Inflammation as a Driver of Clonal Evolution in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm
Abstract
Scientific Objective and Rationale: Myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is a blood cancer characterized by the unrestrained production blood cells. This leads to life-threatening blood clots, a painful enlarged spleen, and a significant risk of progression to acute leukemia, which carries a dismal prognosis. Patients with MPN suffer from debilitating symptoms such as extreme fatigue, itching, head ache, bone pain, abdominal pain, weight loss, fever, night sweats. Excessive inflammation, a characteristic feature of MPN, is responsible for many of the symptoms associated with MPN. We have found that inflammation also plays a key role in MPN disease initiation. Increased inflammation in MPN promotes the growth of the cancer cells while at the same time represses growth of normal cells. Therefore, we predict that reducing inflammation in MPN will not only lead to improvement in symptoms but will also target cancerous cells because they use inflammation as a growth factor. The goal of my Career Development Award project is to identify what causes the excessive inflammation in MPN and to identify drugs that could be used to reduce inflammation in this disease. My Career Goals in Cancer Research: I am a physician scientist dedicated to a lifelong career studying MPN in the lab and caring for MPN patients in the clinic. MPN (also known as myeloproliferative disorders) is a Fiscal Year 2015 Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program Topic Area. In July 2013, I came to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) to establish my independent laboratory studying MPN. While I have been focusing my research and clinical expertise the MPN field for nearly 10 years, a successful transition from trainee to Principal Investigator requires personnel management skills, time management skills, and leadership skills. Interactions with my mentor will help me develop these skills. My career development plan will give me structured training in areas I ve identified as in need of improvement; this includes biostatistics and scientific writing courses. I will continue to improve my scientific presentation skills by presenting at seminars at UCI as well as submitting abstracts for presentation at national scientific meetings. My interest in MPN goes beyond the laboratory or clinic. I have been involved with the LA/Orange County chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) since my arrival at UCI. I have served on the 2014 and 2015 LLS Man/Woman of the Year Campaign Committee. I have hosted committee meetings in my home, hosted lab tour events, and spoken about the importance of research at other events for this campaign. I also helped organize the LLS Cancer Care patient conference held in Anaheim in February 2015. My specific role was to identify and invite speakers for this event. I enjoy working with LLS and foresee my involvement to expand even more in the future. I am also organizing an MPN patient conference to be held in Irvine on October 17, 2015. I hope this will become a yearly event. Ultimate Applicability of the Research: My goal is to have my research directly benefit the MPN patients I see in clinic. By identifying what drives the excessive inflammation in MPN, we can then develop therapies that reduce inflammation in this disease. My hope is that my basic science discoveries in the lab will then be directly translated into clinical trials for MPN within 3-5 years. If we find that reduction of inflammation in MPN is beneficial, then these therapies could also be expanded to other types of blood cancers or even possibly solid tumors. How the Proposed Research Will Benefit Active Duty Service Members, Their Families, and Other Military Beneficiaries: I have personally cared for a panel of over 40 Veterans with MPN in the capacity of a Veterans Affairs (VA) oncologist. My weekly medical oncology fellowship clinic was held at the Portland VA during fellowship from 2007-2011, and I continued my weekly clinic a
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1610594
Entities
People
- Angela Fleischman
Organizations
- Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific
- United States Army