Four pilot projects were awarded $50,000 each for one year by the University of Illinois Cancer Center through its American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (ACS IRG) to provide seed money for junior investigators to initiate cancer research projects.
The ACS IRG is awarded to institutions as block grants with the intent that they support junior faculty in initiating projects so they can obtain preliminary results that will enable them to compete successfully for national research grants.
The four 2025 pilot projects are:
“Molecular Determinants of the Response of TP53 Mutated Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Chemoembolization” from Principal Investigator Lobna Elkhadragy, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago Department of Radiology.
Project Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is an aggressive disease rarely diagnosed at early stages. For patients with intermediate-stage HCC, the standard of care treatment is transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), an image-guided procedure that delivers embolic and chemotherapeutic agents into the tumor via the hepatic artery. Recent studies showed that nearly one-third of HCC patients, specifically those with TP53 mutations, respond poorly to TACE. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown, partly due to the lack of suitable animal models that enable simultaneous study of HCC genetic alterations and response to TACE. Leveraging a novel porcine HCC model we recently developed, this proposal aims to uncover the effects of TACE on molecular pathways and tumor microenvironment in TP53 mutated HCC. These findings will be instrumental in developing novel therapeutic strategies, such as TACE variants or combinations of TACE with systemic therapy, presenting great potential to improving outcomes of HCC patients.
“Cervical Cancer Screening Among Older Sexual Minority Ciswomen” from Principal Investigator and Cancer Center member Hunter Holt, MD, Assistant Professor, College of Medicine Department of Family and Community Medicine. He is part of the Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) Research Program.
Project Abstract: All individuals with a cervix are at risk of HPV infection and cervical cancer (CC) regardless of sexuality. Cervical cancer can be prevented with receipt of the HPV vaccination and adequate cervical cancer screening (CCS). Despite the importance of adequate CCS in the prevention of CC, uptake is especially low among older populations and sexual minority ciswomen (SMCW) in the United States (US). Self-collection for HPV testing, which has recently been approved by the FDA, is a potentially promising method for increasing CCS rates in older SMCW. However, older SMCW have largely been ignored by researchers, especially in CC and CCS research. The proposed study is a convergent mixed-methods study to evaluate and describe the prevalence up-to-date CCS, the current evidence of CCS and self-collection for HPV, and the lived experience of CCS and knowledge and acceptability of self-collection for HPV among SMCW.
“A Multilevel Mixed-Methods Study of Social and Community Factors in Liver Cancer Prevention Among Latinos” from Principal Investigator Mayra Guerrero, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology, and awardee of the Diversity Pilot award.
Project Abstract: Liver cancer rates and outcomes are worsening for Latine populations in the U.S., with this group facing a higher incidence rate of liver cancer and higher mortality rate compared to non-Latine White populations. In Chicago, recent surveys show that 90% of Latine residents identify liver cancer as the most serious cancer impacting their community. Alcohol use, a major risk factor contributing to about 4% of all cancers, adds to the urgency of tailored prevention efforts for this population. However, Latine communities often encounter barriers, including limited access to quality healthcare, language challenges, and a lack of culturally relevant health information. These obstacles, combined with lifestyle factors like heavy alcohol use, emphasize the need for prevention strategies that are specifically designed to fit cultural needs. This pilot study will explore the social and community influences on liver cancer prevention in Latine communities through focus groups and interviews to gain insights into these barriers and opportunities for prevention. By partnering with a community organization, the study aims to develop culturally resonant motivational messages, leverage social networks to encourage healthy behaviors and establish a foundation for future prevention programs tailored to the Latine community.
“Spliceosome Assembly Inhibition as a Novel Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Strategy” from Brian Lampkin, PhD, Assistant Professor, Retzky College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Project Abstract: Aberrant alternative splicing of pre-mRNA transcripts is a known contributor to oncogenesis. As a result, spliceosome vulnerabilities are an emerging hallmark in cancer, rendering it an attractive therapeutic target. Indeed, several small molecules and natural products have known targets related to the spliceosome. However, few have progressed to the clinic, highlighting a need for novel strategies. Our central hypothesis is that disrupting protein-protein interactions (PPIs) critical to early spliceosome assembly will stall spliceosome progression and thus inhibit spliceosome function and alternative splicing. Within this proposal, we outline strategies to discover novel stapled peptide inhibitors of the U2AF2•SF1 protein-protein interaction using mRNA display. We also propose a fluorogenic splice reporter assay that uses split RNA aptamers to directly visualize splicing activity in real time. These two aims will produce tools and methodologies that will be broadly used to study spliceosome biochemistry as it relates to fundamental cancer biology and the spliceosome as a target for anti-cancer therapeutics.