The UC Irvine Anti-Cancer Challenge is proud to announce the funding of a diverse range of innovative cancer research projects at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and its pediatric cancer affiliate, Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
Through the unwavering support of dedicated participants, donors and supporters who collectively raised more than $1.5 million in 2024, the Anti-Cancer Challenge has awarded grants to 32 pilot projects and early phase clinical trials, reaching a remarkable milestone of 155 funded projects since 2017. These projects are poised to revolutionize the future of cancer diagnosis, treatment and cures.
By registering for the 2025 Anti-Cancer Challenge, you can help fund the next round of innovative cancer research projects.
TRACK 1: PILOT PROJECTS
Identifying Cellular Mechanisms of Resistance to Radioimmunotherapy
Investigator
Aimee Edinger, PhD, VMD, Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
This proposal seeks to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy in the treatment of breast cancer, a tumor type with a high rate of incidence in Orange County. It is focused on developing new therapeutic approaches that will improve the response of lethal, treatment-resistant and metastatic tumors to radiation therapy and to the combination of radiation therapy and treatments that target the immune system. In the long term, this project could lead to clinical trials for new treatment protocols that could cure primary tumors and even metastatic disease in breast cancer patients and in other cancer classes such as pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer.
Evaluating Patient and Provider Experience with Lung Cancer Screening False Positive Results
Investigator
Amir Imanzadeh, MD, Department of Radiological Sciences, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Lung cancer screening (LCS) is essential for early detection, yet disparities persist in our community, with many underserved and minority populations not receiving recommended screenings. False positive (FP) results can further discourage participation, exacerbating these disparities. This study aims to understand the impact of FP results on patient adherence and provider management, ultimately informing strategies to enhance LCS access and acceptance. By addressing these challenges, our work has the potential to promote equitable screening practices and improve lung cancer outcomes across the entire community, especially for those who need it most.
Advancing Equitable Precision Medicine in Cardio-Oncology: Machine Learning Based Prediction of TKI-Induced Arrhythmias in Patients with Lung Cancer
Investigator
Aya Ozaki, PharmD, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are important cancer treatments, but they can cause serious heart problems, including abnormal heart rhythms. This project uses artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning to predict which lung cancer patients are at risk for these complications, helping doctors make safer treatment decisions. By including social and economic factors, this study ensures that risk predictions are fair and useful for all patients, including those from underserved communities. The findings will help improve cancer care and reduce heart-related side effects, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for patients.
The Cancer-Plasma Metabolome Atlas (TCMA) project
Investigator
Cholsoon Jang, PhD, Department of Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Medicine
This research project aims to create a detailed map of chemicals found in the blood of younger cancer patients with five common cancer types. By analyzing these blood samples and comparing them to those from healthy individuals, researchers hope to identify unique chemical patterns for each cancer type. These patterns could lead to improved early detection methods, more personalized treatments, and better ways to monitor treatment effectiveness. Ultimately, this research has the potential to significantly improve cancer care, potentially saving lives and enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients and their families.
Defining UHRF1 as a Key Factor in Pancreatic Cancer Development and Treatment
Investigator
Chris Halbrook, PhD, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest major cancers with no effective therapeutic strategies. A barrier to the development of new treatments has been a poor understanding of the key factors driving the initiation of this disease. Working with Dr. Claudia Benavente at UC Irvine, we have discovered a protein called UHRF1 is essential to pancreatic cancer development and has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target in several other cancer types. Using cutting-edge models and technologies, we will uncover how UHRF1 allows tumors to form in the pancreas and demonstrate its ability to be an actionable target in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Development of an Intelligent Chatbot to Aid Quit-Smoking Support Groups
Investigator
Connie Pechmann, PhD, MBA, MS, UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business
This research aims to enhance the performance of a chatbot to assist individuals in small, private, online, peer support groups for quitting smoking, addressing the challenge of delayed responses when human members are unavailable. The chatbot, driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), identifies the common post types or topics discussed in the support groups and generates a variety of engaging responses. This project aims to enhance the chatbot's accuracy at comprehending user posts by incorporating more relevant training data. By refining the chatbot and bolstering its accuracy, we aim to increase engagement in the support groups, both peer-to-chatbot and peer-to-peer, thus improving quit rates, with significant implications for public health.
Immunoproteasome-Mediated Release of MMAE as a Prodrug Strategy for SCLC Treatment
Investigators
Darci Trader, PhD, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCI School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Claudia Benavente, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC Irvine School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Lung cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is its most aggressive form. SCLC spreads quickly, is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, and has limited treatment options. Our study focuses on the development of a new mechanism to deliver powerful chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, while sparing healthy cells. If successful, our work could lead to longer survival rates, improved quality of life for patients, and new strategies for fighting other hard-to-treat cancers.
Developing Treatments for Multi-Organ Metastasis
Investigator
Devon Lawson, PhD, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Metastasis frequently affects not only one, but several organs in breast cancer patients. Multi-organ metastasis is very difficult to treat and is associated with high mortality rates. Identifying common features of metastasis in different metastatic organs may reveal novel strategies to target metastasis systemically. Using an innovative new method for analysis of the tissue microenvironment by single cell genomics, we found that metastatic tumors in each organ (brain, liver, lung, and bone) contain the same type of immune cell called macrophages. We found that these macrophages promote metastatic tumor growth by suppressing the immune system. Further analysis identified a specific pathway expressed by the macrophages and cancer cells in each organ, called MIF-CD74. In the next phase of this project, we will test whether drugs that target this pathway (MIF inhibitor CPSI-1306; anti-CD74 small peptide C36L1) can treat multi-organ metastasis in pre-clinical models of breast cancer.
Optimization of Checkpoint Immunotherapy Using Biological and Mathematical Models
Investigators
Francesco Marangoni, PhD, Department of Physiology & Biophysics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
John Lowengrub, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Mathematics, UC Irvine School of Physical Sciences
The interplay between many immune reactions, drug dosage, and timing of administration determines the efficacy of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy against cancer. These variables are so numerous that the exploration of their combinations to find optimal immunotherapy regimens is prohibitively resource- and time consuming. In this Anti-Cancer Challenge proposal, we will use a newly developed mathematical model of immune reactions in tumors, followed by experimental validation of predictions, to identify an immunotherapy regimen bearing maximal efficacy against melanoma, which is a highly prevalent cancer in our catchment area. More generally, we aim at developing math-aided immunological research to accelerate the discovery of new anti-cancer strategies.
Systematic Investigation of Sphingolipid Mimetics as Anti-Neoplastic Leads
Investigator
Glenn Micalizio, PhD, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC Irvine School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Studies conducted by the Edinger laboratory have shown that sphingosine mimetics would be ideal to address cancers with unusually high incidence, prevalence, and/or mortality in Orange County such as melanoma, breast, and lung cancer, doing so in a manner that would overcome common chemotherapeutic resistance mechanisms. My expertise in molecular science is proposed as a means to drive systematic investigation of molecular perturbations within a sphingosine mimetic structure to determine a path toward establishing a therapeutically relevant lead with potency 10–100x greater than their current “best” compounds. My laboratory has expertise in pursuits that are molecularly related to the challenge here, with efforts previously being focused on the design and synthesis of fatty acid mimetics as potent and selective modulators of several therapeutically relevant receptors (ToxT – a transcription factor required for virulence in cholera, GPR40 – a receptor of interest in the development of therapeutics for diabetes, and TLX – a nuclear receptor thought to be a modern target for a range of neurodegenerative conditions).
Spatially Engineered In Vitro Models to Screen Structural Cardiotoxicity Induced by Anti-Cancer Therapeutics
Investigator
Herdeline Ann Ardona, PhD, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, UC Irvine Samueli School of Engineering
Advancements in chemotherapeutic drugs have successfully raised the survival rates of cancer patients in recent years. However, while a cancer patient may survive the treatments, many could suffer from the life threatening cardiovascular risks imposed by these drugs. Proposed here is the development of lab-grown models of cardiac tissues to screen individualized, patient-specific effects of cancer drugs on the structure and health of heart tissues.
Early Support Feasibility for Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer
Investigator
Jacqueline Kim, PhD, Department of Medicine-Hematology/Oncology, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions are needed to help patients with advanced cancer, such as ovarian cancer, to manage the multiple psychological sequelae of these conditions. This pilot study will inform the development of a larger randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the effectiveness of a novel intervention to reduce symptoms of traumatic stress and depression in women with ovarian cancer.
Therapeutic Potential of EGFR-CAR T9 Cells Deficient in the m6A RNA Reader Protein
Investigators
Jianhua Yu, PhD, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Alexander Minella, MD (Co-Principal Investigator), Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Clinical Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer, with limited effective treatment options. This project aims to develop an advanced immune cell therapy using CAR T9 cells, engineered to stay active longer and resist exhaustion for improved tumor-fighting ability. By investigating how the gene YTHDF2 regulates these immune cells, the goal is to enhance CAR T9 cell efficacy against GBM and improve treatment outcomes. If successful, this research could lead to a more potent and durable immunotherapy for GBM patients, offering new hope where current treatments fall short.
Preclinical Validation of a Multi-Targeted TKI in Combination Therapy for Endometrial Cancer
Investigators
Jill Tseng, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UC Irvine School of Medicine
David Fruman, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Chris Halbrook, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
The United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) data from 2001 to 2017 demonstrated that the overall incidence of uterine cancer was 27.5 vs. 23.3 per 100,000 in Hispanic vs. White people, with Hispanic patients having a higher incidence of Stage III or IV disease at diagnosis. Moreover, 34.2% of the population of Orange County, California identifies as Hispanic, with endometrial cancer being the second most prevalent new cancer diagnosis among females in this population. UC Irvine cares for many endometrial cancer patients with recurrent/metastatic disease, most of whom represent minority populations. The results of this preclinical study will direct a subsequent phase I/II trial here at UC Irvine, which would not only provide additional therapeutic options for patients within our community but would also bolster opportunities for minority population enrollment in UC Irvine clinical trials.
Comparing Symptom Clusters between Early-Onset and Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer: Improving Early Identification and Treatment Access Using Real-World Data
Investigator
Joel Milam, PhD, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health
This study, focusing on members of the UC healthcare system, addresses the rise in colorectal cancer (CRC) among young adults, a trend that warrants further investigation. Raising awareness at the community level about EOCRC, particularly among diverse populations, is crucial. Results will inform early detection and diagnosis efforts that are vital for improving quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for young adults facing this disease.
Functional Validation of AlphaFold-Predicted GLI-SUFU Contacts: Implications for Medulloblastoma and Other Diseases
Investigator
Lee Bardwell, PhD, Department of Developmental & Cell Biology, UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Mutations in the SUFU gene predispose to medulloblastoma, the most frequent brain tumor in infants and young children. SUFU mutations are also found in patients with the hereditary disease Gorlin syndrome, and in other more common cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, the most common cancer in Orange county and the USA. SUFU protein plays a key role in inhibiting the activity of the GLI factors, which are encoded by genes that are also mutated in cancer and hereditary diseases. Our study aims to further understand the SUFU-GLI interaction in order to better predict the effect of mutations in patients. By linking predictive AI, biochemical experiments and clinical data, our findings have the potential to inform therapeutic strategies in medulloblastoma, Gorlin syndrome and other diseases.
Enhancing GlyTR Cancer Killing by Metabolically Increasing Target Expression
Investigator
Michael Demetriou, MD, PhD, Departments of Neurology and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Prognosis is abysmal for patients with advanced solid tumors and there is an urgent unmet need for novel mechanisms of action and additional paradigm shifting therapeutic options. Triggering immune cells to bind and kill cancer cells is a highly potent way of treating liquid cancers, but has been unsuccessful in solid cancers due to lack of binding targets and immunosuppression. To address this issue we have developed novel technology termed GlyTR (pronounced ‘glitter’) that can safely target the vast majority of cancer types for killing by immune cells. Here we propose to maximize GlyTR killing activity by metabolically enhancing target expression in cancer cells.
Lineage Tracing of Breast Cancer Metastasis-Initiating Cells
Investigators
Olga Razorenova, PhD, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Qing Nie, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), UC Irvine School of Physical Sciences and UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Theresa Loveless, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Biosciences, Rice University
Shaheen Sikandar, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, UC Santa Cruz
First study to use state of the art technology to determine ancestry tree of tumor cells and metastases in breast cancer patient-centric animal models. Our study will address the gap in knowledge of how cancer stem cells drive tumor progression towards metastasis. This knowledge will advance therapeutic and biomarker development.
Developing a Cell-Based DEL Screen for Pan-Mutant p53 Corrector Compounds
Investigators
Peter Kaiser, PhD, Department of Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Brian Paegel, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC Irvine School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Many cancers have a faulty version of a protein called p53, which normally helps protect against tumor growth. Scientists are working to find new medicines that can fix or reactivate this damaged protein, giving it back its ability to stop cancer. Our project will use a special screening technology to rapidly test thousands of potential drug candidates to find the most promising ones. If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that help many cancer patients whose tumors have p53 mutations.
Elucidating the Oncobiology of Exportin 7 and its Utility as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Cholangiocarcinoma
Investigator
Reed Ayabe, MD, Department of Surgery, UC Irvine School of Medicine
The incidence of bile duct cancer, or cholangiocarcinoma, is rising and affects a disproportionately large number of Asian and non-White Hispanic patients in Orange County. This research will focus on a protein called XPO7 that is upregulated in patients with cholangiocarcinoma and may have both diagnostic and therapeutic value. Understanding how XPO7 functions in the development and spread of cholangiocarcinoma may lead to the discovery of new tests to diagnose this disease earlier, as well as new therapies for a disease that has very limited treatment options. This work will benefit a growing body of patients with biliary tract cancer and is of particular relevance to the patients we treat every day at UC Irvine.
Unraveling the Role of smPHLDA3 and LINK in Cancer
Investigators
Remi Buisson, PhD, Department of Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Thomas Martinez, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Tumor heterogeneity, or variation within a tumor, is the main cause of resistance to current chemotherapy drugs as well as metastasis development, leading to patients’ deaths. Within the same tumor from the same patient, tumor cells might be subtly or even dramatically different, making it harder to treat clinically. Understanding the mechanisms driving cancer diversity is a critical step toward developing new strategies to attenuate tumor evolution and adaptation. DNA damages caused by UV exposure or other environmental factors are the main cause of genomic instability leading to cancer initiation and tumor heterogeneity. Therefore, maintaining the integrity of DNA and ensuring that DNA damage is repaired effectively is critical in reducing the risk of cancer. In this study, we propose to identify and characterize new factors that are essential to repairing DNA damage and maintaining the genetic information of the cells.
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Pacific Islander Healthy Eating Active Living Intervention Development (PI HEAL-ID)
Investigator
Sora Tanjasiri, DrPH, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health
Obesity, physical activity and nutrition are estimated to contribute to nearly 20% of all cancer incidence, and Pacific Islanders (PIs) have higher proportions of obesity compared to the general population. To reduce the burden of cancer among Pacific Islanders (PIs), community-based preventative strategies that focus on healthy lifestyles are needed, yet few exist that are sustainable in these often-low income populations. This proposed study will leverage ties to PI community experts to adapt two lifestyle interventions into one prototype, and learn from PI community members the barriers and facilitators to lifestyle adoption that are necessary to plan for relevance and sustainability. This will result in a prototype intervention to be tested in a future community randomized study to reduce cancer related risks in this vulnerable population.
Unleashing Innate Immunity with Novel STING and TLR Agonist Prodrugs
Investigators
Vy Dong, PhD, Department of Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Physical Sciences
Thomas Burke, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, UC Irvine School of Medicine
This proposal is to develop new small molecule anti-cancer drugs to treat a variety of solid tumor indications. These novel drugs target multiple arms of the innate immune system and therefore work in concert with existing immunotherapies that activate adaptive immunity, including FDA-approved checkpoint inhibitors. These efforts will aid public health by establishing new frameworks for how to simultaneously target multiple arms of innate immunity and by advancing novel anti-cancer drugs towards the clinic.
Deciphering STK38/L-mediated Hippo Pathway Dysregulation in Ovarian Cancer
Investigator
Wenqi Wang, PhD, Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, UC Irvine School of Biological Sciences
Ovarian cancer is a deadly disease with limited treatment options. The Hippo pathway is a critical system that normally prevents uncontrolled cell growth, whose dysregulation is often associated with ovarian cancer development. Our research suggests that two proteins STK38 and STK38L inactivate the Hippo pathway in ovarian cancer, allowing tumor cells to grow uncontrollably. In this application, we aim to investigate how STK38 and STK38L contribute to ovarian cancer progression by affecting the Hippo pathway and explore whether targeting them could be a new treatment approach for ovarian cancer treatment.
TRACK 2: EARLY PHASE CLINICAL TRIALS
Treating Anemia in Myelofibrosis with Repurposed Drugs that Inhibit Furin to Block Cleavage of Prohepcidin to Hepcidin
Investigator
Angela Fleischman, MD, PhD, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Increased amounts of the hormone hepcidin drives inflammation induced anemia by restricting the body’s ability to utilize iron. Patients with the uncurable blood cancer Myelofibrosis suffer from anemia of chronic inflammation and high hepcidin, so reducing hepcidin should improve anemia in this condition. Nelfinavir, a drug currently used to treat HIV blocks the activation of hepcidin under inflamed conditions and this treatment restores iron delivery to the bone marrow in animal models. In a clinical trial with Myelofibrosis patients we will test whether a 30-day course of Nelfinavir reduces hepcidin and restores iron delivery to the bone marrow allowing for improved red blood cell production. The impact of this research will be a treatment that will alleviate the anemia present in Myelofibrosis and improve the quality of life of these patients.
Mobile Health Intervention to Improve Adherence to Oral Anticancer Therapy: A Pilot Feasibility Clinical Trial
Investigator
Gelareh Sadigh, MD, Department of Radiological Sciences, UC Irvine School of Medicine
New oral anticancer treatments have improved survival across cancer types but introduced challenges in medication adherence and symptom management. Our study will test a new mobile health intervention that facilitates remote adherence and symptom monitoring, patient-provider communication outside of clinic visits regarding the use of the OAT, and financial and social need support as well as health literacy support for those in need among 30 English- and Spanish- speaking patients. Our study will increase our understanding of barriers and facilitators to use of the proposed mobile health intervention.
A Phase I Study of the Application of Lattice Adaptive Radiotherapy Protocol (LARP) for Symptomatic, Bulky Tumors
Investigator
Jeremy Harris, MD, Department of Radiological Sciences, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Lattice radiation is a form of spatially fractionated radiation that integrates alternating areas of hot and cold spots throughout the tumor volume, resulting in a more favorable immune response and surprisingly impressive tumor shrinking. We propose a phase I clinical trial to test the safety of Lattice Adaptive Radiotherapy Protocol (LARP), which will incorporate an emerging technology that creates a new radiation plan with each day of treatment. If successful, the proposed study will help to establish a novel therapy for bulky tumors, with clinical applications for patients with both metastatic disease as well as tumors too large to be safely resected.
Feasibility Study of a Couples Intervention for Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Investigator
Michael Hoyt, PhD, Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health
Establishing the ability to test the GET-C intervention to a broader population of young adult survivors expands the ability to meet the needs of a larger portion of our catchment area populations. The current study also increases the opportunities to partner with CHOC in the current project and the future clinical trial. This project will progress this work along the translational spectrum and is a necessary precursor to testing efficacy in a more representative population.
UCI 19-145: Phase II, Open-Labeled, Single-Armed Combination Treatment with Anastrozole, Fulvestrant and Abemaciclib for Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2(-) Metastatic Breast Cancer
Investigator
Rita Mehta, MD, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Breast cancer is a leading health concern in Orange County, with the highest rates of diagnosis and death among women. Many patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) eventually develop resistance to standard hormone-based treatments, limiting long-term disease control and survival. Building on prior research showing survival benefits from combination hormonal therapy, this study explores whether adding a CDK4/6 inhibitor (abemaciclib) to anastrozole and fulvestrant can further improve patient outcomes. With additional support, this research could lead to identifying more effective treatments, offering better and longer-lasting outcomes for those facing MBC.
Metronomic Cyclophosphamide with Pembrolizumab in Checkpoint Inhibitor Refractory Melanoma
Investigator
Warren Chow, MD, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Melanoma will be the 5th most diagnosed cancer in 2025, and oral agents targeting B-RAF mutation present in ~50% of melanomas and immunotherapy blocking (anti-) CTLA-4 (ipilimumab) and PD-1 (pembrolizumab and nivolumab) for those tumors regardless of B-RAF mutations have significantly improved the outcome for this previously difficult-to-treat cancer. Patients who either fail to respond to primary anti-PD-1 therapy or progress after initial response have a poor prognosis. Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is one of the oldest anticancer chemotherapy agents, and transiently eliminates various subsets of immune suppressive white blood cells while increasing activity of pro-immune cells. Metronomic dosing is the frequent, even daily, administration of anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs at doses significantly less than the maximum dose with minimal side effects. Metronomic CTX has now been shown to reverse immune suppression by the cancer and promote immune rejection of cancer. Accordingly, in this non-placebo clinical trial, we will determine the response rate and duration of no cancer growth for the combination of oral daily metronomic CTX and every 3 week IV pembrolizumab in pembrolizumab-resistant advanced or metastatic melanoma. Successful completion of this trial would make metronomic CTX and pembrolizumab an appealing option for pembrolizumab-resistant melanoma.
Non-Invasive Optical Imaging for Prognostication and Assessment of Treatment Response in Mycosis Fungoides
Investigator
Xiying Fan, PhD, MD, Department of Dermatology, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Currently, skin biopsies are the only method to identify microscopic features that predict more aggressive disease in patients with mycosis fungoides, the most common type of skin lymphoma. However, multiple biopsies are often needed, and they generally cannot be repeated on the same area, limiting their use for monitoring treatment. This highlights the need for non-invasive alternatives for assessing skin lymphomas. The goal of this project is to evaluate how well two types of non-invasive imaging devices can detect aggressive disease features or predict treatment response. If successful, these imaging technologies could be widely implemented to guide treatment decisions and predict outcomes for patients with skin lymphomas.
Feasibility Study on the Effect of a Methionine-Reduced Diet on Serum Levels in Patients with Solid Tumors
Investigators
Zhaohui Arter, MD, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Cholsoon Jang, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Medicine
Peter Kaiser, PhD (Co-Principal Investigator), Department of Biological Chemistry, UC Irvine School of Medicine
This Phase 0 clinical trial aims to assess the feasibility of a methionine-reduced diet in cancer patients, translating promising findings from UCI basic science research into clinical practice. Methionine, an essential amino acid, supports cancer cell growth, and preclinical studies suggest that restricting its intake could slow tumor progression and enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments. This trial will determine whether patients can adhere to the diet and measure its initial effects on their health. The results from this study will lay the foundation for future Phase I/II trials, directly evaluating whether dietary methionine restriction can improve cancer treatment outcomes.
By registering for the 2025 Anti-Cancer Challenge, you can help fund the next round of innovative cancer research projects.
