DIVISION OF HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY

 

Hem/Onc Team

Back Row: Kathleen Sakamoto, Stephen Feig, Stanley Nelson, Marcio Malogolowkin, and Christopher Denny
Front Row: Jackie Casillas, Alexis Thompson, and Anne Hagey

Division Highlights 

1999 has been a year of consolidation for the Division. The growth of the clinical service has been appreciable. This is reflected in every aspect of our work: hematology, oncology, new agent trials and stem cell transplantation. We have initiated clinics dedicated to patients with hemoglobinopathies and disorders of hemostasis. A close working relationship has been established with Dr. Victor Marder to expand our activities and training in the field of hemostasis.

We have continued to refine and improve the operation of the dedicated team. This has resulted in an improved curriculum, an expanded reading file for the housestaff, increased out-patient experience for the residents and students rotating through the service, and greater housestaff participation in determining patient management.

The laboratories of the Division continue to thrive. Dr. Sakamoto is currently on sabbatical in the laboratory of Ray Deschais at Cal Tech. She is expanding her work in cell cycle control in hopes of translating her basic observations into novel therapeutic approaches to leukemia. Dr. Thompson has identified the role of a homeotic gene (HOX A11) in a congenital syndrome of bone marrow failure and distal limb anomalies.

Dr. Denny continues to elucidate the oncogenic role of the EWS/FLI1 fusion protein in Ewing's sarcoma and Dr. Nelson has expanded his work in DNA microassays to define the genetic basis of several complex clinical conditions. Dr. Sunny Dovat, a former fellow, joined the Division faculty this year. His work looks at the role of the IKAROS family of genes in the genesis of lymphoid malignancies.

New Research Awards in 1999: 1)Stan Nelson _ Bio Star, Large Scale Identification of Single Nucleotides Polymorphisms from public EST databases. 2) C Lee & S. Nelson _ Life Sciences Informatics / Roche Genome-wide discovery of single nucleotide polymorphisms, alternative splicing and termination by computational analysis of the Incyte human sequence database. 3)Alexis Thompson _ UCLA Human Gene Medicine Grant Gene Therapy in CLL. 4) Kathy Sakamoto _ American Cancer SocietyMolecular analysis of myeloid cell proliferation. 5) Sinisa Dovat _ N C I Role of zinc finger genes in hematopoiesis.

 

Faculty Profiles

DENNY, CHRISTOPHER T.
Faculty Member Since: 1987
Degrees: MD, BA, University of Pennsylvania
Rank: Associate Professor

FEIG, STEPHEN A.
Faculty Member Since: 1972
Degrees: MD, Columbia University
BA, Princeton University
Rank: Professor
Research Interests: Clinical Oncology, BMT

MALOGOLOWKIN, MARCIO H.
Faculty Member Since: 1993
Degrees:

MD, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rank: Assistant Professor 
Research Interests: Pediatric Solid Tumors, Drug Resistance and New Agents
Current Grant Support: 7/98 _ 6/00 "Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation Consortium".
University Service: Member, Ad Hoc Committee of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee on Antiemetic Guidelines
Member, Quality Assurance Committee, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
Member, Clinical Laboratory Compliance Committee
Member, Blood and Blood Derivatives Subcommittee
Professional Committees: Member, Children's Cancer Group Soft Tissue Sarcoma Strategy Group
Member, Children's Cancer Group Clinical Research Assistants Committee
Member, National Wilms Tumor Study Committee

NELSON, STANLEY F.
Faculty Member Since: 1993
Degrees: MD, Duke University
BS, University of Michigan
Rank: Assistant Professor 
Research Interests: Genetics 

SAKAMOTO, KATHLEEN M.
Faculty Member Since: 1991
Degrees: MD
Rank: Assistant Professor
Research Interests:

Leukemogenesis, Signal transduction and cell cycle control during blood cell development, Mitotic exit, proteolysis, and novel approaches to therapy. (Sabbatical: 7/99-6/2000 in laboratory of Raymond Deshaies, PhD, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena CA)
Current Grant Support: 1996-2002 First Award R29CA68221, Molecular Regulation of Myeloid Cell Differentiation NIH/NCI
1997-2001 R29 Minority Supplement for Patricia Mora-Garcia; Molecular
Regulation of myeloid cell proliferation National Cancer Institute (NIH)
7/98-6/03 Leukemia Society of America Scholar Award, 1497-99 "The Role of p55Cdc during Myelopoiesis" ($350,000), Leukemia Society of America
1/99-12/01 Research Project Grant, "Molecular Analysis of Myeloid Cell Proliferation" American Cancer Society
1/99-12/01 Investigator initiated grant, California Cancer Research
Program, "Cell Cycle Cycle Control and Cancer"California
Department of Health Services
7/99- 6/00 Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Seed Grant,
"Development of a Novel Class of Protein-inhibiting Anti-cancer Therapeutics"
Teaching: 1993-present PE101 Pediatric Heme/Onc elective
1993-present PE214 Advanced clinical clerkship
1993-present PE210 Pediatric Clerkship
1993-present PE314 Advanced clinical Clerkship 1994-present M221 Ethics and Accountability Biomedical Research
1998-present M229 ACCESS course: Cell cycle lectures for "Cell Biology and Pathogenesis"
University Service: 1999-present Pathology graduate student organizing committee
1999-present Chair of search committee for Jr. Faculty position in Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
1994-present UCLA Cancer Committee
1995-present St. Geme Pediatric Resident Research Award Selection Committee
1996-1999Admissions Committee, MSTP
1996-1999 DPGP Board, Department of Pediatrics
1997-1999 Search Committee for Anatomical Pathology
1997-1999 Search Committee for Director of Transfusion Medicine
1998-1999 Chair of Tumor Cell Biology ACCESS Affinity Group for Graduate Students
Professional committees: 1999-present Western Society of Pediatrics, Council member
1999-present Scientific Review Committee, CONCERN Foundation
1999-present Editorial Board, Leukemia journal
1999-present Medical editor, emedicine textbook for Pediatrics
Honors:  Merle Carson Lectureship, 1st Prize (Wayne Chu, Pediatric Resident; K. Sakamoto, P.I.), Southwestern Pediatric Society
The Tenth Joseph St. Geme, Jr. Research Award for UCLA, Pediatric Trainees, Wayne Chu, M.D. (K. Sakamoto, P.I.)
Participant, AAMC Workshop for Senior Women in Academic Medicine
Invited Participant, American Cancer Society Professors Meeting,
October, 1999, NY
Katherine E. Rogers Scholar for Excellence in Cancer Research

TAO, MAY-LIN
Faculty Member Since: 1998
Degrees: MSHS, University of California, Los Angeles
MD, New York University School of Medicine
BS, Yale Unviersity
Rank: Assistant Professor 

THOMPSON, ALEXIS. A.
Faculty Member Since: 1990
Degrees: MD, Tulane University
MPH, University of California, Los Angeles
BA, Pomona College
Rank:

MD, MPH
Research Interests: Management of patients with sickle cell disease and other
hemoglobinopathies, Bone marrow and stem cell transplantion in pediatric patient, analysis of alterations in B cell specific gene expression in human malignancies and immunodeficiencies
Teaching: Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Hematopathology (PPD)
University Service: Admissions Committee, School of Medicine
Executive Board, Department of Pediatrics Group Practice
Medical Center Cancer Committee
Director, UCLA Sickle Cell Anemia Program
Professional Committees: Program Development Committee, Fellowship Program in Academic Medicine
Bristol Myers Squibb-National Medical Fellowship
Medical Advisory Board, Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation
Board of Directors, National Marrow Donor Program
Honors: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Minority Medical Faculty Development Award
STOP Cancer: The Next Generation Award
Minority Scholar Award in Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer
Young Investigator Research Award, Orange County Roosters

WU, LILY
Faculty Member Since: 1997
Degrees: MD, PhD, University of California, Los Angeles
Rank: Assistant Professor 
Grant Support:  1998-01 Department of Defense
1999-01 California Cancer Research Program

Division Publications

  1. Aicher WK, Sakamoto KM, Hack A, and Eibel H. Analysis of functional elements in the human Egr-1 gene promoter. Rheumatology International, 18: 207-214, 1999.
  2. Chu Y-W, Korb J and Sakamoto KM. Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura. Pediatrics In Review. In press, 1999.
  3. Chu Y-W, Wang R, Schmid I and Sakamoto KM. Analysis of Green Fluorescent Protein with Flow cytometry in Leukemic Cells. Cytometry, 36: 333-9, 1999.
  4. Dovat S, Roberts R, Wakim M, Stiehm ER, and Feig SA: Immune Thrombocytopenia After Umbilical Cord Proginitor Cell Transplant: Response to Vincristine. Bone Marrow Transplantation 24: 321-323, 1999.
  5. Gubina E, Luo X, Kwon EM, Sakamoto KM, Shi YF and Mufson RA. _c Receptor Cytokine Stimulation of CREB Transcription Factor Phosphorylation by Protein Kinase C: A Novel Cytokine Signal Transduction Cascade. Manuscript accepted with revisions, 1999.
  6. Kwon Em, Raines MA and Sakamoto KM. GM-CSF Induces CREB Phosphorylation Through Activation of pp90Rsk. Blood. In press, 1999.

  7. Kwon EM, Raines MA, Blenis J, and Sakamoto KM. GM-CSF Induces CREB Phosphorylation Through Activation of pp90Rsk. Blood. In press, 1999.

  8. Liau LM, Lallone R, Seitz R, Buznikov A, Kornblum H, Gregg JP, Nelson SF, and Bronstein JM. "Identification of a putative glioblastoma-associated growth factor gene, granulin, using differential immuno-absorption". Cancer Research. In press, 1999.
  9. Malogolowkin MH, Stanley P, Steele DA, Ortega JA: Chemoembolization in Children with Recurrent or Progressive Liver Tumors. Journal of Clinical Oncology. In press, 1999.
  10. Malogolowkin MH: Hepatic Tumors. In Cancer Medicine. Holland et al, 5th Edition, in press, 1999.
  11. Malogolowkin MH: Retinoblastoma. In Cancer Treatment. Haskell CM. Fifth edition, in press, 1999.
  12. Malogolowkin MH: Wilms' Tumor. In Cancer Treatment. Haskell CM. Fifth edition, in press, 1999.
  13. Mora-Garcia P and Sakamoto KM. Signal Transduction and Human Disease. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 66, 143-171, 1999.
  14. Nelson SF and Denny CT. Representational differences analysis and microarray hybridization for efficient cloning and screening of differentially expressed genes. Microarray Technology _ A Practical Approach, Oxford University Press. 1999.
  15. Ortega JA, Rowland J, Monforte H, Malogolowkin MH, Triche T: Presence of Mature Rhabdomyoblasts at the End of Therapy for Pelvic Rhabdomyosarcoma. Implications for the Outcome. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. In Press, 1999.
  16. Palmer CGS, Bailey JN, Ramsey R, Cantwell D, Sinsheimer JS, Del'Homme M, McGough J, Woodward JA, Asarnow R, Asarnow J, Nelson SF, and Smalley SL. DAT1 and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: Is there genetic heterogeneity between families with a single affected and multiple affected children. Mol Psychiatry, In Press, 1999.
  17. Parisi MT, Fahmy JL, Kaminshy CK, Malogolowkin MH: Complications of Cancer Therapy in Children: A Radiologist's Guide. RSNA, 19:472-480, 1999.
  18. Rolli M, Kotlyarov A, Sakamoto KM, Gaestel M, Neininger A. Stress-induced stimulation of early growth response gene-1 by p38/stress-activated protein kinase 2 is mediated by a cAMP-responive promoter element in a MAPKAP kinase 2 _ independent manner. J Biol Chem 274: 19559-64, 1999.
  19. Sakamoto KM. Review of 41st annual American Society of Hematology meeting, New Orleans, LA. December 3-7, 1999. Investigational Drugs weekly highlights, week 51: 51-53, 1999.
  20. Sakamoto KM. Review of American Association for Cancer Research meeting on "Genetic and Functional Consequences of Cell Cycle Alteration in Cancer," San Diego, CA. October 20-24, 1999. Investigational Drugs weekly highlights, week 45: 26-31, 1999.
  21. Teitell M, Damore MA, Sulur GG, Turner DE, Stern M-H, Said JW, Denny CT, Wall R. TCL1 oncogene expression in AIDS-related lymphomas and lymphoid tissues. Proc. Natl, Acad. Sci, In Press, 1999.
  22. Teitell MA, Thompson AD, Sorensen PHB, Shimada H, Triche TJ, Denny, CT. EWS / WTS fusion genes induce epithelial and neuroectodermal differentiation in HIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Lab. Invest. In Press, 1999.
  23. Thompson A, Teitell M, Arvand A, Denny CT. Divergent Ewing's Sarcoma EWS/ETS fusions confer a common tumorigenic phenotype on NIH 3T3 cells. Oncogene, 18, 5506-13, 1999.

  24. Thompson AA, Do HN, Saxon A, Wall R: Widespread B29 (CD79b) gene defects and loss of expression in chronic lymphcytic leukemia. Leukemia and Lymphoma 32(5-6): 561-569, 1999.

  25. Wong A, Sakamoto KM, Johnson EE. Differentiating Osteomyelitis and Bone infarctions in sickle cell patients. Ped Emerg Care, in press, 1999.

Division Presentations

  1. Hsu H, Rainov NG, Sun F, Sakamoto KM, and Spear MA. 4-Ipomeanol (4-IM) prodrug activity in cells carrying the p450 CYP4B1 transgene under an EGR1 promoter induced with ionizing radiation. Am. Soc. Ther. Rad. Onc., 1999.
  2. Kwon EM, Raines MA, and Sakamoto KM. Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor Induces cAMP response element binding protein phosphorylation through a pp90RSK activated pathway in myeloid cells. Oral Presentation at the Western Society for Pediatrics meeting in Carmel, CA 1999.
  3. Lin M, Kao C, Weinstein J, and Sakamoto KM. P55Cdc overexpression results in premature cell cycle transition from G1 to S phase. Oral Presentation at the Western Society for Pediatrics meeting in Carmel, CA 1999.
  4. Malogolowkin MH, Sposto R, Grovas L, Breneman J, Womer R and Ortega JA. Lack of Improvement in Survival of Children with Metastatic Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) Treated with Intensive Therapy Followed by Stem Cell Transplant (SCT) for Control of Minimal Residual Disease. ASCO1999 Meeting, 1999.
  5. Mora-Garcia P and Sakamoto KM. G-CSF Regulates Myeloid Cell Proliferation Through Activation of SRE-Binding Proteins. Oral Presentation at the Western Society for Pediatrics meeting in Carmel, CA 1999.*
  6. Sakamoto KM. Serine/Threonine Phosphorylation in Cytokine Signaling Workshop sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Washington, D.C., March 30, 1999
  7. Sakamoto KM. "Signal Transduction and Cell Cycle Control in Myeloid Cells" for Meet-the-Experts Breakfast, American Society of Hematology, New Orleans, LA, December 5, 1999.
  8. Sakamoto KM. "Signal Transduction Pathways Activated by GM-CSF," Poster presentation at ACS Professors Meeting, New York. 1999
  9. Sakamoto KM. "Signal Transduction Pathways Activated by GM-CSF." ACS Professors Meeting, New York. 10/29-10/30/99.
  10. Sakamoto KM. "GM-CSF Induces pp90RSK1 Activation and CREB Phosphorylation in Myeloid Leukemic cells". NIH/NCI Workshop on "Serine/Threonine Kinases in Cytokine Signal Transduction, " Invited speaker 5/30-5/31/99.

 

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