Cancer Stem Cells: Are We Targeting the Right Cells?

The Center for Genetic Medicine of Northwestern University welcomes you to attend the Silverstein Lecture Series on May 21 (Chicago) and May 22 (Evanston), featuring Max S. Wicha, MD, Distinguished Professor of Oncology and Director, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Why do tumors reemerge in so many cancer patients? Current cancer treatments target the cells that make up the bulk of a tumor, but may miss the cells that cause metastasis and relapse. Recent evidence suggests that many cancers, including breast cancer, are driven by a small subpopulation of “cancer stem cells" that are relatively resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Dr. Wicha will discuss the “cancer stem cell” model and its implications to the biology and treatment of tumors, including the early clinical trials of treatments that specifically target cancer stem cells.

Wednesday, May 21, 6:00 pm
Northwestern University (Chicago Campus)
Hughes Auditorium, Lurie Medical Research Center
303 E. Superior Street, Chicago

Thursday, May 22, 6:00pm
Northwestern University (Evanston Campus)
Abbott Auditorium, Pancoe Life Sciences Pavilion
2200 Campus Drive, Evanston

Event website: http://cgm.northwestern.edu/education/silverstein-lecture/may-2014.html  The events are free and open to the public. Please note: general seating
is first come, first served; please plan to arrive early.

Max S. Wicha, MD is the founding and current director of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC). He is a leader in breast cancer research and is a pioneer in the field of cancer stem cells. According to the ISI citation index, Dr. Wicha is among the most highly cited investigators in the field. Dr. Wicha’s group was part of the team that first identified breast cancer stem cells, the first such cells identified in solid tumors. His laboratory has identified a number of cancer stem cell markers and developed models to isolate and characterize these cells, models which have been widely utilized in the field. His group has subsequently elucidated a number of intrinsic and extrinsic pathways which regulate stem cell self-renewal and cell fate decisions. These pathways have provided targets for the development of drugs aimed at targeting cancer stem cells.

Most recently, Dr. Wicha’s laboratory has focused on translating laboratory findings into the development of clinical trials design to target breast cancer stem cells. The UMCCC has established itself as a world leader in cancer stem cell biology and therapeutics and is currently conducting nine early phase clinical trials aimed at targeting cancer stem cells, the most of any center in the world. Dr. Wicha is co-founder of OncoMed Pharmaceuticals, a biotech technology company focused on developing cancer stem cell therapeutics, which has produced five agents currently in clinical testing.

Dr. Wicha is also a practicing clinician whose practice is focused on women with breast cancer. He serves on advisory boards of several biotechnology companies and a number of National Cancer Institute cancer centers, including the External Advisory Board of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

The lecture is presented by the Center for Genetic Medicine with support from the Herman M. and Bea L. Silverstein Medical Research Fund for Genetic Medicine.