News Release

COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE / April 9, 2009

Boise State Biology Professor Awarded $211,500 NIH Grant to Support Cancer Research

Cheryl Jorcyk, an associate professor in Boise State University’s Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, recently received a $211,500 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support her ongoing cancer research. The National Cancer Institute R15 grant will provide funding over the next three years for Jorcyk’s project titled, “Oncostatin M-induced VEGF in human breast cancer is HIF1α-mediated.”

The latest studies show that one in seven people will get breast cancer, and more than 25 percent of all new cancers in the U.S. in 2008 were breast cancers, which can metastasize to the liver, lungs, brain and bones. Jorcyk’s project focuses on Oncostatin M (OSM), a signaling molecule produced by breast cancer cells and tumor-associated cells of the immune system that plays a role in inflammation and, according to Jorcyk, may contribute to the progression and spread of tumors.

“OSM has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells, and this effect initially focused much attention on it as a potential breast cancer therapy,” Jorcyk said. “However, work in my research laboratory has suggested that OSM could actually contribute to breast tumor progression and metastasis.”

The NIH grant will allow Jorcyk to shift her focus to the mechanism of OSM. If her results demonstrate that it promotes tumor progression by enhancing metastasis, a foundation will be provided for the design of experimental treatments targeting OSM. Such a development would have enormous potential significance in the fight against breast cancer.

“These awards from NIH are incredibly competitive, so this speaks volumes about the important and productive work that Dr. Jorcyk is doing at Boise State,” said Jim Belthoff, chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. “Many students interested in biomedical sciences have worked in Dr. Jorcyk’s lab over the last 10 years, and this award will incorporate even more opportunities for Boise State students to gain experience in research.”


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Media Contact: Erin Ryan, University Communications, (208) 426-4910, erinryan@boisestate.edu

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Last reviewed on Thursday, April 09, 2009