Cancer accounts for nearly 25 percent of all deaths in America — more than a thousand every day. With this grim statistic in mind, Boise State University researchers are combating the disease on every front, with projects aimed at improving prevention, early detection, treatment and quality of life for sufferers and survivors.
The work of more than a dozen faculty members has garnered millions in funding from the American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, American Lung Association and many others. Related discoveries have resulted in scholarly publications and patents, the first steps toward delivering the benefits of new knowledge to the public. And in keeping with the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, Boise State pools resources with community partners with the goal of reducing the burden of cancer.
“From understanding more about the disease to pioneering targeted treatments, Boise State faculty are serious contributors to the ongoing fight against one of the leading causes of death,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra. “Beyond what is achieved by their individual strengths and insights, our researchers are reaching out across disciplines and to outside partners in the hope of making a meaningful difference in the lives of cancer sufferers, their loved ones, and the countless billions at risk.”
Partnership
While federal entities and national foundations lend great support to Boise State’s cancer research efforts, they also depend on local allies, including the Mountain States Tumor and Medical Research Institute (MSTMRI), part of the Boise-based St. Luke’s Health System.
The MSTMRI provides institutional and scientific expertise in the form of doctors who consult on projects both basic and applied. And in the last four years alone, its signature Small Grant Program has funded 17 Boise State cancer research projects.
The program is designed to support young investigators throughout Idaho in obtaining preliminary data and results that make them more competitive for larger, federally funded grants that can lead to critical new knowledge and avenues of exploration.
“This is where MSTMRI has significantly contributed to the research milieu of the Treasure Valley, and Boise State research in particular,” said Richard Olson, a medical researcher and associate director of MSTMRI. “Boise State investigators have parleyed this opportunity into many successful cancer research programs.”
Prevention
The first step in fighting cancer is prevention, and one of the most common and preventable risk factors is tobacco use. Boise State’s Center for Health Policy (CHP) in the College of Health Sciences evaluates prevention and cessation programs with the goal of optimizing effectiveness.
Lee Hannah, a professor in the Department of Community and Environmental Health, has overseen CHP evaluations for the American Lung Association (ALA) in Idaho and the Idaho Health Districts. One assessed Teens Against Tobacco Use, an ALA program in which teens engage in educating and mentoring elementary school students. Another involved a multifaceted evaluation of an ALA youth advocacy program called STAND, and a third ongoing CHP study is focused on tobacco cessation activities conducted by the seven Idaho Health Districts.
“The Millennium Fund gives money to the health districts for smoking cessation classes across the state. We did an evaluation of the statewide program and found that Idaho has a great — although underfunded — cessation system in place,” Hannah said. “The hope is that our results will illustrate the need for more support of these crucial services, which have been shown to save the state of Idaho money in future health care costs every time a participant quits using tobacco.”
Early Detection
Without early detection, cancer treatment loses precious impact. The best prognoses come when cancer is caught before it has a chance to grow and metastasize, such as when early-stage colorectal cancer is discovered through routine colonoscopy. But not all cancers have practical screening mechanisms, if any, and those that are available can be cost-prohibitive.
An interdisciplinary team of Boise State researchers has proposed a solution. With expertise in materials science and engineering, chemistry and biology, the Nanoscale Materials and Device Group believes DNA nanotechnology can be used to design and develop a test related to micro-RNA (miRNA), molecules involved in gene regulation within cells. As genes play a role in controlling cell reproduction — including the unchecked reproduction of cancer cells — the presence of certain miRNA in blood and serum has diagnostic significance.
“When engineered into a detection system, DNA can chemically amplify miRNA, perform calculations on the amplified signal and generate an observable output,” said Will Hughes, co-investigator and professor of materials science and engineering. “Our objective is to develop a disposable, point-of-contact device for diagnosis of disease.”
Treatment
The science community has been actively at war with cancer for more than 40 years, with chemotherapy emerging as one of the most effective weapons. But the success rate is nothing to cheer about, and those who live often suffer the consequences of toxic side effects.
One such side effect is permanent heart damage associated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Boise State chemistry professor Henry Charlier believes inhibiting a specific enzyme involved in metabolizing the drug cocktail will make it more potent in lower doses, meaning heart damage would be dramatically reduced. Two U.S. patents have been issued to Boise State for his work, and he is now investigating the potential of enzyme inhibitors as weapons against cancer itself.
On a related track is a team led by physics professor Alex Punnoose and biology professor Denise Wingett. They discovered that zinc oxide nanoparticles can preferentially kill certain immune cell cancers, leaving other cells unaffected. As current cancer treatment is extremely damaging to healthy cells, this discovery could contribute to the development of a safer, better method.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for an emerging research university,” Wingett said. “Just think of the possibilities.”
Quality of Life
Boise State biology professor Cheryl Jorcyk and her research team are pursuing multiple cancer control possibilities. She is co-investigator on the miRNA project, and her research on breast cancer metastasis and treatment has garnered impressive academic acclaim and external support.
Her many distinctions include the second American Cancer Society grant and first Komen for the Cure grant in Boise State history, as well as multiple awards from the National Institutes of Health that recognize her dedication to involving undergraduate and graduate students in research.
Jorcyk leads a community outreach program that connects cancer sufferers to students who research their conditions and help them understand the medical terminology, disease biology and treatment options.
“Knowledge is empowering, not only for the afflicted but also for those who love and support them through treatment and recovery,” Jorcyk said. “In helping to provide such knowledge, our students gain a better understanding of the disease and for the individuals who are affected, while giving of themselves at the same time.”
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Media Contact: Erin Ryan, University Communications, (208) 426-4910, erinryan@boisestate.edu
About Boise State University
As an emerging metropolitan research university of distinction, Boise State University plays a crucial role in the region’s economic development and famed quality of life. Idaho’s largest institution of higher education offers nearly 200 degrees and certificates in seven colleges. While remaining committed to the strong teaching legacy that has resulted in 11 Idaho Professor of the Year awards since 1990, Boise State’s added emphasis on innovation and creativity is fueling the fastest growing research program in Idaho.