Research Funded

Dissecting DNA damage and repair pathways in leiomyosarcomas: Improving therapy by understanding biology

Annette Duensing, MD, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Recipient of the: $50,000 Dr. Richard and Valerie Aronsohn Memorial Research Award

Abstract: Leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are aggressive tumors of the smooth muscle with no available effective treatments and a 2-year survival rate of 20%. They represent up to 25% of all soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and are the most common ... Read More

Single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics to identify tumor-microenvironment Interactions for targeted treatment of MPNST

Lai Man Natalie Wu, PhD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Recipient of the: $50,000 Zach Cohen Memorial Research Award

Abstract: MPNST (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors) are highly aggressive soft tissue sarcomas of Schwann cell (SC) origin, representing a major cause of mortality in neurofibromatosis (NF) patients, which affects 1 in 3500 i... Read More

Intratumoral heterogeneity in dedifferentiated liposarcoma

Joshua Waterfall, PhD, Institut Curie (France)
Recipient of the: $50,000 Jay Vernon Jackson Memorial Research Award

Abstract: Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare entity of very heterogeneous tumors, both epidemiological, histological and molecular. Clinically, sarcomas can occur at any age of life and develop throughout the body. They are associated ... Read More

Resetting the epigenetic addiction in leiomyosarcomas: a therapeutic perspective

Claudio Brancolini, PhD, University of Udine (Italy)
Recipient of the: $50,000 Spring for Sarcoma York, PA, Sarcoma Research Award

Abstract: Leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are rare highly malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin. Standard treatment is surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. Unfortunately, local recurrence and metastasis develop in approximately 40% of cases, w... Read More

Switching the tumor immune microenvironment from “cold” to “hot” in UPS

Jlenia Guarnerio, PhD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Recipient of the: $50,000 Spring for Sarcoma York, PA, Sarcoma Research Award

Abstract: Undifferentiated Pleiomorphic Sarcoma (UPS) is one of the most aggressive subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma. Besides earlier detection by novel imaging techniques, little has been found to improve the overall survival of the... Read More