of advanced stage squamous cell NSCLC

The long-term goal of this study is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans. Our immediate goal is to examine how disruption of mitochondrial function is linked with the aging process. In recent years, it has become clear that defects in the electron transport chain of mitochondria, the key site of energy production in cells are linked with many age-related diseases - including heart disease, Type II diabetes, Parkinson Disease, Alzheimer's dementia, and cancer. 15% of the US population suffers from these chronic degenerative disorders.

Basic Research

RESEARCH

BRCA1 functions as a breast/ovarian tumor suppressor by promoting high fidelity DNA repair and maintaining genome stability. While germline mutations of BRCA1 account for approximately 50% of familial breast cancer cases, somatic mutations of the gene are rarely found in sporadic breast cancer. Rather, a large number of invasive sporadic breast tumors express wild-type BRCA1 protein at relatively low levels, raising the possibility that BRCA1 may also contribute to sporadic breast cancer development and progression.

The goal of this trial is to compare if and for how long trastuzumab combined with either NeuVax (nelipepimut-S given with GM-CSF [sargramostim]) or sargramostim can help control the disease in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer. NeuVax is not FDA approved or commercially available. It is currently being used for research purposes only. Sargramostim is FDA approved and commercially available to help raise patients’ white blood cell counts after chemotherapy. Giving NeuVax or sargramostim to patients with HER2-positive breast cancer is investigational.