Major research advances at M. D.
Anderson during the past fiscal Year
Major research advances at M. D. Anderson during the past fiscal year include:
· Documentation of a direct molecular link between cigarettes and lung cancer based on
studies that show a carcinogen in tobacco smoke binds to mutagenic sites in the p53 gene.
The research, which was published in Science, was directed by Dr. Moon-shong Tang, an
associate professor of biochemistry at M. D. Anderson's Science Park Research Division
near Smithville.
· Discovery of molecular markers that demonstrate children believed cured of acute
lymphoblastic leukemia may retain residual leukemic cells years after treatment.
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, this study was led by Dr. Theodore
Zipf, chief of pediatric leukemia and lymphoma, and Dr. Mark Roberts, associate professor
of pediatrics.
· Identification of the mutated multiple advanced cancers (MMAC1) gene involved in
glioblastoma multiforme, an often-fatal form of brain tumor, and several other cancers.
Dr. Peter Steck, associate professor of neuro-oncology, and Dr. Alfred Yung, deputy
chairman of the Department of Neuro-Oncology, were senior authors of the report, published
in Nature Genetics.
· Report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute of the first molecular
evidence that former smokers are still at high risk for developing lung cancer. This
research was coordinated by Dr. Waun Ki Hong, chairman of the Department of Thoracic/Head
and Neck Medical Oncology, with one of his assistant professors, Dr. Li Mao.
· Demonstration that the drug Aredia can significantly reduce skeletal complications
and pain in patients with advanced breast cancer that has spread to the bone. Lead authors
of the study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, were Dr. Gabriel
N. Hortobagyi, chairman of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology, and Dr. Richard L.
Theriault, medical director of the Nellie B. Connally Breast Center.