Cancer Biology Research Group
2003 Annual Report
Department of Oncology,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
Introduction
Of the 26 full members of the Cancer Biology Research Group, 16 hold appointments
with the Department of Oncology, 6 being primary appointments. This report will cover
the activities of the 16 members holding appointments as well as the general activities
during the past year of the group as a whole.
2003 has been another busy year for the Cancer Biology Research Group (CBRG) and we
continue to thrive, expanding our membership and research endeavors. CBRG is the basic
science arm of cancer research in Southern Alberta and it is currently undergoing a
metamorphosis which will see it effectively disappear as the Southern Alberta Cancer
Research Institute (SACRI) begins to take shape during 2004 and into 2005. Driven by
the University of Calgary, SACRI will be one of the 6 new Institutes within the Faculty
of Medicine. It will also endeavor to become the umbrella organization bringing together
basic scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists and others involved in cancer research
activities focusing on six programmatic research themes:
1. Integrative Brain Tumor Research Program,
2. Radiation Oncology & Mechanisms for DNA Damage and Repair,
3. Molecular Epidemiology,
4. Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics in Pediatric Oncology,
5. Palliative Care in Oncology,
6. Cancer and Aging.
Membership
Of the 16 Full Members reported, all of them hold academic appointments within the
Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary and 7 also hold clinical appointments at either
Tom Baker Cancer Center or the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
Our ability to recruit and accommodate more members is primarily limited at present by
the availability of laboratory space although we did see the addition of one new recruit to
the Group during 2003. It is anticipated that this lack of space will be addressed by the
opening of the University of Calgary’s Research Innovation Center during 2005. Fund
raising is currently underway for the equipping of this space once construction is
completed.
In anticipation of this new space becoming available we, in the fall of 2003, lifted the
hiring freeze we had implemented early on in the year. Recruitment was reinitiated,
following discussion with the Faculty of Medicine, and we have initiated the recruitment
of two new faculty in conjunction with the Integrative Brain Tumor Research Program
team.
Academic Advancement
Education
The group offers 3 graduate courses, each of which are a semester long. 2003 saw
initiation of the plan for a change in the delivery of these courses to a more modular
program offering students a more diverse spectrum of opportunity. This change is aimed
at reflecting the diversity of research activities within the group; the desire to encourage
more translational research and to allow students to take advantage of the
interdisciplinary approach to research fostered by the group.
Research
In line with our programmatic themes, the creation of the endowed chairs has enabled us
to recruit and retain excellence among our senior researchers. These chairs are:
Endowed Chair in Brain Tumor Research – Dr Greg Cairncross
The Engineered Air Chair in Cancer Research – Dr Susan Lees-Miller
Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology – Dr Max Coppes
Endowed Chair in Molecular Epidemiology – currently in creation
The Integrative Brain Tumor Research Program under Drs Greg Cairncross and Peter
Forsyth continues to demonstrate successes in the field of brain tumor research and
treatment including their leading edge work with reovirus treatments in Phase I clinical
trials and DNA mapping in brain tumor tissue.
Dr Susan Lees-Miller was awarded the Engineered Air Chair in 2003 and has already
begun to establish links with the radiation oncologists at TBCC in trying to understand
the mechanisms of DNA damage and repair and its relationship to radiation therapy
treatment of cancer.
Dr Max Coppes was announced as the newly identified holder of the chair in Pediatric
Oncology early in 2004. This is an exciting new position and is the foundation of the
thematic program of investigation in Experimental Therapeutics in Childhood Cancer.
The creation of an Endowed Chair in Molecular Epidemiology will support the leading
edge work of the Epidemiology group who are national leaders in the application of the
new discipline of molecular epidemiology. Molecular epidemiology marries the classic
population based data gathering techniques of epidemiology with large-scale tissue
banking and high throughput molecular analysis and bioinformatics.
Service
Our members hold a variety of administrative positions within the Faculty, the University
and a variety of affiliate organizations such as Calgary Health Region and the Alberta
Cancer Board. We continue to strive to both inform and shape the work done in areas of
academic development, research endeavors and patient care. Demonstrating this in 2003
was Dr Frans van der Hoorn’s appointment to the position of Associate Dean of Graduate
Education with the Faculty.
We are also working towards the formation of the Southern Alberta Cancer Research
Institute addressing issues such as membership, governance, space allocation and
integration with the Alberta Cancer Board (ACB).
New Investigator Salary Support
The provision of three salaries by the ACB to the CBRG in support of the recruitment of
new scientific faculty just beginning on their independent careers has been a great
success. During 2003 we have again utilized one of these salaries to provide a start up
package to a new recruit to the group and this recruit has since been able to secure
external salary funding from the AHFMR. This will be the third successive year where
we have been able to utilize these funds in this bridging fashion to recruit to the group
(Dr Shirin Bonni) and have the salary later freed up through the success of the recruits in
securing external funding. We attribute this success to the high standard of excellence we
look for when recruiting to the group.
2003 has seen us begin the recruitment of one new member in conjunction with the Brain
Tumor program as previously discussed and the plans are to continue to utilize these
salaries to support our programmatic themes. 2004’s will be used to support the
Mechanisms of DNA Damage and Repair Program and the 2005 will likely be used in
support of the Pediatric Oncology Research Program.
Core Facilities
CBRG receives funding toward a number of core facilities thorough the ACB RIP and
NIP funding streams. These facilities continue to be not only essential, invaluable tools
for the Cancer Research Community but are integral to the functioning of several
endeavors of the entire Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. These facilities
are:
RIP funded Core Facilities:
- Embryonic Stem Cell Facility (ACB / U of C joint venture)
- Flow Cytometry (ACB / U of C joint venture)
- Hybridoma Facility (ACB / U of C joint venture)
- Histology Facility (SACRC venture)
NIP funded Core Facilities
- Microarray (ACB / U of C joint venture)
We have decided to undertake a process of external review of the RIP funded core
facilities to ensure they continue to operate efficiently and effectively and this review is
scheduled to commence early 2004. We feel this review is critical in assisting us to
decide on long-term plans for each of the Facilities and prioritization of resources. The
decision to close the Tumor Modeling Facility during the past year demonstrates our
commitment to ensuring demand and output of each facility is adequate and the most
effective use of our available resources.
Summary
2003 has been not only a year of continued research successes but one which has seen us
begin a process of change and review that will alter the face of research organization in
Southern Alberta. We are welcoming this opportunity to work with colleagues across the
spectrum of cancer research activity as well as those involved in other arms of medical
research. We believe that interdisciplinary discussion will lead to collaborations and
synergies that will only enhance the research activities and successes that will be seen in
the coming years. Following is the information for each of our full Members.
Summary of Members with
Department of Oncology Appointments
Primary Appointments
Dr Max Coppes
Dr Peter Forsyth
Dr Rhiannon Hughes
Dr Don Morris
Dr Derrick Rancourt
Dr Stephen Robbins
Secondary Appointments
Dr Oliver Bathe
Dr Chris Brown
Dr Greg Cairncross
Dr Randal Johnston
Dr Rene LaFreniere
Dr Karl Riabowol
Dr David Schreimer
Dr Frans van der Hoorn
Dr David Waisman
Dr Dallan Young
Christopher Brown - M.D., FRCP (C )– Professor, Departments of Medicine,
Oncology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Faculty of Medicine, University of
Calgary; Chair, Cancer Biology Research Group; Associate Director (Research)
Tom Baker Cancer Center; Director, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Center
;Director, Southern Alberta Cancer Research Institute; Medical Director, Graft
Engineering Group, Alberta Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program;
Attending Physician, Alberta Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program;
Attending Physician Division of Hematology
cbrown@ucalgary.ab.ca
Tel: (403) 220 8247
Fax: (403) 283 8727
Publications
Trus, M.R., Bordeleau, L., Pihl, C., McGeer, A., Minden, M.D. and Brown, C.B.
Clinical Manifestations Associated with the Aberrant Expression of the Soluble
Granulocyte–Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor Receptor in Patients Presenting
with Hematological Malignancies. Brit. J. Haematol., 121(1): 86-93, 2003.
Pelley, J and Brown, C.B. Soluble receptor variants in the GM-CSF, IL-3, IL-5 receptor
family. Mod Asp Immunobiol. 3(2): 60-63, 2003 (invited review).
Grant Support
Canadian Institutes of
Health Research (CIHR)
Alberta Cancer Board
Anaemia Institute for
Research & Education
Multiple Sclerosis
Society of Canada
Canadian Institutes of
Health Research (CIHR)
Cangene Corporation
Personnel
Carin Pihl
Jennifer Pelley
Jeff Dai
Jaclyn Harris
Bruno Tillier
Janel Nadeau
Tammy Unruh
Role and Regulation of the soluble GMCSF Receptor
Structural variants of the soluble GMCSF Receptor; the role of proteolysis
and documentation of mixed receptor
populations in leukemic serum.
10/2002 – 09/2005
$89,989
05/2002-04/2003
$10,704
Glycophorin A-mediated Hemolysis:
The Implications of a Novel Mechanism
Therapeutic Potential of a Soluble GMCSF Receptor in EAE.
Co-PI, Provincial Graduate Training
Program in Translational Cancer
Research (ACB/UC/UA/CIHR/NCIC)
GM-CSF Cytoxicity Project.
07/2001 – 06/2003
$30,000
11/2002 – 03/2004
$35,000
06/2003-05/2009
$1.8 million
$29,435
Laboratory Technician/Manager
Graduate Student, Ph.D.Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Graduate Student, MScMedical Sciences
Graduate Student, MScMedical Sciences and Provincial Graduate
Training Program in Translational Cancer Research
Graduate Student, MSc Medical Sciences.
Undergraduate Student, Bchm 528/530
Graduate Student, MSc Immunology Training Program
Dr. Mike Brain
Janis Querido
Honorary Research Professor
Administrator
J. Gregory Cairncross – Professor, Dept. Head of Clinical Neurosciences; Regional
Clinical Department Head, Calgary Health Region, ACF Chair in Brain Tumor Research.
jgcairnx@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 944 1260
Fax: (403) 270 7878
Publications
Nutt CL, Mani DR, Betensky RA, Tamayo P, Cairncross JG, Ladd C, Pohl U, Hartman
C, Laughlin ME, Batchelor TT, Black PM, von Deimling A, Pomeroy SL, Golub TR,
Louis DN. Gene expression-based classification of malignant gliomas correlate better
with survival than histological classification. Cancer Res 63: 1602-1607, 2003
Betensky RA, Louis DN, Cairncross JG, Analysis of a molecular genetic neuro-oncology
study with partially biased selection. Biostatistics 4: 167-178, 2003
Forsyth PA, Weaver S, Fulton D, Brasher PMA, Sutherland G, Stewart D, Hagen NA,
Barnes P, Cairncross JG, De Angelis LM. Prophylactic anticonvulsants in patients with
brain tumour. Can J Neurol Sci 30: 106-112, 2003
Van den Bent M, Chinot O, Cairncross JG. Temozolomide: recent developments in the
molecular characterization and treatment of oligodendroglial tumors. Neuro-Oncology 5:
128-138, 2003
Bélanger K, Macdonald D, Cairncross JG, Gertler S, Forsyth P, Burdette-Radoux S,
Bergeron D, Ludwin S, Wainman N, Eisenhauer E. A phase II study of topotecan in
patients with anaplastic oligodendroglioma and anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma.
Investigational New Drugs 21: 473-480, 2003
Lauren, EA, Barrett, H. Childs, N., Paleologos, N., Kaminer, L., Rosenfeld, S., Salzman,
E., Finlay, J.L., Gardner, S., Peterson, K., Hu, W., Swinnen, L., Bayer, R., Forsyth, P.,
Stewart, D., Smith, AM, Macdonald, DR, Weaver, S., Ramsey, DA., Nimer, SD,
DeAngelis, LM, Cairncross, JG High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue as initial
therapy for anaplastic oligodendroglioma. J Neuro Oncol 65(2): 127-134, 2003
Grant Support
Alberta Cancer Board
Alberta Cancer Board
2003-2005
$34,995
2003
$17,497.50
Personnel
Guo Wei Xu
Dr. Sajeel Chowdhary
Magdalena Zlatescu
Danielle Sikander
Graduate student
Post Doctoral Fellow in Neuro-Oncology
PhD, Research Associate
Administrative Manager, Department of Clinical
Neurosciences
Doug Demetrick – Assistant Professor, Departments of Pathology and Oncology;
Director, ACB Histology Facility
demetric@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 220 2890
Fax: (403) 283 8727
Publications
Demetrick DJ. Targeting Cancer Treatment: The Challenge of Anatomical Pathology to
the Analytical Chemist. The Analyst. 128:995-97. 2003.
Murthy SK and Demetrick DJ. New Approaches to Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization.
Cell Imaging Techniques: Methods and Protocols, Douglas J. Taatjes and Brooke T.
Mossman Editors. Humana Press, New York. In Press.
Grant Support
Alberta Cancer Board
Kids Cancer Care
Foundation
Calgary Laboratory
Services/MDS
Alberta Cancer Board
Ruth Barker Foundation
Personnel
Peter Lewkonia
Adrian Box
Structure-Function
Correlates of p16-related
CDK Inhibitor proteins
A Novel Strategy to
Evaluate the Regulation of
the Hypoxic Response of
Pediatric Solid Tumour
Cells
Translational Proteomics
$35,000
2003-2005
$50,000 per annum
Histology Infrastructure
Grant
2002-2005
$80,000 per annum
2002-2003
$40,000
Cytosine Methyltransferase
Regulation in Breast Cancer
2002-2003
$50,000
Medical Undergraduate Student
Medical Sciences Graduate Student
Laura Fursey
Natalie Rezansoff
Carol Yuen
Linda Ganley
Eli Akbari
Jason Morrin
Dr. Steve Loken
Dr. Majid Akbari
Medical Sciences Graduate Student
BMB Graduate Student
Undergraduate (MDSC 530 student)
Undergraduate (MDSC 530 student)
Undergraduate Summer Research Student
Undergraduate Summer Research Student
Medical Resident
Medical Resident
Rhiannon M. Hughes - MD (University of Toronto), MSC (University of Calgary),
FRCPC (Paediatrics, Genetics), FCCMG; Assistant Professor, Departments of Oncology
and Medical Genetics; Medical Director; Cancer Genetics Research Clinic, Tom Baker
Cancer Centre; Chair, Alberta Cancer Genetics Program;
rhughes@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 220-2715
Fax: (403) 283 8727
Publications
Gillan T, Hughes R, Godbout R, Grundy.PE, The Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Gene, GPC3,
is not involved in sporadic Wilms Tumorigenesis. Am J Med Genet 122A(1):30-6, 2003
Adler D, Kanji N, Trpkov K, Fick G, Hughes RM HPC2/ELAC2 Gene Variants
Associated with Incident Prostate Cancer J Human Genetics, published electronically,
Nov 19, 2003 http://www.springerlink.com
Grant Support
Alberta Cancer Board –
Research Initiative Program
Canadian Breast Cancer
Foundation, Alberta/NWT
Chapter
Calgary Health Region
Alberta Health and
Wellness, Health Strategies
Genotype Analysis of
Xenobiotic Metabolizing
Enzymes as Predictors of
Familial Breast Cancer
Susceptibility
CHK2 gene variants and
inherited breast cancer
susceptibility
A Pilot Study Evaluating
the Impact of
Counselling/Decision Aids
on Informed Decision
Making of Women with
Hereditary Breast &
Ovarian Cancer
Susceptibility and their
Physicians
Alberta Cancer Genetics
Program, Epidemiology
2001 - 2002 (renewed for
2003)
$79,755 per annum
2003 - 2005
$72,000
2003 - 2004
$25,000
2002 – present
$250,000
Division
Personnel
Nimira Kanji
Sasha Lipichuk
Administrative Assistant
Database
4th year undergraduate summer student, Queen's
University, Kingston ON
MD
Janis Querido
Randall N Johnston - B.Sc. (University of Victoria), Ph.D. Biological Sciences
(Stanford University), Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of
Medicine, Professor, Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Adjunct Professor, Biological
Sciences, Faculty of Science, Associate Scientific Staff Member, Tom Baker Cancer
Centre;
rnjohnst@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 220-8692
Fax: (403) 503 5225
Publications
Liu GR, Edwards K, Eisenstark A, Fu YM, Liu WQ, Sanderson KE, Johnston RN, Liu
SL. (2003) Genomic diversification among archival strains of Salmonella typhimurium
LT7. J. Bacteriol. 185: 2131-42.
Vieyra D, Senger DL, Toyama T, Muzik H, Brasher PMA, Johnston RN, Riabowol K,
Forsyth PF. (2003) Altered subcellular localization and low frequency of mutations of
ING1 in human brain tumors. Clin Canc Res 9: 5952-5961.
Grant Support
Canadian Institutes of
Health Research
Resistance to Reovirus
Oncolysis
Personnel
Dr, Shu-Lin Liu
Dr. Catherine Egan
Research Associate
Post-Doctoral Fellow
2002 to 2005
$120,998 per annum
Derrick Rancount - B.Sc. (University of Guelph); Ph.D., (Queen’s University);
Associate Professor, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Oncology,
Program Director, Embryonic Stem Cell Targeted Mutagenesis Facility; Program
Director, Masters of Biomedical Technology
rancourt@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 220-2888
Fax: (403) 220 3029
Publications
Wride MA, Mansergh FC, Adams S, Everitt R, Minnema S, Rancourt DE and Evans MJ
(2003) Expression Profiling and Gene Discovery in the Mouse Lens. Mol Vis 9, 360.
Lees-Miller JP, Guo J, Somers JR, Roach DE, Sheldon RS, Rancourt DE, Duff HJ (2003)
Selective Knockout of Mouse ERG1 B Potassium Channel Eliminates I(Kr) in Adult
Ventricular Myocytes and Elicits Episodes of Abrupt Sinus Bradycardia. Mol Cell Biol.
23,1856-62.
Thomas B, Woltjen K and Rancourt DE (2003) Deep Screening of Recombination
Proficient Bacteriophage Libraries. Biotechniques 34, 36-8.
Sarna JR, Larouche M, Marzban H, Sillitoe RV, Rancourt DE and Hawkes R (2003)
Patterned Purkinje Cell Degeneration in Mouse Models of Niemann-Pick type C Disease.
J. Comp. Neurol. 456, 279-91.
Grant Support
Canadian Foundation for
Innovation
Canadian Institutes of
Health Research
Canadian Institutes of
Health Research
Stem Cell NCE
2003 to 2004
$4,361,847
2003/04 to 2006/03
$48,390 per annum
2003/04 to 2006/03
$71,678 per annum
2003/04 to2005/03
$41,250 per annum
2003/04 to 2005/03
Stem Cell NCE
$87,000
Alberta Cancer Board
Canadian Institutes of
Health Research
Canadian Institutes of
Health Research
Canadian Institutes of
Health Research
U.S. National Institutes of
Health
Margaret Gunn Endowment
Personnel
Jacqueline Hance
Eileen Rattner
Shiying Liu
Hui Xu
Multi-User Maintenance
Grant
Lab Manager
Technician
Technician
Technician
04/2002 to 03/2005
$40,000
2002/04 to 2005/03
$130,000 per annum
2001/04 to 2004/03
$45,000 per annum
2000/09 to 2003/08
$55,000 per annum
2000/04 to 2003/03
$68,754 per annum
2002 to2004
$54,060
Sandy Nishikawa
Rebecca Everitt
Kenichi Ito
Navneet Sharma
Nicole Zur Nieden
Guolian Meng
Colleen O’Sullivan
Knut Woltjen
Stephanie Minnema
Jillian Ungarian
Magdalena Swanson
Brad Thomas
Lin Tang
Feodor Price
Kim Melton
Administrative Assistant
Technician
Informaticist
Research Associate
Research Associate
Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph.D., Medical Student
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
M.Sc.
Ph.D.
M.Sc.
M.Sc.
BSc Student
BSc Student/Technician
Tiz Reiter
Karl T. Riabowol - B.Sc. Hon (Simon Fraser University, B.C.); PhD. (U of Arkansas
for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR); PDF (Cold Spring Harbor Lab); Professor,
Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Oncology; Associate Scientific
Staff Member, Tom Baker Cancer Centre; Director (SACRC) Hybridoma Facility,
SACRC Cell Bank.
karl@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 220-8695
Fax: (403) 270 0834
Publications
Berardi, P., Meyyappan, M., and Riabowol, K. A Novel Transcriptional Inhibitory
Element in the 5'-untranslated Region of the Cyclin D1 Gene Contributes to Senescenceinduced Gene Expression. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 7510 - 7519 (2003).
Hara, Y., Zheng, Z., Evans, S., Malatjalian, D., Riddell, D., Guernsey, D., Wang, L.,
Riabowol, K. and Casson, A. ING1 and p53 Tumor Suppresser Gene Alterations in
Adenocarcinomas of the Esophagogastric Junction. Cancer Letters 192:109-116 (2003).
Tallen, G., Riabowol, K. And Wolff, J.E.A. Expression of p33ING1 mRNA and
Chemosensitivity in Brain Tumour Cells. Anticancer Res. 23: 1631-1635 (2003).
Kataoka, H., Bonnefin, P., Vieyra, D., Feng, X., Hara, Y., Miura, Y., Nakabayashi, H.,
Joh, T., Vaziri, H., Harris, C. and Riabowol, K. ING1 Represses transcription by Direct
DNA Binding and Through Effects on p53. Cancer Research 63: 5785-5792 (2003).
Vieyra, D., Senger, D.L., Toyam, T., Muzik, H., Brasher, P.M., Johnston, R.N.,
Riabowol, K. and Forsyth, P.A. Altered Subcellular Localization and Low Frequency of
Mutations of ING1 in Human Brain Tumors. Clinical Cancer Res. 9: 5952-5961 (2003).
Toyama, T., Iwase, H., Yamashita, H., Hara, Y., Sugiura, H., Zhang, Z., Fukai, I., Miura,
Y., Riabowol, K. and Fujii, Y. p33 (ING1b) Stimulates the Transcriptional Activity of
the Estrogen Receptor Alpha via its Activation Fur Domain. J Steroid Biochem. Mol.
Biol. 87: 57-63 (2003).
Tallen, G., Kaiser, I., Krabbe, S., Lass, U., Hartmann, C., Henze, G., Riabowol, K. and
von Deimling, A. No ING1 Mutations in Human Brain Tumours but reduced Expression
in High Malignancy Grades of Astrocytoma. Published Online – International Journal
of Cancer (January, 2004).
Grant Support
CIHR
IIPP
CIHR
Alberta Cancer Board
Infrastructure
CIHR
Pilot Project
CIHR
Editorship
Cancer Research Society
Personnel
Dr. Paul Bonnefin
Dr. Yasuo Hara
Dr. Hiromi Kataoka
Dr. Keith Wheaton
Dr. Keiko Suzuki
Diego Vieyra
Philip Berardi
Jason Quarrie
Pinaki Bose
Mike Russell
Brad Unryn
Xiolan Feng
Gong Wei
Administrative Assistant
1999 to2004
$ 765,000
2000 to 2003
$788,123
2002 to 2005
$426,000
2002 to2004
$140,000
2003 to 2004
$45,000
2003 to 2006
$15,000
2003 to 2005
$118,000
Post-Doctoral Fellow Trainees
Post-Doctoral Fellow Trainees
Post-Doctoral Fellow Trainees
Post-Doctoral Fellow Trainees
Post-Doctoral Fellow Trainees
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
M.Sc.
M.Sc.
M.Sc.
Tiz Reiter
Stephen M. Robbins - B.Sc. Honours (York University), Ph.D. (University of British
Columbia), AHFMR Senior Scholar, Canada Research Chair in Cancer Biology;
Associate Professor, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Oncology;
Staff Scientist, Tom Baker Cancer Center; Director, Southern Alberta Microarray
Facility; Graduate Education Coordinator Medical Sciences;
srobbins@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 220-4304
Fax: (403) 283 8727
Publications
Yipp, B.G., Robbins,S.M., Resek, M.E., Baruch, D.I., Looareesuwan, S. and Ho, M.
2003 Src-family Kinase Signaling Modulates the Adhesion of Plasmodium falciparum on
Human Microvascular Endothelium. Blood 101: 2850-2857.
Ridyard, M.S. and Robbins, S.M. 2003 Fibroblast growth factor-2 induced signaling
through lipid raft associated Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Substrate-2 (FRS2).
J.Biol. Chem. 278:13803-13809.
Kerfoot, S.M., Lord, S.E., Bell, R.B., Gill, V., Robbins, S.M. and Kubes, P. (2003)
Human fractalkine mediates leukocyte adhesion but not capture under physiological shear
conditions; a mechanism for selective monocyte recruitment. Eur. J. Immunol. 33: 729739.
Gauthier, L.R. and Robbins, S.M. (2003) Ephrin Signaling: One raft to rule them all?
One raft to sort them? One raft to spread their call and in signaling bind them? Life
Sciences 74:207-216.
Grant Support
CIHR
CIHR
CIHR
Alberta Cancer Board
CIHR
CIHR
Cancer Research
Society
Co-Investigator A Transdisciplinary Training
Program in Diseases of
Immunopathogenesis and
Inflammation
Co-Investigator - Strategic
Training Program in
Translational Cancer Research
Co-ApplicantLive Cell Imaging Maintenance
Co-applicant Proteomics and Functional
Genomics Leading to
Therapeutics
Compartmentalized signaling in
hematopoietic cells
Ephrin-mediated cellular
communication
Co-applicant - Molecular and
cellular characterization of
2003-2008
$256,000
2003-2008
$300,000
2003-2006
$42,000
2003-2004
$450,000
2002-2006
$139,114 per annum
2002-2006
$165,685 per annum
2002-2004
$60,000 per annum
AHFMR
CIHR
Cancer Research
Society
CIHR
CIHR
AHFMR
Personnel
S.A. Bisson
Box
D. Browman
Laura Gauthier
A. Klimowicz
L.D. Zajchowski
A. McDermid
E. Long
M.E. Resek
E. Ujack
T. MacRae
P. Thirukkumaran
E. Tam
Administrative Assistant
glioma invasion
Compartmentalized Signaling
Co-applicant - Leukocyte
Recruitment and Effector
Mechanisms in the Inflammatory
Response
Cbl-mediated targeting of
oncogenes
Co-applicant - Matrix
metalloproteinases in MS:
Environmental influence,
biology, pathology and
therapeutic strategies.
CRC Chair Tier II - Molecular
Genetics of Cancer
Salary Support
2001-2005
$72,111 per annum
2001-2004
$351,143 per annum
2003-2005
$59,000 per annum
2001-2005
$989,650 per annum
2001-2005
$100,000 per annum
2001-2005
Ph.D.
M.Sc.
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
M.Sc.
Research Associate
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Research Associate
Research Assistant
Ruth Malus
David C. Schriemer - Ph.D., Analytical Chemistry, (University of Alberta);
Assistant Professor, Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Oncology and
Pharmacology & Therapeutics; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Chemistry, Faculty of
Science; Director, Southern Alberta Mass Spectrometry Centre.
dschriem@ucalgary.ca
Publications
Tel: (403) 210-3811
Fax: (403) 220 0834
John K. Chik, David C. Schriemer, 2003, “Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass
Spectrometry of Actin in Various Biochemical Contexts”, Journal of Molecular Biology,
334, 373-385.
Yaping Yu, Wei Wang, Qi Ding, Ruiquiong Ye, Dawn Chen, Dennis Merkle, David C.
Schriemer, Katheryn Meek, Susan Lees-Miller, 2003 “DNA-PK Phosphorylation Sites in
XRCC4 are Not Required for Survival After Radiation or for V(D)J Recombination”,
DNA Repair, 2, 1239-1252.
Nora W.C. Chan, Darren F. Lewis, Philip J. Rosner, Michele A. Kelly, David C.
Schriemer, 2003, “FAC-MS Assay Technology for Multiple Stages of Drug Discovery:
Applications of a Chromatographic Biosensor”, Analytical
Biochemistry, 319, 1-12.
Gordon W. Slysz, David C. Schriemer, 2003, “On-column digestion of proteins in
aqueous-organic solvents”, Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 17, 10441050.
Yi Zhang, Marjorie Fournier, Janine D. Wildschut, Alain Dolla, Johanna K. Voordouw,
David C. Schriemer, Gerrit Voordouw, 2003, “Function of oxygen resistance proteins in
the anaerobic, sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough”,
Journal of Bacteriology, 185, 71-79.
Grant Support
ACB Pilot Project Grant
Alberta Ingenuity Fund
Alberta Ingenuity Fund
Personnel
Dominic Orsler
Ella Ng
Sheena Lambert
Carey Sheu
CJ Baker
Andrea Sullivan
Dr. John Chik
New Approaches for the
Discovery and MolecularLevel Characterization of
Anti-Mitotic
The Development of
Advanced Biomolecular
Interaction Analysis Tools
for the Post-Genomic Era
Co-principal investigator,
Alberta Centre for
Carbohydrate Science
2003-2004
$34,500
2002-2004
$44,000 awarded July 2003
2002-2007
$200,000 awarded Sept.
2003
PhD, Manager, Southern Alberta Mass Spectrometry
Centre
MSc, Mass Spectrometrist
BSc, Junior Technician
MSc, Senior Technician
MSc, Computer Scientist/Bioinformatics
BSc, Junior Technician
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Administrative Assistant
Tiz Reiter
Frans A. van der Hoorn - PhD (Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen,
The Netherlands); Professor, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Adjunct
Professor, Department of Oncology; Associate Dean (Graduate Science Education);
Associate Dean (Medicine), Faculty of Graduate Studies; Graduate Coordinator,
Biomedical Technology, Faculty of Medicine;
fvdhoorn@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 220-3323
Fax: (403) 283 8727
Publications
Zarsky, H.A., Tarnasky, H.A., Cheng. M. and Van der Hoorn, F.A. (2003) Novel RING
finger protein OIP1 binds to conserved amino acid repeats in sperm tail protein ODF1.
Biol. Reprod., 68, 543 - 552.
Peer reviewed (impact factor 3.7)
Sadek, C.M., Jiménez, A., Kieselbach, T., Nord, M., Davis, E.C., Spyrou, G., Gustafsson,
J.A., Oko, R., van der Hoorn, F.A. and Miranda-Vizuete, A. (2003) Characterization of
human thioredoxin-like 2 (Txl-2), a novel microtubule-binding thioredoxin. J. Biol.
Chem., 278, 13133 - 13142.
Peer reviewed (impact factor 6.7)
Bhullar, B., Zhang, Y., Junco, A., Oko, R. and Van der Hoorn, F.A. (2003) Association
of Kinesin light chain with Outer dense fibers in a microtubule-independent fashion. J.
Biol. Chem., 278, 16159 - 16168.
Peer reviewed (impact factor 6.7)
Grant Support
Canadian Institutes for
Health Research
Canadian Institutes for
Health Research
Canadian Institutes for
Health Research
Canadian Institutes for
Health Research
STEP program support
Personnel
Y. Ruan
Y. Zhang
C. Fitzgerald
Y. ZhanG
Dr. R. Oko
H. Tarnasky
M. Cheng
S. Zaman
K. Dong
K. Dong
M.H. Modarressi
Janis Querido
Motor molecules in
spermatogenesis
Motor molecules in
spermatogenesis
Protein interactions in
sperm tails
Co-investigator,
Strategic Training Program
Grant, Translational Cancer
Research
Summerstudentship Award
(K. Dong), Analysis of
sperm tail proteins
1999-2003
$59,224 per annum
2003-2008
$32,365 per annum
2000-2005
$163,128 per annum
2003-2008
$150,000 per annum
3400
Ph.D.
Ph.D.
M.Sc.
Ph.D.
Visiting Professor
Research Technician (part-time)
Lab Manager, Research Technician
Technician
summerstudent
High School Science Enrichment Program high school student
MD, PhD
Administrative Assistant
David M. Waisman - Ph.D. (University of Manitoba); Professor, Department of
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine
waiseman@ucalgary.ca
Tel: (403) 220 3022
Fax:
(403) 270 0737
Publications
Choi, K-S., Fogg, D.K., Yoon, C.-S. and Waisman, D.M. (2003) P11 Regulates
Extracellular Plasmin Production and Invasiveness of HT1080 Fibrosarcoma Cells.
FASEB J. 17, 235-246.
Hirasawa, K., Nishikawa, S. G., Norman, K. L., Coffey, M. C., Thompson, B. G., Yoon,
C. S., Waisman, D. M., and Lee, P. W. (2003) Systemic reovirus therapy of metastatic
cancer in immune-competent mice. Cancer Res. 63, 348-353.
MacLeod, T.J., Kwon, M., Filipenko, N.R., and Waisman, D.M. (2003) Phospholipidassociated annexin A2-S100A10 heterotetramer and its subunits:Characterization of the
interaction with tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen and plasmin. J. Biol. Chem.
278, 25577-25584.
Le, D.M., Besson A., Fogg, D.K., Choi, K.S., Waisman, D.M., Goodyer, C.G.,
Rewcastle, B., and Yong, V.W. (2003) Exploitation of astrocytes by glioma cells to
facilitate invasiveness: a mechanism involving matrix metalloproteinase-2 and the
urokinase-type plasminogen activator-plasmin cascade. J Neurosci. 23, 4034-43.
Zhang, L., Fogg, D.K. and Waisman, D.M. (2003) RNA Interference-mediated silencing
of the S100A10 gene attenuates plasmin generation and invasiveness of Colo 222
colorectal cancer cells. J. Biol. Chem. epublished October 20.
Filipenko, N., MacLeod, T., Yoon, C.-S., and Waisman, D. M. (2003) Annexin A2 is a
novel RNA-binding protein. J. Biol. Chem. epublished December 11, 2003.
Caplan, J.F., Filipenko, N.R., Fitzpatrick, S.L. and Waisman, D.M. The Regulation of
Annexin A2 by Reversible Glutathionylation. Journal of Biological Chemistry. published
Dec. 11, 2003.
Grant Support
National Institutes of Health Plasminogen Regulation by
Annexin II Tetramer
CIHR
Regulation of Angiostatin
Formation by Annexin II
Tetramer
Alberta Heart and Stroke
Regulation of Fibrinolysis
Foundation
by Annexin II Tetramer
Personnel
Mr. Darin Fog
Mr. Nolan Filipenko
Ms. Mijung Kwon
Mr. Libo Zhang
Mr. Yi Zhang
Dr. Chang-Soon Yoon
Vi Sommerfeld
1998-2003
$ 240,640 per annum
04/2002 – 04/2007
$ 145,080 per annum
07-2003 – 07-2006
$ 55,000 per annum
PhD, Student
PhD, Student
PhD, Student
MSc Student
PhD student
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Administrative Assistant
Dallan Young - PhD (University of Utah); Professor, Departments of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine
dallan@ucalgayr.ab.ca
Tel: (403) 220 3030
Fax: (403) 283 8782
Publications
Huang, T. Y., N. A. Markley, and D. Young. “Nak1, an essential germinal center (GC)
kinase regulates cell morphology and growth in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.” J. Biol.
Chem. 278:991-997.
Grant Support
Medical Research Council
Investigation of the Mkh1
signaling pathway in fission
yeast.
National Cancer Institute of The functions of yeast
Canada
proteins related to the
human p33ING1 tumor
suppressor
National Cancer Institute of The role of yeast Ing1Canada
related proteins in
chromatin modification and
gene expression
Medical Research Council
Investigation of the role of
Pnk1 in DNA repair in
fission yeast
Personnel
Timothy Huang
Chad Johnston
Tao Qi
Ruth Malus
1999/04- 2003/03
$352,255
2000/07 - 2003/06
$309,462
2003/07- 2007/06
$114,249 this year
2002/10- 2004/09
Principle Investigator
$73,435 this year
Ph.D. candidate
M.Sc. candidate
M.Sc. candidate
Administrative Assistant
Faculty who have Presented Internationally
Cairncross JG, Invited lecture: “Managing glioma in the molecular era” Frontiers in Clinical
Neuroscience Plenary Lecture. American Academy of Neurology, Honolulu, Hawaii, April 2003.
Cairncross JG, Invited lecture: “Managing glioma in the molecular era” American Society of
Therapeutic Radiation Oncology, Salt Lake City, Utah, October 2003.
Riabwol KT, ARCR Sam Walton Research Forum, Little Rock, AR “Function of the ING1
proteins in Programmed Cell Death & Aging” March 3, 2003.
Riabwol KT, SLU Cancer Center Research Seminar, St. Louis, MO “Function of the ING1
Tumor Suppressor in Cancer & Aging” March 5, 2003.
Robbins SM, Invited speaker at the 4th International Symposium on Receptor Mechanisms,
Signal Transduction and Drug Effects, Fukui, Japan. Talk entitled “Distinct
compartmentalization of transmembrane and GP1-anchored ephrins within lipid rafts”. May 22,
2003
David C. Schriemer, Guest Lecturer at Pfizer Global Research – Groton CT, June 4, 2003.
Waisman DM, Role of Annexin II Heterotetramer in Tumor Growth and Invasiveness
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Rice University, November 17, 2003.
Waisman DM, Regulation of Cancer Cell Proteinases by S100A10 Department of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, November 24, 2003.
van der Hoorn FA, Kinesin light chain3 can cluster mitochondria. XVII North American Testis
Workshop, Phoenix, AZ, March 2003.
van der Hoorn FA, Kinesin light chain3 can cluster mitochondria. 36th Annual Meeting of the
Society for the Study of Reproduction, July 2003, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Significant Publications
Vieyra DS, Toyama T, Muzik H, Brasher PMA, Johnston RN, Riabowol K, Forsyth
PA. The candidate tumor suppressor gene ING1 in human brain tumours.. Clinical
Cancer Research December 2003
(Impact Factor 5.991)
Vieyra D, Senger DL, Toyama T, Muzik H, Brasher PMA, Johnston RN, Riabowol K,
Forsyth PF. (2003) Altered subcellular localization and low frequency of mutations of
ING1 in human brain tumors. Clin Canc Res 9: 5952-5961.
(Impact Factor 5.991)
Berardi, P., Meyyappan, M., Riabwol, K. – A Novel Transcriptional Inhibitory Element
in the 5’-untranslated Region of the Cyclin D1 Gene Contributes to Senescence-induced
Gene Expression. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 7510-7519, 2003
(Impact Factor 6.696)
Kataoka, H., Bonnefind, P., Vieyra, D., Feng, X., Hara, Y., Miura, Y., Nakabayashi, H.,
Joh, T., Vaziri, H., Harris, C., Riabowol, K. – ING1 Represses Transcription in Direct
DNA Binding and Through Effects on p53. Cancer Research 63: 5785-5792, 2003.
(Impact Factor 8.318)
Ridyard, M.S., Robbins, S.M. – Fibroblast growth factor-2 induced signaling through
lipid raft associated Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Substrate-2 (FRS2). J. Biol.
Chem. 278: 13803-13809, 2003.
(Impact Factor 6.696)
John K. Chik, David C. Schriemer, 2003, “Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass
Spectrometry of Actin in Various Biochemical Contexts”, Journal of Molecular Biology,
334, 373-385.
(Impact Factor 5.359)
Sadek, C.M., Jiménez, A., Kieselbach, T., Nord, M., Davis, E.C., Spyrou, G., Gustafsson,
J.A., Oko, R., van der Hoorn, F.A. and Miranda-Vizuete, A. (2003) Characterization of
human thioredoxin-like 2 (Txl-2), a novel microtubule-binding thioredoxin. J. Biol.
Chem., 278, 13133 - 13142.
Peer reviewed
(Impact factor 6.696)
Bhullar, B., Zhang, Y., Junco, A., Oko, R., van der Hoorn, F.A. – Association of
Kinesin light chain with Outer dense fibers in a microtubule-independent fashion. J. Biol.
Chem. 278:16159-16168, 2003
(Impact Factor 6.696)
Choi, K.S., Fogg, D.K., Yoon, C.S., Waisman, D.M. – P11 Regulates Extracellular
Plasmin Production and Invasiveness of HT1080 Fibrosarcoma Cells. FASEB J. 17:
235-246, 2003
(Impact Factor 7.252)
MacLeod, T.J., Kwon, M., Filipenko, N.R., Waisman, D.M. – Phospholipid-associated
annexin A2-S100A10 heterotetramer and its subunits: Characterization of the interaction
with tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen and and plasmin. J. Biol. Chem. 278:
25577-25584, 2003
(Impact Factor 6.696)
Zhang, L., Fogg, D.K. and Waisman, D.M. - RNA Interference-mediated silencing of the
S100A10 gene attenuates plasmin generation and invasiveness of Colo 222 colorectal
cancer cells. J. Biol. Chem. epublished October 20, 2003.
(Impact Factor 6.696)
Filipenko, N., MacLeod, T., Yoon, C.-S., and Waisman, D. M. - Annexin A2 is a novel
RNA-binding protein. J. Biol. Chem. epublished December 11, 2003.
(Impact Factor 6.696)
Caplan, J.F., Filipenko, N.R., Fitzpatrick, S.L. and Waisman, D.M. - The Regulation of
Annexin A2 by Reversible Glutathionylation. J. Biol. Chem. epublished Dec. 11, 2003.
(Impact Factor 6.696)
Huang, T. Y., N. A. Markley, and D. Young. “Nak1, an essential germinal center (GC)
kinase regulates cell morphology and growth in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.” J. Biol.
Chem. 278:991-997.
(Impact Factor 6.696)