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Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog Activity in Chemo-Naive Tumors Collected During Staging of Esophageal Cancer Patients

NCT02221245 · Status: TERMINATED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 24

Last updated 2019-01-15

No results posted yet for this study

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 esc. Thus, therapies that down-regulate the activity of these fundamental pathways in CSCs will be effective in the treatment of cancer. The investigator's 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 investigator's aim is to further interrogate the link between Notch and Nack.

Specific Aims:

* Identify and isolate the cancer stem cell populations from primary chemo naive esophageal tumor samples.
* Interrogate the status of the Notch,( the link between Notch and Nack), Wnt and Hedghog pathways in the chemo naive esophageal tumor as well as in specific cell populations, such as the CSC.
* Determine the degree of cross-talk between these pathways and which of these pathways is essential for the self renewal properties and tumorigenic properties of the esc population.
* Identify critical targets for therapeutic intervention in CSC populations.

Conditions

  • Esophageal Cancer

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Tumor Biopsy via Ultrasound Endoscopy

The staging ultrasound endoscopy is performed on patients previously diagnosed with esophageal cancer via diagnostic biopsy. The staging ultrasound identifies affected lymph nodes and depth of tumor to the esophageal wall. The tumor sampling is via a biopsy forcep (one pass to obtain 100 cells).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Miami

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Anthony Capobianco, MD · University of Miami

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2013-04-05
Primary Completion
2018-11-07
Completion
2018-11-07

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02221245 on ClinicalTrials.gov