UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH CANCER INSTITUTEA National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Importance of Prioritizing Cancer Prevention at

Major Academic Cancer Centers

Ronald B. Herberman, MD University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

http://www.upmccancercenters.com

March 2009

Current Research Paradigm at Most Academic Cancer Centers

Main focus on – Developing & improving cancer therapies– Carcinogenesis– Early detection

Little attention on cancer prevention or risk reduction

Traditional Cancer Prevention Activities at Academic Cancer Centers (1)

Research on healthy lifestyles– Strategies to reduce unhealthy behaviors– Smoking prevention; exercise; better nutrition;

calorie reduction

Molecular carcinogenesis research (gene-environment interactions)– Identification of genes contributing to risk– Identification of environmental risk factors

Traditional Cancer Prevention Activities at Academic Cancer Centers (2)

Screening of populations for genetic risk factors & genetic counseling of individuals with genetic risk

Research to develop new, more sensitive and specific biomarkers for early detection of cancer

Screening of populations for early detection of certain cancers

Prevention Provides Greatest Impact on Wide Variety of Diseases

Greatest public health advance of 19th and 20th century was prevention of infectious diseases

Greatest impact on heart disease was the wide implementation of statins to reduce risk

Key impact of seat belts and helmets on reduction of traumatic injuries

Preventive and risk-reducing strategies also will most likely have the greatest impact on reducing burden of cancer

Heart disease provides an excellent example of successful prevention

Over the last 30 years heart disease

has decreased significantly.

50% of this decrease is attributed to

drug prevention strategies.

Pharmacologic intervention using

cholesterol and blood pressure

lowering drugs has been used to

prevent atherogenesis.

UPCI and UPMC Cancer Centers: Integrates Across The Cancer Continuum To Improve Patient Care

[Source: The Pennsylvania Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, December, 2003]

Epidemiology Describes Four Levels For Cancer Prevention

Primordial or Societal Prevention– Avoids the emergence and establishment of social, economic, and

cultural patterns of living that are known to contribute to elevated risk of disease

Primary Prevention– Controlling causes and risk factors

Condoms, needle exchange or vaccine to prevent spread of HIV, HBV or HPV

Secondary Prevention (from onset of disease to normal diagnosis)– Develop safe accurate methods of detection (at early curable

stage) and development of preventive drugs, vaccines Tertiary Prevention

– Reducing ongoing morbidity or mortality once cancer is diagnosed• Monitoring for early detection of second primary cancers

Modified from Basic Epidemiology, R. Beaglehole, et al, 1993

Inherited Gene Defects Do Not Explain All Cancer Risk

Fewer than 1 in 10 cases of breast cancer arises in women

born with genetic defects

-National Cancer Institute

Academic Cancer Centers Can Develop More Effective Cancer Prevention Strategies (1)

Research on Environmental Risk Factors– Evaluation of geographic areas with probable exposures to

identify risk factors and health impacts– Basic research to establish links between exposures and

cancer including mechanism of action– Development of biomarkers to identify people at increased risk

Research to develop strategies to reduce or eliminate risk factors from the environment

Identification of effective ways to block carcinogenic effects of environmental carcinogens

– Discovery and development of radioprotective agents– Discovery and development of free radical scavengers to

prevent DNA damage and approaches to improve DNA repair

Academic Cancer Centers Can Develop More Effective Cancer Prevention Strategies (2)

Identify effective ways to change the social, economic, and cultural patterns of living that are known to contribute to elevated risk of disease

Provide state-of-the-art, cancer center-based, interdisciplinary approaches to identify controllable or avoidable environmentally linked causes of cancer and strategies to reduce risk

Develop and validate interventions that inform, educate and change individual and institutional behaviors associated with increased risk

Academic Cancer Centers Can Develop More Effective Cancer Prevention Strategies (3)

Development of Effective Interventions to Prevent Cancer– Discovery & development of chemopreventive agents

for individuals at increased risk for cancer– Nutraceutical research– Discovery & development of preventive vaccines

Development and validation of improved strategies for Early Detection– Develop improved and convenient biomarkers (e.g.

blood or urine) for screening and early detection

Cancer Prevention at UPCI

•Center for Environmental Oncology

•Biochemoprevention Program

•Biomarkers of exposure, increased risk, and early stage cancers

What is ‘Environmental Oncology?’

Clinical oncology detects and treats disease

‘Environmental Oncology’ seeks to identify causes of disease in order to predict and prevent cancer – Identifies, develops, and measures

biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility

– Identifies windows of susceptibility– Develops and implements

interventions to reduce risk in people exposed and at high risk

Center for Environmental Oncology (CEO)

Focus on Environmental Risks, Exposures, Health Effects Research and Community Education

– Provide a state-of-the-art, medical center-based, cross-disciplinary approach to identify controllable or avoidable environmentally linked causes of cancer

– Develop and promote key changes in environmental policies to reduce risk factors

– Create and validate interventions that inform, educate and change individual and institutional behaviors, or that have potential to reduce cancer in individuals at increased risk

Started July, 2004 at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Four Divisions of the Center for Environmental Oncology

Basic Research

Molecular, Environmental,

and Clinical

Epidemiology

Environmental Assessment and Control

Outreach,Education,

andPublicPolicy

CEO Areas of Emphasis Basic Research

– Provide scientific evidence on environmental carcinogens, gene-envronment interactions, & biomarkers of environmental carcinogenesis

Molecular, Environmental and Clinical Epidemiology– Perform community and clinical research to identify patterns and trends of disease tied to

environmental exposures Preventive interventions based on epidemiologic evidence for

individuals at increased risk– Behavioral modification– Biochemoprevention

Environmental Assessment, Monitoring, and Control– Develop institutional protocols for monitoring and control of pollutants for the hospital and

the community Community and Professional Education and Public Policy

– Communicate links between the environment and cancer and develop policies to reduce cancer risk for individuals and institutions

Evidence Supporting Environmental Exposure as a Cause of Cancer

Experimental Epidemiological Case control studies Cancer Incidence Trends

Jobs With Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

Solvent workers Chemists Nurses and

Physicians Dentists Painters Hair Dressers

Exposure Risk Assessment and PrecautionPediatric Head CT Scans-2008

Exposure– Pediatric CT Scans are tool of choice in ER– ER Physicians are not aware of level of radiation exposure in

CT– Pediatric CT scans can be 200 to 6,000 chest x-ray

equivalents Workshop held UPCI-March 26, 2008 with national

experts White paper drafted outlining risks, benefits, and

better options for ER treatment with reduced cancer risk with recommendations to reduce exposures

Long-term Cell Phone Use and Brain Tumor Risk Suggestive but not Definitive Data

Case-control study ((Hardell et al Int. J of Oncology. 28:509-518, 2006) – Acoustic neuroma: OR=2.9 (CI 2.0-4.3; analogue cell phone), OR=1.5 (CI1.1-

2.1; digital cell phone); OR=1.5-fold (CI 1.04-2.0, cordless phone) – Acoustic neuroma > 15 years: OR=3.8 (CI 1.4-10; analogue cell phone)

Review of 11 case-control published studies with > 10 years wireless cell phone use (Hardell et al. Occ Env Med. 64:626-632, 2007.

– Increase in acoustic neuroma (4 studies statistically significant)– Increase in glioma (all gave increased odds ratios, 4 statistically significant)– Meta-analysis

Acoustic neuroma (ipsilateral) OR=2.4 (CI 1.1- 5.3) Glioma (ipsilateral) ) OR 2.0 (CI 1.2-3.4)

Meta-analysis (Hardell et al. Int J of Oncology, 32:1097-1103, 2008)– 6 studies glioma: latency > 10 years, 4 studies ipsilateral OR=2.0 (CI 1.2-3.4)– 4 studies acoustic neuroma: latency > 10 years, ipsilateral OR=2.4 (CI 1.1-5.3)

Meta-analysis (Kan et al. J Neurooncol 86:71-78, 2008, UTAH study)– 5 case control studies with cell phone use > 10 years: brain tumor OR=1.25 (CI

1.01-1.54) INTERPHONE (2008 update)

– Glioma, ipsilateral OR=1.39 (CI 1.01-1.92); Nordic study (Lahkola et al, 2007)

Cell Phone Radiation is Absorbed More Deeply Into the Brains of Children

Estimation of the absorption of electromagnetic radiation from a cell phone based on age (Frequency GSM 900 Mhz) (On the right, color scale showing the Specific Absorption Rate in W/kg)

Gandhi, O.P.G. Lazzi, and C.M. Furse, Electromagnetic Absorption in the Human Head and Neck for Cell Telephones at 835 and 1900 MHz. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, 1996. 44(10): p. 1884-1897

Hypothesis: If the long term use cell phone studies are correct in pointing to increased risk for brain tumors, the incidence of brain tumors should be increasing, particularly in

children and young adults

SLER Registries for GLIOMAS age-specific incidence, 0-39 years of age

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Exposure Risk Assessment and Precaution0n Cell Phones; Follow up

July, 2008: Ronald Herberman, after consultation with UPCI and international experts including epidemiologists and neurosurgeons, issued e mail with precautions for safer use of cell phones, and calls for studies to more definitely determine cell phone risks

Media learns about the precautionary e mail and news travels around the globe, mainly correct, but with some inaccuracies

– Other countries issue precautions (France, India, Israel, Canada) October, 2008: Ronald Herberman asked to testify before Congress on

the science behind cell phone risk, the rationale for his precautionary advisory, and the need for more studies

October, 2008: analysis of age-specific brain tumor data shows increases in glioma rates especially for young adults-manuscript submitted for publication

September, 2009: Planning in progress for an UPCI-led, Congressionally sponsored workshop on cell phones and potential risks for cancer

Plans being developed to further assess ability of radiofrequency radiation to cause DNA damage, and determine underlying mechanism(s)

Identification of Risks and Strategies for Reductionselected examples

Pediatric CT Scans– promoting awareness that CT radiation exposure for head scans in children can

be 200 to 6000 chest x-ray equivalents– National workshop held at University of Pittsburgh, Spring 2008 and white paper

with recommendations for emergency room use of CT scans being developed Cell phones and brain tumors

– Review literature and bring attention to multiple reports linking long-term cell phone use with increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma

– Dissemination of precautionary use memo to UPCI and UPMC Cancer Center faculty and staff

– Provide testimony at congressional hearing calling for needed studies to determine safety of cell phones

Passive smoking in Allegheny County-promoting smoking ban in public buildings including bars and restaurants

– Senior leadership testimony to Allegheny County political leaders– UPMC and University of Pittsburgh became smoke-free facilities in 2007– Allegheny County passed ban in 2007 on smoking in restaurants and bars that make a

significant percentage of profit from food– PA passed similar statewide ban in 2008

Fire retardants in bedding and computers-promote national and international awareness of the lack of need for chemical fire retardants and awareness of toxicities nationally and internationally

– Blocked passage of requirement for fire retardants nationally and world-wide

Biological Effects of Environmental Xenoestrogens

• Assessment of the effect of growth of estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell line

• Validation of an estrogen screening assays that show competition for receptor binding and cell growth effects

Talal El-Hefnawy

Estrogenic compounds induce MCF7 breast cancer cell proliferation

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Quantitative BrdU assay, dark spots indicate high DNA synthesisTalal El-Hefnawy

Estrogenic Pollutants Induce Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation

Biochemoprevention ProgramUniversity of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Ongoing Preclinical Cancer Prevention Research (1)

Cancer prevention by garlic-derived organosulfur compounds– Prostate cancer (Singh)– Tobacco carcinogen-induced lung cancer (Singh)

Cancer prevention by cruciferous vegetable-derived isothiocyanates– Prostate cancer (Singh, Dhir, Nelson)– Breast cancer (Singh and Vogel)– Pancreatic cancer (Srivastava)– Head and neck cancer (Grandis and Singh) – Bladder (Singh)– Melanoma (Brown and Singh)

Angioprevention– Resveratrol (red wine) plus statins (Li)– Isothiocyanates and organosulfides (Singh)

Ongoing Preclinical Cancer Prevention Research (2)

Prevention of colon cancer with NSAIDs (Zhang)

Cancer prevention by traditional Ayurvedic remedies (Singh)

Cancer prevention by vaccines or other immunologic approaches (Finn, Gorelik)

Cancer prevention by combination of small molecules & biologics (Gorelik, Li)

Inhibition of PC-3 Xenograft Growth by Garlic-derived Diallyl Trisulfide (DATS)

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DATS (5 μmol) was given orally three times/week *P < 0.05 by Student’s t-test.

Shivendra Singh

Resveratrol is a chemoprevention agent derived from natural sources

Natural sources:

Grapes (50-100 g/g)

Red wine (1-3 mg/L)

Peanuts

TCM Polygoum cuspidatum

Phytoalexin Resveratrol

Shivendra Singh

Resveratrol prevents experimental cancer

DMBA-induced skin cancer model. 0, 1, 5, 10, or 25 µmol of RSVL plus 5 µmol of TPA

Copied from Jang et al, Science, 1997

Shivendra Singh

Chemoprevention to Stop Progression of Premalignant or Stage 0 Lesions

• UPCI Research Studies – NSABP Polyp Prevention Trial – Evaluation of celecoxib as a breast cancer

chemopreventive agent with intracellular biomarkers

– Serial evaluation of ductal epithelium– NSABP STAR trial– Muc1 vaccine for prevention of colon polyps

Biomarkers Being Evaluated in Study of Celecoxib for Prevention of Breast Cancer

• Changes in cytology

• Changes in biological markers COX-2, aromatase, and estradiol

• Changes in the fractional mutation index (defined as the number of mutated markers divided by the sum of all informative markers among 20 pre-selected genes)

MUC1-Poly ICLC (HiltonolTM) Vaccine in Individuals with

Advanced Colorectal Adenoma

Robert Schoen & Olivera Finn

Rationale

• Chemoprevention of adenomas is an accepted focus – ASA, COX2, vitamins

• Immunotherapy• Non toxic• Highly specific

• Boost or improve native immune surveillance → prevent progression to malignant disease

• Vaccine potentially more effective before tumor suppresses immune response

Meta-analysis: Muc 1Immunotherapy in CRC

• 32 studies, 527 patients

• Toxicity mild – flu like symptoms, injection site reactions

• Humoral immune response 59%, cellular immunity – 44%

• Clinical response 10-14%

Nagorsen, Clin CA Res 2006;12:3064

Why Study Advanced Adenoma?

• “Target” for CRC screening

• Higher risk for subsequent cancer

• Higher adenoma recurrence rate: followed with q3yr surveillance

• Intact immune system

• ↑ expression of Muc 1

• Prime candidate for vaccine administration

Objectives

• Evaluate immune response to MUC1-Poly ICLC

Primary

Secondary

• To monitor MUC1 isotypes: IgG, IgM

• To monitor adverse events

• To evaluate correlation between anti MUC1 response and adenoma recurrence (not powered to this endpoint)

Serum and Tissue-based Biomarker Discovery -- Needs

• Comparative/differential proteomics and metabolomics– to identify and characterize protein patterns that distinguish exposed

individuals from healthy controls, using biological specimens– to identify and characterize hormone or other metabolites that

distinguish exposed individuals from healthy controls• Comparative/differential genomics

– to identify and characterize changes in DNA and nuclear DNA and protein methylation patterns that distinguish exposed individuals from healthy controls, using biological specimens

• Application: identification of biomarkers of exposure including:1. Cellular signatures indicative of toxic exposures2. Epigenetic changes linked to altered gene expression 3. Hormone metabolites and cancer risk

Biomarker Discovery at UPCI

• Establishment of tissue and serum banks with high quality specimens from healthy individuals and cancer patients

• Support for Bioinformatics both for tissue annotation and high complexity data analysis

• Development and support of integrated Cancer Biomarkers Core for Specimen Analysis• Platforms for genomic analysis including chip-based

array technology and multiplex genotyping

• Platforms for high-throughput proteomic analysis

• Platforms for comprehensive metabolomics analysis

SERUM vs. URINE IN OVARIAN CANCERSERUM 4 biomarkers SN=90%

SP=98%URINE 3 biomarkers SN=100%

SP=100%

Anna Lokshin

ROC curve for classification of endometrial cancer

SENSITIVITY = 98% SPECIFICITY = 94%Prolactin, HE4, CA 72-4, MMP-3, and FasL

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.00.0

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Anna Lokshin

Expected Outcomes As Academic Cancer Centers Focus on the 4 Levels of Cancer Prevention

Rapid identification of environmental risk factors and approaches to minimize exposures

Development of evidence-base to prioritize high impact cancer control strategy

Improved strategies for early detection & biochemoprevention

Establishment of regional and state-wide networks to facilitate rapid implementation of effective education and prevention-based interventions

Identification of resources and more effective use through collaboration and cooperation will more effectively disseminate prevention strategies