Courage Lives Here
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A Year in Review 2012 – 2013: Corporate Support
Research
Courage is...
driving
change
Researcher expands knowledge
in cancer treatment
Challenging the status quo takes courage. At UHN,
clinicians and researchers do this every day.
Whether pushing the limits in medicine, seeking new
ways to understand biomedical mysteries or driving
new directions in knowledge generation and scientific
study — researchers and clinicians are constantly driving
change and improvement.
For example, a study published in Science, which was led
by UHN Researcher and Ontario Cancer Institute Senior
Scientist Dr. John Dick, has uncovered new evidence that
genetic mutations, regarded by many as a major driver in
cancer growth, are only one piece of the cancer puzzle.
Tracking tumours
Biological factors and cell behaviour were also found to
drive tumour growth, contributing to treatment failure
and relapse.
By tracking individual cancer tumour cells, Dick and his
team found that only a small subset of cells contributed
to cancer growth.
Specifically, some cells kept the cancer growing for long
time periods while other cells lay dormant before being
activated.
A study by UHN researcher Dr. John Dick has shown that to improve outcomes of chemo-
therapy treatment, research should focus on the biological properties of cells.
(Photo: UHN)
Dr. John Dick’s research is helping to solve the cancer puzzle.
(Photo: UHN)
New focus for the future
When chemotherapy was applied, it was observed that
the dormant cells were not eliminated by drug treatment
but were instead activated, causing the tumour to grow
again.
These cancer cells that survived therapy were genetically
similar to the cancer cells initially responsible for tumour
growth and responsive to treatment, suggesting that
cellular factors not linked to genetic mutation can be
responsible for therapy failure.
“This is a paradigm shift that shows research needs to
focus on the biological properties of cells,” Dick explained.
“Targeting the biology and growth properties of cancer
cells could expand the repertoire of usable therapeutic
agents and provide better outcomes for patients.”
Bipolar patients
Cognitive deficits are common in adults with bipolar disorder and although drugs can help control
mood, they do not treat these deficits. Toronto General Research Institute scientists have found
that using an insulin nasal spray improved cognitive functioning in bipolar patients.
Techna Institute
Techna scientists developed an in-home blood pressure monitoring system that sends self-care
messages to the patient’s smartphone. The telemonitoring and automated self-care support
helped diabetic patients control their blood pressure and reduce their cardiovascular risk.
Sleep apnea
A new wearable facemask designed by Toronto Rehab scientists can monitor sleep apnea at home
as an alternative method for diagnosis. It records breathing and airflow and is analyzed after the
memory card is mailed to a clinic.
Ontario Cancer Institute
A new type of organic, non-toxic and biodegradable nanoparticle has been developed by OCI
researchers. Known as a porphysome, this minute sphere can be tracked by medical imaging and
can deliver drugs directly to tumours.
Highlights
