Update from the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Biome Project

UPDATE FROM THE

In the fight against cancer, research is our most powerful weapon. Jefferson faculty at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center have literally written the first book for patients on prostate cancer (see page 23), developed and published the first paper describing the design of a multidisciplinary clinic for prostate cancer (see page 8), and they are continuing to rewrite the medical literature with further research and new discoveries. The Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Biome Project (PPCBP) is the newest chapter in our prostate cancer research.

This project is a long-term, multi-disciplinary, multiinstitutional collaboration that studies the region’s prostatecancer biome, the biological-sociological-psychological ecosystem where it flourishes. The project partners with top cancer centers, hospitals, and universities in the Philadelphia region to collect and process biospecimens and patient/ population data. Patients are tracked over years to understand the many factors that predict outcomes in the prostate cancer biome. The data will be used to develop new strategies to prevent, diagnose, and treat the disease, leading to better outcomes for years to come. The Biome is made possible by a generous philanthropic family gift. The overall direction of the program is the responsibility of Dr. Kevin Kelly Director, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology and Associate Director of Clinical Research, SKCC and Dr. Leonard Gomella, Chair Department of Urology and Senior Director for Clinical Affairs, SKCC in collaboration with the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Biome Board of Directors.

Annual Advisory Board Meeting

The PPCBP held its annual board in the fall of 2021 to review impressive accomplishments from completed pilot projects, new pilot projects on the horizon, advancements in the SKCC Biorepository, and exciting future directions. Dr. Steve Klasko, Jefferson President, joined the meeting to thank the Board members for their service and support of the Biome project. He also discussed Jefferson’s exciting future plan such as the Specialty Care Pavilion and the newly announced Caroline Kimmel Biomedical Research Building, both that will enhance the future impact and importance of the Biome project.

The Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Biome Project (PPCBP) is the newest chapter in our prostate cancer research.

Drs. Kevin Kelly and Leonard Gomella presenting to the PPCBP board members during a virtual fall meeting.

COMING SOON:

MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND ARTICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AWARDS The Phialdelphia Prostate Cancer Biome Project will launch a new multidisciplinary request for applications in early 2022. These new awards will focus on multidisciplinary team science.

Stay tuned for award detail updates on the website: www.jefferson.edu/ givebiomeproject

GRANT APPLICATION INFORMATION To apply for a Biome Award and for further details, access the Jefferson InfoReady system: www.jefferson.infoready4. com/ #competitionDetail/1817617

Contact Shannon (Fields) Cremin, PPCBP Project Director, with any grant or research-related questions at sxf068@jefferson.edu or 215.955.8875.

PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT INFORMATION To learn more about how philanthropic support moves the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Biome Project ahead and how you can help, contact Emma Laverty, Assistant Vice Presindet of Development at emma. laverty@jefferson.edu or 215.503.8679.

MORE ONLINE Check out the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Biome Project website to learn more about ongoing projects. www.jefferson.edu/ givebiomeproject

In 2020, backed by the PPCBP, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Biorepository acquired 2,009 whole mount prostate cases spanning from 1989 to 2009. A whole mount is a wax tissue block containing an entire prostate. This method preserves the entire specimen, which is extremely valuable for future research efforts including diagnostic testing and drug development.

Throughout 2021, the SKCC Translational Research Group & Biorepository has worked on organizing and annotating these valuable specimens under an ongoing IRB protocol. The team now estimates the full collection is up to 30,000 individual formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks. The prostate whole mounts are labeled with 2D barcodes, stored in drawers, and entered into the SKCC Biorepository database for high-tech specimen tracking. The SKCC Biorepository looks forward to completing catalog efforts on this vast collection in 2022. In the fall of 2021 in collaboration with the Department of Urology, we completed archiving the medical records of nearly 1700 of the whole mounts. This information will be de-identified by removing all personal health information and annotated with the matching barcoded prostate samples. This will provide an additional powerful resource to advance prostate cancer research.

Wax tissue blocks each containing an entire prostate will serve as a valuable resource for prostate cancer research.

Drawer stacks located in the SKCC Biorepository that hold thousands of paraffin embedded prostates.

The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center Biorepository leadership responsible for overseeing the Biome prostate samples. From left to right: Dr. J. Ryan Mark, Clinical Director SKCC Biorepository, Danielle Wentworth, MS, Laboratory Manager, Shannon (Fields) Cremin, Biome Project Manager and Dr. Haifeng Yang, Biorepository Laboratory Director.

Rolling Pilot Award Program Continues into 2022

The PPCBP is continuing the Rolling Pilot Program for a second year. These awards are intended for Thomas Jefferson University\ Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center’s basic, clinical and population-based researchers in collaboration with investigators across the greater Philadelphia region and beyond to develop innovative solutions that will prevent, delay, or eradicate prostate cancer in men.

Pilot applications are reviewed and awarded on a quarterly basis. Since launching in 2019, the Biome Project has received 22 applications and funded 13 pilot awards in the clinical, basic, and population science arenas. In 2021, the PPCBP’s first six awarded investigators completed their pilot projects. Follow this link www.Jefferson.edu/ givebiomeproject to see updated videos on their progress and future research goals.

CURRENT ROLLING PILOT PROJECTS

"Targeting Sigma1 to Restrict Lipid Uptake in the Prostate Tumor Microenvironment” by Dr. Felix Kim (Jefferson)

"AR-Negative Cancer Cells and IL-1beta in Skeletal Metastasis” by Dr. Alessandro Fatatis (Drexel)

"Organization of Whole Mount Prostate Cancer Cohort from African American and European American men at Thomas Jefferson University” by Dr. Priti Lal (Penn)

“VPAC Targeted Cu-67-TP3805 Theranostic for Prostate Cancer” by Drs. Robert Den, Mathew Thakur and Dr. Edouard Trabulsi (Jefferson)

"Targeting the AlphaVBeta3 integrin in Neuroendocrine Prostate cancer” by Dr. Lucia Languino (Jefferson)

"Study of the Nucleoporin-Chk1 axis in lethal prostate cancer” by Dr. Veronica Rodriguez-Bravo (Jefferson)

ROLLING PILOT AWARD SUMMARY

The awards will be one (1) year in duration and will provide funding of $50,000 to $150,000 depending on the innovation of the application. Principle Investigator must be a member of Jefferson University, SKCC or a SKCC consortium member. Co-investigators outside of Jefferson University\SKCC are strongly encouraged. Funded Pilot Awardees are asked to submit six-month and final progress reports. Applications for the Pilot Awards will be accepted on a rolling basis. Submitted applications will enter a rolling review process to determine funding.

APPLICATION REVIEW SCHEDULE (2021-2022)

Reviews at Quarter End (deadline) December 31, 2021 March 31, 2022 June 30, 2022 September 30, 2022 December 30, 2022 Estimated Funding Date January 28, 2022 April 29, 2022 July 29, 2022 October 31, 2022 January 31, 2023