SIU School of Medicine

Research at Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU

The Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at SIU is involved with many research studies conducted by our researchers as well as studies conducted at the hospitals within the Medical District: Memorial Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital. SCI is a partner in the Central Illinois Community Clinical Oncology Program (CICCOP) studies. Many of the studies are nationally recognized. Research is funded by many sources. They include the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Army, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Susan G. Komen Foundation, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and other private foundations.

NIH Funded Study of Exercise in Breast Cancer Patients Underway at SIU Medical School

Women who have had breast cancer are being recruited by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for a study to determine the benefits of a program to encourage breast cancer patients to exercise.

" Exercise appears to improve the overall well-being of breast cancer patients and may reduce fatigue, the tired feeling that some breast cancer patients have during and after treatment."

Exercise appears to improve the overall well-being of breast cancer patients and may reduce fatigue, the tired feeling that some breast cancer patients have during and after treatment. It also may help reduce stress levels. “The study will evaluate whether regular exercise improves overall health and quality of life for breast cancer survivors," said Dr. Laura Q. Rogers, associate professor of internal medicine at SIU who is directing the study.
Women age 18 to 70, who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are able and willing to start an exercise program are being sought. The study measures the benefits of a three-month program which will involve 12 supervised exercise sessions, home exercise sessions and six group meetings. Women will be in the study for 12 months with about half being assigned to the exercise program. There is no charge to the participants for the program and tests related to the study, which is currently sponsored by NIH. If you are interested in participating in the study, call 217-545-7750 or 217-545-0592, weekdays, or e-mail: BEATcancer@siumed.edu.
Dr. Rogers is the principal investigator of a two-year grant from SCI and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) which supports her research on how exercise changes the markers of inflammation, the level of fatigue and sleep patterns in breast cancer patients. The ABLE study is continuing to recruit new participants. Those who are interested can obtain more information by contacting the numbers listed above.

American Ginseng Root in Breast Cancer Study

Ginseng has been used for centuries as a cure all and in more recent years an increasing amount

American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the ivy family, commonly used as Chinese or herbal medicine. It is native to eastern North America, though it is also cultivated in places such as China.

of research has been conducted hoping to substantiate the many health claims of this herbal product. Ginseng, sold as a dietary supplement, has a wide array of purported uses, including: improved psychological function, exercise performance, immune function, etc. Studies indicate that ginsenosides, the components within ginseng root, are responsible for its many purported effects, including anti-tumor activity.
Dr. Laura L. Murphy of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Department of Physiology and Dr. Elizabeth Peralta Department of Surgery have collaborated to study the effects of a new drug entity, LEAG (gelatin encapsulated standardized water-extract of American Ginseng root) in breast cancer.
The study entitled, A Phase II Biomarker Trial of Gelatin Encapsulated Extract of American Ginseng Root (LEAG) in Breast Cancer is an Investigator Initiated Phase II biomarker trial. The study’s primary objective is to analyze the serum and in vivo tissue biomarker response of breast cancer tumor and surrounding normal breast epithelial cells to preoperative treatment with LEAG. A total of 25 to 50 female patients age 18 and over with a new diagnosis of breast cancer scheduled to undergo surgical intervention will be eligible. Enrollment is active and ongoing at this time.

Breast Cancer Research: Cellular Research and Beyond

As part of its development, the Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield has successfully recruited new research faculty members to join current faculty and bolster the amount of cancer research being done locally. The SIU researchers are studying a variety of cancers and concentrating on translational research which can be moved more quickly from the research laboratory to the patient’s bedside.
SIU researchers have several million dollars available for breast cancer research. Some of the funding is available over the course of several years to facilitate progression of successful research. Other grant funds are available for a limited period of time and may be considered “seed” money used to begin the initial phase of a research project.
Here are some examples of cancer research related to breast cancer, which may lead to the development of new therapies, that are currently underway at SIU School of Medicine --

Daotai Nie, Ph.D., assistant professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology and a member of the SCI research team, is the principal investigator for two breast cancer studies. Funding for the research was granted from the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health through the National Cancer Institute. The largest study will examine if the movement of breast cancer cells to other parts of the body can be blocked which would decrease or prevent metastasis. The second research project examines multidrug resistance in breast cancer and is seeking to identify cell factors that contribute to the development of drug resistance. Dr. Yakun Chen is assisting with the second research project.
Yin-Yuan Mo, Ph.D., associate professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology and a member of the SCI research team, is the principal investigator for three studies examining various aspects of microRNA molecules and their role in breast cancer. Genetic selection of microRNA, the relationship of microRNA and estrogen, and transfer of microRNA contributing to metastasis are projects funded by the Department of Defense. The fourth study is funded by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It also studies the effects of microRNA and estrogen combined with the use of Tamoxifen.
Dr. Elizabeth Peralta, associate professor of surgery, is studying an estrogen receptor, GPR30, which is believed to stimulate cancer cell growth and make tumors more resistant to chemotherapy. The receptor has been found in young women and blacks who have a type of breast cancer that is difficult to treat. Funding is provided through the William E. McElroy Charitable Foundation.
Sophia Ran, Ph.D., assistant professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology and member of the SCI research team, is the principal investigator for several research projects associated with VEGF-A. This research is aimed at finding a mechanism to block production of blood vessels that feed new cancers or metastasizing tumors. She has two research projects evaluating metastatic triple negative breast cancers. Funding for the research projects is provided by the National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute, William E. McElroy Charitable Foundation and Abraxis Bioscience LLC.
Kounosuke Watabe, Ph.D., professor of medical microbiology, immunology and cell biology and member of the SCI research team, is the principal investigator for two grants from the Department of Defense. One study is studying how the metastatic cells originate and how they invade other cells. The intent of the research is to develop therapeutic measures for metastatic breast cancer. The second study is researching how microRNA is responsible for development of DCIS.
Eiji Furuta, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow, working with Dr. Watabe received funding from the Susan G. Komen Foundation to study how an edible plant that grows in Asia, Cacalia delphinifolia, can be used to target the fatty acid synthases gene and block the gene expression to stop the growth of breast cancer tumors.
Krishna Rao, MD is a medical oncologist with the department of Internal Medicine at the Simmons Cancer Institute. He has two research projects funded by the William E. McElroy Charitable Foundation and an SIU Clinician Scientist Program Award. The research involves a specific protein, rab25, in the development of breast cancer. The study also looks at rab25 in combination with VEGFR-1 and hormone receptors.
Randolph Elble, PhD, is and active researcher at Simmons Cancer Institute. He received internal funding from SIU for a one year project to study triple negative breast cancers.

The Simmons Cancer Institute is focusing SIU’s efforts in cancer research, physician and public education, and treatment for patients from across central and southern Illinois. The SCI mission is to serve the people of central and southern Illinois by addressing their present and future cancer care needs through medical education, biomedical research and patient service. Its Web site is www.siumed.edu/cancer and its main phone number is 217-545-6000.