Esophageal Cancer
Dermot Kelleher
Ph.D.
Award date
February 2021
Amount
$300,000
Organization
University of British Columbia
Purpose
To use advanced stem cell models to identify early esophageal cancer biomarkers and treatments.
Dr. Dermot Kelleher’s goal has been to develop a human stem cell model system by growing tissue-derived stem cells of precancerous lesions, together with immune cells, within organ-on-a-chip technologies facilitating tissue formation. Through these “tissue mimic” strategies he and his team have used state-of-the-art single cell spatial genomics and informatic technologies to identify clinically relevant changes at differing points in the cancer sequence, resulting in actionable biomarkers. Using gene editing approaches these mimicked tissues have enabled the examination of the functional contribution of specific mutations and novel biomarkers upon the formation of precancerous tissues from stem cells at an unprecedented resolution.
This work has shown that our cell surface biomarkers are more than representative and may actually drive cancer progression; it now enables Dr. Kelleher to identify early cancer treatment targets and to begin to develop such therapies and biomarkers in conjunction with the patients and their clinicians.
Dr. Kelleher's efforts aim to help the approximately 600,000 people diagnosed with an esophageal cancer every year and the 550,000 loved ones we lose to the disease prematurely. Esophageal cancer is one of the few cancers with increasing incidence rates, predicted to grow to 1 million cases per year by 2040. Approximately, 70% of these cases are detected too late and past the curative window, where tumor invasion and/or metastasis has occurred. Esophageal adenocarcinoma is fast becoming the predominant form of this cancer type in North America and is associated with a history of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (1 in 6 adults) and the formation of a precancerous lesion known as Barrett’s esophagus.
Understanding the connection between reflux-associated inflammation and the development of mutations in esophageal cancer is key to defining clinically usable biomarkers in those at risk. However, translating groundbreaking research work into actionable therapies or biomarkers for prevention and treatment of esophageal cancers requires the development of human model systems that recapitulate this cancer transition, which is why the Tiny Foundation is proud to support Dr. Kelleher's groundbreaking efforts.