In May 2023, RCF granted $100,000 to Jason Yustein’s lab at Emory University. Yustein and his colleagues are working to understand the molecular pathways of sarcomas and the identification of new therapeutic avenues to improve survival rates.
Sadly, research efforts over the past 40 years have done little to improve patient outcomes for sarcomas. The Yustein laboratory has tremendous experience in merging innovative murine models including novel, genetically engineered mouse models of pediatric sarcomas and patient-derived samples towards garnering molecular insights into the origins of Ewing sarcoma cells and their response and resistance to new therapies.
With this grant, Yustein’s lab will conduct a set of animal experiments to validate the potential efficacy of Myr5A, a targeted delivery lipid nanoparticle, in combination with two new therapies for Ewing sarcoma and DSRST. The goal is to develop targeted anti-tumor agents with excellent efficacy and significantly reduced toxicity.
RCF has awarded a grant to Dr. Poul Sorensen and his team at the British Columbia Cancer Research Centre to develop and optimize Immunotherapy strategies that enhance T cell therapeutic targeting of IL1RAP in Ewing sarcoma. They will build on their previous work to enhance the in vivo efficacy of our IL1RAP targeting CAR T cells using combination therapies, previously demonstrated by other groups to improve cell therapy outcomes.
Dr. Sorensen and team will also optimize the development of so-called antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), comprised of proprietary antibodies to IL1RAP linked to multiple drugs (payloads) known for their high efficiency in Ewing sarcoma. Finally, they will generate bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) directed against IL1RAP and CD3 (a T cell protein) and incorporate them into a recombinant adeno-associated virus, a novel single-dose solution for achieving prolonged systemic BiTE delivery in vivo. With these approaches, they aim to develop new reagents targeting a key metabolic regulator and driver of metastasis in Ewing sarcoma.
Dr. Kevin Hay, Dr. Wei Li, Dr. Dimiter Dimitrov, and Timothy P. Cripe, MD, PhD, FAAP are collaborating with Dr. Sorensen on this project.
“We are absolutely delighted to be working with the Rutledge Cancer Foundation on this exciting project, as we share their strong desire to improve the outcomes for Ewing sarcoma patients through the power of basic and translational research.” – Dr. Poul Sorensen
RCF, in collaboration with two other foundations, Little Warrior and William J. Riley Foundation, have awarded a grant to develop an mRNA vaccine for Ewing sarcoma. This landmark effort is driven by Dr. Timothy Chan, head of the Cleveland Clinic Immunology Department. Dr. Chan has identified a number of Ewing antigens that are highly sensitive to immunotherapy. He will use these findings to develop a vaccine that can identify Ewing cancer cells and boost the immune system to eradicate them. Other potential therapies such as CarT cell therapy are also being considered.
With the help of RCF funding, Qana Therapeutics has opened a lab in Austin at the ACC Bioscience Incubator(ABI). Additionally, Qana has hired a full-time Senior Scientist, Dr. Christian Boada, to develop and optimize multiple drugs in combination with the nanoparticle, to treat cancer with a targeted and personalized approach, with far less toxicity. Qana is currently developing a novel anthracyline.
“This grant from RCF has allowed us to accelerate our efforts to develop better treatments for patients with sarcomas and other solid tumor cancers,” replied Jim Graham, co-founder and CEO of Qana Therapeutics.
In 2015, Executive Director, Laura Rutledge, was introduced to a promising lipid nanoparticle that could be utilized as a potential drug delivery that targets cancer cell. RCF sponsored research to develop novel drugs to be carried by the nanoparticle to target Ewing sarcoma. Dr. Andras Lacko, at University of North Texas Health Science Center, conducted the early stage research. Laura then introduced a colleague, Jim Graham, CEO of Qana Therapeutics, who is experienced in moving new therapies into clinical trials and FDA approval to further advance the work.
RCF also brought some of the brightest pediatric researchers together to move this project forward. Dr. Jason Yustein MD, PhD, formally head of the Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at Baylor College of Medicine. Yustein is now Director of Research for the Solid Tumor Team at the AFLAC Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Also on the team is Greg Aune, MD PhD at UT Health, Greehey Pediatric Cancer Research Institute. Dr. Aune focuses on the long term toxicity (especially the heart) of the currently used chemotherapies and radiation.
The team has proven that the nanoparticle delivery is targeted to cancer cells that have SRB1 receptors, a common marker in many cancer cells. Once the pre-clinical work with the novel drug and nanoparticle shows efficacy and less toxicity, the plan is to move it into patient clinical trials.
