2016 RESEARCH REPORT

i PB 2016 FAST FACTS BC Cancer Agency Research

52 full-time scientists 124 clinical investigators 149 health professionals

341 research papers 6 new technology licensing 303 active clinical trials published agreements signed

99.3 million Construction of the Conconi Family 317 patients in research funding Immunotherapy Lab completed participated in the POG Program

4 researchers named among ASCENDE-RT clinical trial World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 416 trainees completed after 14 years 3 A message from Dr. François Bénard, Available province-wide: a Vice President, Research more personalized approach for the analysis of myeloid 4 A message from Sarah Roth, cancers and solid tumours President & CEO, BC Cancer Foundation 18

Celebrating the Epigenomics: BC Cancer Agency’s leadership of women leadership role in a coordinated in cancer research publication release with the International 5 Human Epigenome Consortium project 22

Personalized treatment for Liquid biopsy for lymphoid cancers is a daily reality patients with advanced for patients in British Columbia prostate cancer 12 27

HIGHLIGHTS:

10 Distinguishing pseudo-metastasis 20 Dr. Poul H. Sorensen awarded 25 Dr. Sohrab Shah: UBC Killam from metastasis in synchronous the Canadian Cancer Society Research Prize winner endometrial and ovarian cancers Robert L. Noble Prize 28 Quantitative proteome profiling: 11 Autophagy and breast cancer 21 PANCREOX: Results of a BC Cancer development of the subtypes Agency-led Canadian phase III clinical SP3-CTP technology trial in advanced pancreatic cancer 16 Successes in commercialization: 29 Understanding genetic characteristics Celator, Aquinox and ARTMS 24 Dr. Sam Aparicio named of super seniors: exceptionally Fellow of the Royal Society healthy individuals over the age of 85 17 Completion of the ASCENDE-RT clinical trial

A message from Dr. François Bénard, Vice President, Research

esearch has always been an integral complementary expertise are very effective when part of the BC Cancer Agency. As the it comes to tackling problems together. Now is the Cancer research is evolving R Agency’s new vice president of Research, time to start recruiting the next generation of sci- rapidly. We have the my goal is to embed research even more deeply entists, who can be mentored by our experts and ability to learn from our into the fabric of daily work at the BC Cancer then bring us to the next level of cancer research. Agency. By increasing the integration of our cli- patients and generate BC Cancer Agency’s most powerful nicians and researchers, we can learn more from new knowledge and new opportunity: the ability to view cancer on a our patients, be more efficient with research treatments. population-wide basis. We are the organization funding and accelerate our research progress. that cares for all the cancer patients in British What sets BC Cancer Agency research apart: Columbia over the long term, which is extremely our strong sense of community and a common powerful from a research perspective. Although purpose. This spirit of collegiality and coopera- it will be a challenge, we need to improve the tion extends to our research partners at the uni- interaction between the population-based data versities, hospitals and health research institutes. sets and the genomic infrastructure. I hope to strengthen and grow these relation- Cancer research is evolving rapidly. We have the ships so that we can increase collaboration. ability to learn from our patients and generate Our biggest strength: our fantastic research- new knowledge and new treatments. We now ers, many who are pioneers in their fields. We need to bring our research back into the clinic so are learning about the value of teamwork, and that we can help our patients do even better. This how people with very specialized but highly is what I am hoping to achieve.

3 PB A message from Sarah Roth, President & CEO, BC Cancer Foundation

he BC Cancer Foundation is proud treatment options for a wide range to be the largest charitable funder of of cancers. Three hundred and T cancer research in BC, because we see seventeen patients took part in the the difference breakthroughs in the lab make in Personalized Onco-Genomics— the lives of cancer patients each day: Two new POG—Program, providing a targeted therapies are in the clinic, specific to the tailored approach for their care deadliest forms of breast and prostate cancer. while building knowledge into the This is a direct result of donor support fuelling genetic factors that drive individ- drug development in our labs. The construction ual cancers. We invite you to learn of the Conconi Family Immunotherapy Lab was more at bccancerfoundation.com completed to catapult T Cell Therapy research into patient trials to bring promising new

4 PB The BC Cancer Agency celebrates just a few of our many outstanding women and their research achievements and awards in 2016.

omen in science continues to be an important topic of discussion, Celebrating the Leadership of W with a heightened awareness that relatively few women proceed from doctoral Women in Cancer Research studies to senior positions in academia or biotech. The BC Cancer Agency is proud of our Dr. Connie Eaves is an also a professor in the Department of Medical many outstanding women scientists who work internationally recog- Genetics at the University of British Columbia, in cancer research. They have risen to be stars nized leader in normal a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a in their respective fields, have major scientific and cancer stem cell corresponding fellow of the Royal Society of and administrative leadership roles and serve as research and a distin- Edinburgh. In 2016, Dr. Eaves was awarded important mentors and role models for the next guished scientist in the the 2016 Dr. Chew Wei MBBS [HK] FRCOG generation of female scientists. Terry Fox Laboratory at the BC Cancer Agency. [ENG] Memorial Prize in Cancer Research. The BC Cancer Agency celebrates just a few of She was a cofounder and former director of the This is arguably the most prestigious award our many outstanding women and their research Terry Fox Laboratory and the former vice presi- for cancer research in Canada, and honours a achievements and awards in 2016. dent, Research of the BC Cancer Agency. She is Canadian physician or scientist who has made

5 PB outstanding contributions to in cultivating future leaders in the In 2016, Dr. Mager’s laborato- agent, I-EPI-002, that may be improving the treatment of cancer. field, as her support and mentor- ry demonstrated that IFR5, or useful for prognosis or selection This award acknowledges her dis- ship have launched the careers of Interferon regulatory factor 5, a key of treatment options for advanced tinguished record of discovery and many BC Cancer Agency research- transcription factor in Hodgkin prostate cancers that are resistant seminal contributions to under- ers, as well as others who have gone lymphoma, is driven by an ancient to current treatments. In July 2016, standing normal and cancer stem on to major scientific leadership retroviral promoter. In addition to they published their findings in cells of the blood and mammary positions around the world. research, Dr. Mager has mentored the journal JCI insight. I-EPI-002 many other scientific trainees, is an analogue of EPI-506, a gland, and their application to Dr. Dixie Mager, distinguished both in her own laboratory and first-in-class prostate cancer drug clinical advances. The award also scientist, Terry Fox Laboratory, is as a past Chair of the Medical candidate brought to clinical trials celebrates her remarkable ability in a pioneer Genetics Graduate Program at the by her research group at the BC promoting research partnerships and an University of British Columbia. Cancer Agency the previous year. fostering collaborative cancer internation- Her research is supported by the Dr. Sadar’s work is supported by research advances and their clinical al leader Natural Sciences and Engineering the BC Cancer Foundation and implementation. Importantly, the in the field Research Council of Canada, National Cancer Institute/National award also speaks to her success of study Canadian Cancer Society Research Institutes of Health, USA. focused Institute and Canadian Institutes of on a form of genetic material Dr. Xiaoyan Jiang, distinguished In 2016, Dr. Health Research. Mager’s laboratory derived from ancient retroviruses scientist, Terry Fox Laboratory, that is now recognized as playing Dr. Marianne Sadar, distinguished is working demonstrated that important roles in a wide range scientist, Michael Smith Genome to identify IFR5, or Interferon of cancers including lymphomas. Sciences molecules regulatory factor 5, Her laboratory developed a novel Centre, and and path- a key transcription strategy to identify gene expres- her collabo- ways leading factor in Hodgkin sion abnormalities, and has used rators at the to new, lymphoma, is this method to study the role of BC Cancer rationally driven by an ancient transcriptional promoters - that Agency and designed, more effective and less retroviral promoter. drive gene expression - in cancers. UBC identified a novel imaging toxic, personalized molecularly

6 PB targeted therapies. Her work focus- embryonic Natural Sciences and Engineering es on understanding the molecular genes are Research Council of Canada and As the leader of the mechanisms of several newly reactivated the Heart & Stroke Foundation. BC Cancer Agency identified cancer driver genes as in cancer. Mary L. McBride distinguished gene modeling potential therapeutic targets, and In 2016, she scientist, Cancer Control Research, core, Dr. Hoodless to develop new predictive and identi- BC Cancer is implementing prognostic tests and improved fied the Agency. CRISPR-Cas9 gene treatments for human leukemia. In Hippo signaling pathway as part This 2016, she was invited to present her of the switch between embryonic editing techniques, year Ms. which allow precise seminal work in several national and adult gene expression in the McBride and international conferences, liver, and is now studying how gene alterations to was part be made in many including as keynote speaker at the the epigenetic and biochemical of a multi-province team that 16th Annual McGill Biomedical mechanisms involved in this examined gaps in quality and coor- different types of Graduate Conference in Montreal, pathway relate to cancer. In 2016, dination of care between oncology cells. where she received her PhD in she also led research initiatives and primary care throughout 1995. Dr. Jiang is not only involved relevant to hematologic, pancreatic the cancer care continuum. Her patients. The work was published in many key scientific collabora- and ovarian cancer. As the leader BC Cancer Agency collaborators in the Canadian Family Physician tions but has mentored numerous of the BC Cancer Agency gene included Dongdong Li and Yang in October of 2016. Her work students who have gone on to modeling core, Dr. Hoodless is im- Zhang. The study uses available was supported by the Canadian prominent positions in academia plementing CRISPR-Cas9 gene data on British Columbian cancer Institutes of Health Research. and biotech, and been the lead col- editing techniques, which allow patients to assess key aspects of the Dr. Barbara Melosky, medical laborator on high profile research precise gene alterations to be made delivery of quality medical care oncologist, BC Cancer Agency. with major drug companies. in many different types of cells. Her – defined as effective, appropri- work is supported by Canadian In 2016, the results of the Pan Dr. Pamela Hoodless, distin- ate, efficient, timely, accessible, Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Rash Trial were pub- guished scientist, Terry Fox equitable and safe - from diagnosis Cancer Research Society, Canadian lished in the prestigious Journal of Laboratory, is a developmental bi- to end of life. The goal of the proj- Foundation of Innovation, the Clinical Oncology. Dr. Melosky was ologist working to understand how ect is to improve care for cancer the principal investigator of the

7 PB Canada- at the BC Cancer Agency. The discovered three genetic mutations Dr. Cathie Garnis, senior scientist, wide intention was to improve referral in a known cancer susceptibility Integrative Oncology Department, randomized practices, timelines and the avail- gene called APC, which causes a BC Cancer Agency Research cancer ability of molecular testing. Having rare gastric condition called gastric Centre, investigates molecular trial, which a lung cancer nurse navigator at adenocarcinoma and proximal profiles of demon- the BC Cancer Agency improved polyposis of the stomach (GAPPS). early-stage strated that preventing or treating care for patients by increasing the This condition is a variant of head skin rash in patients being treated proportion of patients receiving Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and neck for metastatic lung cancer did not systemic treatment, shortening the (FAP) and can lead to gastric can- cancers. In compromise the efficacy of the time to treatment and increas- cer. The discovery has important 2016 she targeted therapy and should be ing the rate of molecular testing implications for the potential gas- published considered for all patients. Other and the number of patients with tric cancer risk in FAP patients and a paper in the journal Genes, BC Cancer Agency investigators molecular testing results available for colon cancer risk in families Chromosomes and Cancer, which who were involved in this study at time of initial consultation. A identified as having GAPPS. As a reported that the EYA4 gene may included Drs. Cheryl Ho, Nevin framework for implementing nurse result, the BC Cancer Agency now function as a “tumour suppressor” Murray, Sophie Sun and Janessa navigators at other institutions was offers clinical genetic testing for gene, with a role in preventing the Laskin. also developed. This work was pub- families presenting with GAPPS development of oral cancer. She lished in the Current Oncology and to help them understand their risk found that the gene is turned off in Dr. Cheryl Ho, medical oncologist, Journal of Oncology Practice. for gastric cancer. The finding was pre-cancer cells through epigenetic specializes in lung and head and published in the May 2016 issue modification. Her lab is further neck cancer. Dr. Kasmintan Schrader, from of American Journal of Human investigating EYA4 as a potential With her the Department of Molecular Genetics. The work was led by an prognostic biomarker and as a can- colleagues, Oncology, Australian group, but the BC-based didate for novel targeted therapies. Dr. Janessa and her col- work was supported by the BC Laskin laborators Dr. Miriam Rosin, senior scien- Cancer Foundation, the Canadian and Kelly including tist, Cancer Control Research, BC Institutes of Health Research and Zibrik, she piloted the integration Dr. David Cancer Agency Research Centre, the Michael Smith Foundation for of a lung cancer nurse navigator Huntsman, conducts human studies using Health Research.

8 PB genetic and The research contributions of Dr. hematologist in the Leukemia/ phenotypic Donna Hogge, senior scientist, Bone marrow transplant Program The Dream Team biomarkers Terry Fox Laboratory, focus on the of BC. will conduct of exposure cellular and Dr. Karen Gelmon, senior scientist clinical trials and risk, molecular and medical in six Canadian focusing character- oncologist provinces, with the on the reduction in cancer risk ization of at the BC aim of developing through chemoprevention. In malignant Cancer new targeted 2016, she published a paper in stem cells Agency and BMC Cancer that demonstrated from patients with acute myeloid therapies to treat professor triple-negative how socioeconomic status impacts leukemia (AML), with the aim of medicine at the University of the stage of oral cancer diagnosis of developing new therapies to breast cancer and British Columbia, not only main- other aggressive and survival. Using data from the target and destroy these cells. In tains a busy clinical practice, but British Columbia Cancer Registry, 2016, Dr. Hogge along with her has an active research career as a types of breast she assessed how socioeconomic collaborators, published a paper in clinical trial investigator. In 2016, cancer. status is related to staging trends Cancer Research which described she was successful as part of Stand and cancer specific survival rates an integrated method to test Up to Cancer Canada – Canadian team is funded over four years, in patients with oropharyngeal and novel anticancer agents and to also Breast Cancer Foundation with $6 million support provided oral cavity cancer. Her research identify predictive biomarkers in Dream Team, along with her BC by Stand Up to Cancer Canada, study concluded that lower AML. The approach integrates Cancer Agency colleague Dr. the Canadian Breast Cancer socioeconomic status is related to a number of different methods Sam Aparicio. The Dream Team Foundation and the Canadian later stage of diagnosis and poorer including biobanking, xenografting will conduct clinical trials in six Imperial Bank of Commerce. survival for oral cancer, highlight- and multiplexed phospho-flow Canadian provinces, with the Additional achievements by Dr. ing the need for more oral cavity cytometric profiling. Although Dr aim of developing new targeted Connie Eaves, Dr. Sharon Gorski cancer screening programs to Hogge retired from the bench in therapies to treat triple-negative and Dr. Angela Brooks-Wilson be targeted towards less-affluent 2015, she served as the medi- breast cancer and other aggres- are highlighted on pages 22, 11 and neighbourhoods. cal director of the Clinical Cell sive types of breast cancer. The Therapy Laboratory and as senior 29 respectively.

9 PB Distinguishing pseudo- metastasis from metastasis in synchronous endometrial and ovarian cancers

r. David Huntsman and the OVCARE research team 18 pairs of SEO tumours. They demonstrated that these and what keeps cells temporarily restricted to these organs have made a breakthrough in understanding the cancers invariably share mutations and thus are indeed without metastasizing to the rest of the body. origin and development of synchronous endome- metastasis. To explain the excellent prognosis of these can- D This collaborative research study included Dr. Huntsman trial and ovarian (SEO) cancers. These tumours appear at the cers, Dr. Huntsman and colleagues coined the term “pseudo and the OVCARE team at the BC Cancer Agency. The same time in the endometrial lining of the uterus and the metastasis,” which likely occurs through the fallopian tubes lead, author Dr. Anglesio, is a recently appointed faculty ovary, and this synchronous occurrence happens in five to ten and not the bloodstream as with regular metastasis. member at the University of British Columbia. Partner per cent of endometrial and ovarian cancer cases. Until now, This discovery has important implications for treatment. institutes included the Vancouver Coastal Health Research researchers haven’t known if these represent two separate In British Columbia, SEO cancer patients have been treated Institute, University of British Columbia and the University cancers or if one has metastasized from one organ to another, conservatively by surgically removing the tumours. On a of Tuebingen. The study was supported by the Gray Family suggesting that the cancer is more advanced and requires an global scale, however, many women with SEO tumours Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma Research Resource, the BC aggressive approach to treatment. have received aggressive treatment designed to fight late- Cancer Foundation, the Vancouver General Hospital and To determine the origins of the cancers, Dr. Huntsman and stage metastatic cancer. University of British Columbia Hospital Foundation and the his team sequenced frequently mutated cancer genes from Canadian Cancer Society. The results of this study, which were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, not only confirm that we are taking the correct approach in British Columbia Cancer of the uterus is the but will have an immediate impact on the management of ovarian and endometrial cancers globally. The researchers fourth most commonly hope women elsewhere no longer have to undergo a diagnosed cancer in BC in needlessly aggressive treatment. women and the fifth most The next step of the research team is to more fully common cause of cancer understand the process of pseudo-metastasis: whether the death overall. initial event takes place in the ovary or the endometrium

10 PB Autophagy and breast cancer subtypes

r. Sharon Gorski and her research team at the BC yet been effectively addressed. Dr. Gorski’s team found that Cancer Agency Genome Sciences Centre have HER2 regulation influenced ATG4B levels and the inhibition The approach integrates D uncovered a novel association between a subtype of ATG4B sensitized treatment-resistant HER2-positive of breast cancer and an autophagy protein called ATG4B. This breast cancer cell lines to anti-HER2 treatment. a number of different discovery holds promise for therapeutic strategies for HER2- methods including Dr. Gorski was selected to give an oral presentation on her positive breast cancer patients. biobanking, xenografting, team’s work at the Keystone Symposium on Autophagy Dr. Gorski’s laboratory at the BC Cancer Agency is a world in June 2016, and the study was subsequently published and multiplexed phospho- leader in the study of autophagy and its relevance to cancer in Oncotarget in October 2016. Other BC Cancer Agency flow cytometric profiling. biology. Autophagy is a cellular self-digestion and recycling team members include Dr. Svetlana Bortnik, Dr. Courtney process, which has wide ranging implications for normal Choutka,Dr. Jennifer H. Baker, Dr. Chandra physiology and diseases including cancer. Cancer cells can Lebovitz, Dr. Wieslawa H. Dragowska, Dr. use autophagy to adapt to stress, resist treatment and fuel Nancy E. Go, Dr. Marcel B. Bally, Dr. Andrew their growth. Consequently, the autophagy process and I. Minchinton and Dr. Karen A. Gelmon. specific autophagy proteins (e.g. ATG4B) are under inves- Other team members include Hugo M. tigation as therapeutic targets, but the contexts in which Horlings and Samuel Leung, and research ATG4B inhibition may be beneficial are not well understood. partners include Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, Vancouver This study was the first to identify the HER2 subtype as a General Hospital and Netherlands Cancer suitable context for emerging ATG4B inhibition strategies. Institute. Approximately 20 per cent of breast cancers are character- ized by overexpression of the HER2 protein, which initiates This research was supported by a signaling events that support cell growth and survival. Canadian Institutes of Health Research Although advances in anti-HER2 therapies have led to Team Grant and a Canadian Institutes of significant improvements in patient survival, treatment re- Health Research in partnership with Avon sistance in advanced cases of HER2-positive cancers has not Foundation for Women-Canada grant.

11 PB esearchers at the BC Cancer Agency’s Centre for Lymphoid Cancer continue Personalized treatment for R to explore ways to provide precision and personalized treatment for each patient with lymphoid cancers is a daily reality lymphoid cancer in British Columbia. Although highly effective treatments are currently available for patients in British Columbia for most lymphoid cancers, these treatments can be difficult to tolerate and ultimately only first suggested the potential of increasingly Although the gene expression profiling tech- cure about half of patients. Providing a more personalized treatment for lymphoid cancers. nique holds much promise, the consortium personalized and accurate diagnosis of a patient’s A technique called gene expression profiling collaboration led by Dr. David Scott and collab- cancer gives physicians the option to choose is used to describe and compare the specific orators Dr. Joseph Connors and Dr. Christian more appropriate treatments that are specifi- genetic characteristics of normal and malignant Steidl, worked hard to refine the technique cally designed for that individual’s cancer, and cells to develop a “profile” or “signature”. This further. They developed these “signatures” into ultimately improve patient outcomes. signature is studied to learn how malignant cells tests that could be applied to the same tissue that More than a decade ago, the Lymphoma/ will behave and can be used to predict treatment was taken from the patient to make the diagnosis Leukemia Molecular Profiling Project (LLMPP) responses. of lymphoma. Their refinements have allowed

12 PB them to characterize different • The Chronic Lymphocytic research settings, not day-to- Marra, Dean Regier, Stuart Peacock subsets of patients with increasing Leukemia (CLL) Project and day medical care. Researchers and Andrew Mungall. precision and to identify those Biobank were launched. While are evaluating how practical, Funding for this series of proj- who may require more innovative collection and biobanking for rapid and cost effective ects was provided by: National treatment approaches. other cell types was routine, de- personalized diagnosis and Institutes of Health, Terry Fox veloping the methodology for treatment can be integrated In 2016, Drs. Scott, Connors and Research Institute, BC Cancer CLL cells took a great deal of into routine patient manage- Steidl’s research initiatives further Foundation, Genome Canada, additional effort. Now, samples ment in British Columbia. In advanced personalized treatments Genome BC and Canadian can be systematically gathered addition to carefully analysing for lymphoid cancer: Institutes for Health Research. from CLL patients across the all the costs and cost savings, • A paper describing the province of British Columbia, they are also determining if development and validation enriched for tumour cells and outcomes for these patients are of the MCL35 assay (or test) banked for future studies. improved because of person- More than a for mantle cell lymphoma Current projects using these alized lymphoid cancer care. decade ago, the samples involve targeted and British Columbia is function- was accepted for publication Lymphoma/Leukemia in a major cancer journal and genome wide sequencing ing as a real-world laboratory a patent was filed. This assay along with fluorescence in to show how to use genomic Molecular Profiling uses a gene expression-based situ hybridization (FISH) analysis to cost-effectively cure Project (LLMPP) signature for proliferation analyses. This initiative will more cancer patients in a way first suggested that can be applied to routine allow the researchers to study that can readily be duplicated the potential formalin-fixed paraffin- and understand the events elsewhere around the world. of increasingly embedded biopsies using the leading to disease activation in Many other BC Cancer Agency NanoString Technologies the patients who have a more researchers were involved in personalized platform. The assay will allow aggressive form of this disease. these projects including Drs. treatment for the development of trials that • Until recently, the genomic Graham Slack, Diego Villa, Randy lymphoid cancers. will match treatment regimens personalization of cancer treat- Gascoyne, Andy Weng, Marco to the risk of relapse of the ment has only been applied in patient.

13 PB hese ideas will continue (ctDNA), mass cytometry Drs. Marcel Bally, Gregg to move forward with the (CyTOF), single cell genomic Morin, Kerry Savage, Sohrab The Terry Fox Shah and Andrew Weng. T renewal of two large scale tools and genome editing Research Institute team grants. tools for in vitro and in vivo Investigators will research the model development. Serial lymphoma microenviron- and the Canadian The Terry Fox Research Institute tissue biopsies are available ment focusing on two related Institutes of Health and the Canadian Institutes of in the tissue repositories of subtypes of lymphoid cancer Health Research recently awarded Research recently BC Cancer Agency’s Centre – Hodgkin lymphoma and grants to the investigators of the awarded grants to for Lymphoid Cancer and Primary mediastinal B-cell department of Lymphoid Cancer additional biopsies are lymphoma, which often affect the investigators of Research. acquired through prospective adolescents and young adults. the department of • The TFRI New Frontiers clinical trials. This $7.5 million The investigators will study Lymphoid Cancer Program Project Grant in grant was awarded to support the mechanisms of immune Research. Overcoming Treatment Failure the interdisciplinary team system escape in tumour in Lymphoid Cancer is co-led in identifying the patients cells, focusing on genes that by Drs. Connors and Steidl and early on who are in need of were found to be altered in involves 26 interdisciplinary alternative treatments. The earlier studies. The goal of this investigators and collaborators grant will focus on patients research will be to characterize across Canada and the USA. with follicular lymphoma, novel drug targets, to develop State-of-the-art genomics and diffuse large B cell lymphoma, genetic tests that predict proteomics platforms will be Hodgkin lymphoma and therapy resistance in childhood used including next-generation mantle cell lymphoma. and adult Hodgkin lymphoma, sequencing of archival to identify patients who are at • The $1.5 million Canadian formalin-fixed paraffin- high risk of relapse and to pave Institutes of Health Research embedded tissues (FFPET), the way for innovative clinical Foundation grant is led by Dr. circulating tumour DNA trials. Christian Steidl and involves

14 PB Dr. Randy Gascoyne is awarded the 2016 Lifetime Some of the World’s Most Achievement Award: Terry Fox Medal Influential Scientific Minds work at BC Cancer Agency r. Randy Gascoyne was presented with the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award: Terry Fox Medal at Terry Fox Research n December 2016, Drs. Marco Marra D Institute – BC Node Research Day. This award celebrates his many and Steven Jones of the Genome contributions to lymphoid cancer research, clinical care and the establish- I Sciences Centre were included in ment of provincial Hematopathology resources, and his significant influence the list of the World’s Most Influential on the next generation of clinicians and scientists. Scientific Minds of 2016 by Thomson As an internationally recognized hematopathologist, Dr. Gascoyne has Reuters, along with Drs. Joseph Connors had a long and productive career at the BC Cancer Agency. He is a clinical and Randy Gascoyne of the Lymphoid professor at the University of British Columbia and a distinguished scientist Cancer Research Department at the BC at the BC Cancer Research Centre. He is known for his work investigating Cancer Agency. Membership on this list the pathogenesis of lymphoid cancers using genomic approaches, gene was determined by analyzing citation expression profiling studies, and biomarker and prognostic factor develop- data over the last 11 years to identify ment in in Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He is prolific, those who have published the highest with over 442 peer-reviewed manuscripts, hundreds of abstracts and many impact work. This is the third consecu- book chapters. He has also been an investigator or co-investigator on tive year that Drs. Marra, Connors and research grants totalling over $94 million and has served on many advisory Gascoyne have received this recognition. and editorial boards. In addition, he was listed as one of the World’s Most This achievement demonstrates the Influential Scientific Minds for three consecutive years. international recognition and leadership of BC Cancer Agency researchers. In July 2016, Dr. Gascoyne retired from the BC Cancer Agency.

15 PB Successes in commercialization: Commercialization is part of the innovation process in cancer research. The BC Celator, Aquinox and Cancer Agency Technology Development Office (TDO) saw several significant ARTMS commercialization milestones in 2016.

ommercialization is part of the innovation Celator Pharmaceuticals is a start-up company that cancer. In September 2016, Aquinox initiated a phase III process in cancer research. The BC Cancer Agency was co-founded by Drs. Marcel Bally and Lawrence Mayer study of their lead molecule, AQX-1125, in patients who C Technology Development Office (TDO) saw several in 1999. In 2016, the results of a Phase III clinical study suffer from Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome. AQX- significant commercialization milestones in 2016. Located demonstrated that elderly patients with high-risk 1125 is an anti-inflammatory product candidate targeting at the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, the TDO serves (secondary) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) treated SH2-containing inositol-5’-phosphatase 1, or SHIP1, which researchers across the Provincial Health Services Authority with the lead product VYXEOS (cytarabine:daunorubicin is a key regulator in the PI3K pathway, an important cellular by providing a range of services that ultimately transfer liposome injection) experienced a statistically signif- signalling pathway in immune cells. Market capital of this knowledge from research into the public domain. icant improvement in overall survival. As a result, the company is currently valued at $350 million USD. USA FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to ARTMS™ Products Inc. executed a license agreement VYXEOS for treatment of between TRIUMF, the BC Cancer Agency, Lawson Health high-risk secondary AML Research Institute and the Centre for Probe Development and in July 2016, Jazz and Commercialization. This agreement is a major Pharmaceuticals acquired milestone and marks the beginning of a new era in Tc-99m Celator Pharmaceuticals for production and supply. Tc-99m is the most widely used $1.5 billion. medical isotope in the world and is in over 80 per cent Aquinox Pharmaceuticals of all nuclear medicine imaging procedures and in more is a start-up company than 35 commercial radiopharmaceutical products. The co-founded by Dr. Gerald Chalk River Nuclear Reactor license was extended to March Krystal and incorporated 2018, at which time it will cease routine production of in 2006. The company molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the parent isotope of Tc-99m. specializes in novel targeted The agreement will lead to the commercialization of a small molecule therapeu- decentralized, green and Canadian-made technology that tics for the treatment of will allow Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) to be produced daily inflammatory disease and at hundreds of hospital-based cyclotrons around the world.

16 PB Completion of the ASCENDE-RT The trial demonstrated that men randomized to receive clinical trial a brachytherapy boost halved the recurrence rate compared to those randomized to external radiation alone.

linical trials require years, and sometimes decades, The study was supported by unrestricted educational grants of hard work from conception to analysis, with to the BC Cancer Agency received from Oncura corporation, C many steps and milestones in between. December a division of GE Healthcare, which manufactured the model 2016 marked the completion of the ASCENDE-RT (Androgen 6711 125Iodine RapidStrand® sources used in this trial, and Suppression Combined with Elective Nodal and Dose Sanofi-Aventis Canada, the maker of the Suprefact® and Escalated Radiation Therapy) trial, with the final publication Eligard® LHRH depot injections used in this trial. of study results in The International Journal of Radiation The principal investigator for this multicentre randomized Oncology, Biology and Physics. The trial has been ongoing trial was Dr. W James Morris, and involved numerous other since the first subjects were enrolled in August 2002. BC Cancer Agency investigators, and most importantly the ASCENDE-RT trial was led by Dr. W James Morris and close to 400 patients that agreed to randomization in this compared two methods of delivering dose escalation for practice-changing trial. men with unfavourable risk localized prostate cancer. The trial demonstrated that men randomized to receive a brachytherapy boost halved the recurrence rate compared to those randomized to external radiation alone. The trial also had the highest benchmarks for disease-free survival ever seen in any prospective, randomized study for poor prognosis prostate cancer patients; at the median followup of 6.5 years, 83 per cent of high-risk and 94 per cent of in- termediate-risk patient randomized to brachytherapy were free of disease. The results of this study, which involved almost 400 patients, have already begun to change practice in Canada, the USA, Europe and Australia.

17 PB esearchers at the BC Cancer Agency and the Genome Sciences Centre AVAILABLE PROVINCE-WIDE: a more R have changed the way that patients throughout British Columbia will be diagnosed personalized approach for the analysis and treated for cancer. Two next-generation sequencing-based panels are now being offered to all eligible cancer patients on a province-wide of myeloid cancers and solid tumours basis. Newly diagnosed patients with advanced lung cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, clinical test that detects multiple mutations in OncoPanel across British Columbia. Drs. Marco gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) or low several genes. Each year in British Columbia, Marra, Donna Hogge, Inanc Birol and Steven grade gliomas are now eligible for OncoPanel an estimated 2,000 cancer patients are eligible Jones helped to co-develop the myeloid panel. testing, which is a clinical test that can detect for OncoPanel testing, while an estimated 600 Multiple single gene sequencing tests are inte- multiple different mutations in several genes cancer patients are eligible for the Myeloid Panel. grated onto a single Next-Generation sequencing simultaneously. Newly diagnosed patients with panel and provide a detailed genetic fingerprint Dr. Aly Karsan, Genome Sciences Centre, devel- acute myeloid leukemia, myeloproliferative of each patient’s cancer. The gene mutations oped the OncoPanel and Myeloid Panel, and Dr. neoplasms and myelodysplastic syndromes are that are included on each panel were carefully Hagen Kennecke co-led the study to validate the eligible for the Myeloid Panel, which is also a selected based on clinical relevance with respect

18 PB Patients eligible for the to publicly funded treatment or treatment approach. In addition to OncoPanel include: In 2016, Dr. Aly Karsan was the ongoing clinical trials. The panels clinical applications, researchers British Columbians newly diag- recipient of the John Auston were validated in two clinical trials, will gain research knowledge of nosed with advanced lung cancer, BC Cancer Foundation Clinical involving 600 patients and 79 how both common and uncommon colorectal cancer, melanoma, Investigator Award. This five-year oncologists. mutations contribute to cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumours award will support his research and this may provide insights into into myelodysplastic syndromes The panels are adaptable and new (GIST) or low grade gliomas. After future treatment strategies. (MDS), which are cancers of the gene tests can be added as more a biopsy is performed, samples blood-forming cells in the bone clinically significant biomarkers The panels were developed with are sent to the BC Cancer Agency marrow. The goal of this work is are identified. As well, the capacity significant support from the BC where the DNA is processed. to develop clinical tests to inform of the panels is being expanded Cancer Foundation and Genome OncoPanel results will be sent to physicians about the best treat- to detect more types of genetic BC, as well as from Canadian the patient’s oncologists two to ments for patients with MDS. The alterations including copy number Institutes of Health Research, Terry three weeks after the biopsy. award was named in honour of variants and gene rearrangements. Fox Research Institute, Pfizer, past BC Cancer Foundation board Amgen, Hoffman LaRoche and The OncoPanel and Myeloid Panel Patients eligible for the director John Auston, who was an the Provincial Health Services are translating science into clinical Myeloid Panel include: avid supporter of cancer research Authority. applications and improving patient in BC and who lost his life to British Columbians newly diag- care. The advanced and specific British Columbia is the first cancer. nosed with acute myeloid leuke- information from the panels is jurisdiction in Canada to provide mia, myeloproliferative neoplasms sent to treating oncologists and this type of analysis on a provincial and myelodysplastic syndromes hematologists within two to three scale, meaning a more personalized who meet testing guidelines. A weeks, enabling them to make approach to treatment for thousands bone marrow sample is taken and critical and timely treatment of eligible cancer patients. These sent to the BC Cancer Agency decisions. As more patients are are the first gene panels to be laboratory for processing. Myeloid matched with the best treatment available province-wide and as part Panel results will be sent to the options available, British Columbia of standard cancer care in Canada patient’s hematologist two to three is moving towards personal- for acquired cancers. weeks after the sample is extracted. ized cancer care and a targeted

19 PB Dr. Poul H. Sorensen awarded the Canadian Cancer Society Robert L. Noble Prize

r. Poul H. Sorensen, distinguished scientist at the Dr. Sorensen’s research program is remarkably diverse and BC Cancer Agency, was awarded the Robert L. has led to important advances in both cancer genetics and The Robert L. Noble Prize D Noble Prize by the Canadian Cancer Society for cancer biology. Early in his career, Dr. Sorensen discovered is given for outstanding outstanding achievements in basic biomedical cancer re- several new genetic alterations in solid childhood cancers, search. He is a globally renowned molecular pathologist with which typically have less genetic complexity than adult achievements in basic a worldwide reputation in pediatric oncology research. His tumours. He used these findings in an innovative way biomedical cancer work focuses on the molecular abnormalities that underlie to better understand the biology of adult cancers. This research. It honours childhood sarcomas and brain cancers, and adult cancers of included the identification of the ETV6-NTRK3 gene Dr. Noble, an esteemed the breast, brain and prostate. fusion in both childhood sarcoma and a form of breast cancer, which pointed to a new treatment strategy for Canadian investigator these diseases. Dr. Sorensen has also used whose research in the his genetic findings to develop new tests to 1950s led to the discovery improve the classification of childhood cancers, of vinblastine, a widely which are used by clinicians around the world. More recently, Dr. Sorensen’s work has drawn used anticancer drug. At attention to the crucial role of cancer proteins the time, vinblastine was in cellular stress responses that allow cancer to one of the most effective grow and spread. treatments available for Dr. Sorensen is a prime example of excellence Hodgkin lymphoma. in cancer research and demonstrates continued dedication to the scientific community. He reg- ularly volunteers his expertise on grant review panels and is recognized for his extraordinary mentorship and commitment to training the next generation of excellent scientists.

20 PB PANCREOX: Results of a BC Cancer Agency-led Canadian phase III clinical trial in advanced pancreatic cancer

atients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have Results of this study were reported in the Journal of Clinical failed their first line of chemotherapy have limited Oncology in September 2016. BC Cancer Agency team As a result of this trial, P options and a guarded prognosis. Trials in this pa- members included Drs. Sharlene Gill, Malcolm Moore, tient setting are few and challenging given the nature of the Dan Renouf, Hagen Kennecke, Howard Lim, Christian patients can now be offered disease. Understanding the efficacy and the risks of therapy Kollmannsberger, Barbara Melosky, Winson Cheung, Thuan a less toxic therapy without are extremely important in this palliative setting. Do and Muhammed Zulfiqar. The study involved multiple a concern that efficacy is academic centres across Canada including the Princess The PANCREOX (Randomized Phase III Study of being compromised. Margaret Hospital, Sunnybrook Hospital, Tom Baker Cancer 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin With or Without Oxaliplatin for Centre, Juravinski Cancer Centre, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Second-Line Advanced Pancreatic Cancer in Patients Who Centre, Sherbrook University and Burnaby Hospital. The trial Have Received Gemcitabine-Based Chemotherapy) study was supported by Sanofi Canada. conclusively demonstrated that the use of a combination oxaliplatin-containing regimen did not improve survival over a single agent fluoropyrimidine regimen and was associated with greater toxicity. The study was conducted in 108 patients who had advanced pancreatic cancer who had failed first-line gemcitabine therapy.

As a result of this trial, patients can now be offered a less toxic therapy without a concern that efficacy is being compromised. As well, the trial demonstrated that studies in this advanced setting are feasible.

21 PB EPIGENOMICS: BC Cancer Agency’s leadership role in a coordinated publication release with the International Human Epigenome Consortium project

C Cancer Agency scientists contributed The epigenome is a series of chemical modi- cancers – particularly susceptible to epigenetic three of the 41 research papers that were fications to DNA and its packaging proteins deregulation. released by the International Human that act to control how genes are expressed B As Chair of the IHEC international scientific Epigenome Consortium (IHEC) on November in the genome during development, during steering committee, Dr. Martin Hirst, scientist at 17, 2016. The studies involved researchers from normal and disease processes and in response to the BC Cancer Agency and Head of Epigenomics across Canada, the USA, the European Union, different environmental and chemical stimuli. at the Genome Sciences Centre, played a key Germany, Japan and Singapore. The coordi- Understanding how genes are switched on and leadership role in coordinating the publication nated release was named as one of the top five off in different cell types and situations provides of the 41 papers, the release of all associated data epigenetics stories of 2016 by the Epigenetics scientists with insights into normal human and the development of associated commen- Literacy Project. The papers covered a broad development and disease. Not surprisingly, epig- taries and news releases. In addition, he was an range of topics and were published in a number enomic mechanisms are deregulated in many author on several of the papers along with his BC of scientific journals, including 27 in Cell family diseases, with some types of cancers – including Cancer Agency colleagues. journals. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and pediatric

22 PB • Dr. Hirst, with his colleague • Dr. Hirst’s group also published new ways to modulate epigenetic Dr. Connie Eaves, a distin- a third study describing a novel changes and reverse disease. These papers guished scientist at the BC method for analyzing stem cell All DNA sequencing work for these establish important Cancer Agency, published the epigenomes. This new ChIP- three papers was performed at first comprehensive epigenetic Seq method enables researchers technological the Genomes Science Centre, the profiles of normal cell types to extract additional informa- and reference Centre for Epigenome Mapping in human breast tissue. This tion about protein-DNA inter- Technologies led by Drs. Hirst frameworks, which information will help scien- actions from even very small and Marra, and the Epigenomic are essential to tists understand how human samples. This publication was Data Coordination Centre led by mammary cells are normally published in Cell Reports. understanding what Dr. Steven Jones of the BC Cancer regulated, and the information normal epigenomes These papers establish important Agency, Simon Fraser University will serve as a baseline against technological and reference frame- and the University of British look like. which cells perturbed by disease works, which are essential to under- Columbia. Support for this work can be compared. This paper standing what normal epigenomes was provided by the Canadian was published in Cell Reports. look like. The next step will be to Institutes of Health Research, the • A second paper identified determine the degree to which the Canadian Cancer Society Research epigenetic changes that are epigenome varies in populations of Institute, the Canada Foundation thought to contribute to the de- similar cells, how it becomes dereg- for Innovation, Genome Canada velopment of a rare childhood ulated in disease and if such dereg- and Genome BC, the National cancer called malignant rhab- ulation may be reversed. Dr. Hirst’s Cancer Institute, National Institutes doid tumour. This work was lab has already classified different of Health and the BC Cancer conducted by a team led by Dr. types of epigenomic effectors and is Foundation. Marco Marra, distinguished sci- working to understand how these entist at the BC Cancer Agency can be manipulated to potentially and director of the Genome address disease. These important Sciences Centre. This paper was efforts will help to inform clinical published in Cancer Cell. trials already underway evaluating

23 PB Dr. Sam Aparicio named Fellow of the Royal Society

r. Samuel Aparicio, senior scientist and head of the heterogeneity. The cells within tumours are not identical, and tu- Department of Breast and Molecular Oncology at the mours are now best thought of as complex communities of cells Dr. Aparicio’s work D BC Cancer Agency, was named fellow of the Royal composed of genetically distinct cellular sub-populations. His Society of Canada as part of the Life Science Division on November work has linked this genetic heterogeneity to cancer evolution on the genomes 18, 2016. The Royal Society of Canada is considered the highest and recurrence, providing a much-needed explanation for how of breast cancers honour a scholar can achieve in the arts, humanities and sciences treatment-resistant cancers may arise. has provided new in Canada. Most recently, Dr. Aparicio was the co-corresponding author insights into the Dr. Aparicio’s work on the genomes of breast cancers has provid- of a study that analyzed somatic mutation profiles of 2,433 tremendous breadth ed new insights into the tremendous breadth of tumour genetic breast cancers, and refined their genomic and transcriptomic of tumour genetic landscapes. The results of the study heterogeneity. emphasize the importance of genome-based stratification in a heterogeneous disease such as breast cancer and have important implications for designing therapeutic strategies. This adds to the METABRIC project, an important resource characterizing the combined genomic profiles of a large number of primary breast tumours from patients with long-term follow up data. The study was published in Nature Communications in May 2016 and involved collaborators in the UK, Norway, Australia and from across Canada. The METABRIC project was funded by Cancer Research UK, the BC Cancer Foundation and Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation BC/ Yukon.

24 PB Dr. Sohrab

Shah: UBC This open-source software overcomes some of Killam Research the limitations of previous methods and can robustly infer clonal genotypes from single Prize winner cell sequencing data.

r. Sohrab Shah, scientist, Department of Molecular In addition, he published a paper in Nature Genetics, Oncology at the BC Cancer Agency, was awarded tracking clonal migrations among metastatic sites in the D the Killam Research Prize for Applied Science in the peritoneal cavity of high-grade serous ovarian cancer Junior category. He was one of only seven members of the patients. In mapping the cell migration, Dr. Shah’s team Faculty of Medicine, from seven different departments, that identified at least two divergent modes of intraperitoneal were recognized by UBC’s Faculty Research Awards. metastasis and showed how cells are able to settle and thrive in specific regions of the body causing widespread, The award recognizes Dr. Shah’s outstanding research and life-threatening disease. scholarly achievements in the area of analysis of single cell genomics and clonal evolution. Dr. Shah’s work is in the field of computational cancer genomics and involves the development of statistical models and machine learning algorithms to interpret next generation sequence data for defining mutational landscapes and quantifying clonal evolution in ovarian and breast cancers.

In this last year, with his research team that included many of his colleagues from the BC Cancer Agency Department of Molecular Oncology, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, Dr. Shah published a paper in Nature Methods describing the Single Cell Genotyper. This open-source software overcomes some of the limitations of previous methods and can robustly infer clonal genotypes from single cell sequencing data.

25 PB TOTAL FUNDING: $99,332,395

Total funding – $99,332,395 Canadian grants and awards – total: 85.02 International grants and awards – total: 5.37 International industry funding – 3.3 Canadian industry funding – 5.3 Canadian industry funding: 5.3 International industry funding: 3.3

International grants and awards: total 5.37 Canadian grants and awards: total 85.02

International grants and awards – total: 5.37 Canadian grants and awards – total: 85.02 - Foreign gov’t: 2.3 - Major funding entity: 17.51 - Foundations and non-profits: 2.7 - Gov’t: 36.81 - Education institution: 0.37 - Foundations and non-profits: 29.7 - Education institution: 1.0 -

Canadian Grants International Grants International industry Canadian industry

Canadian Grants FOREIGN GOVERNMENT:International Grants 2.3 MAJOR FUNDING ENTITY: 17.51 International industry major funding government foundations education FOUNDATIONS AND NON-PROFITS: 2.7 GOVERNMENT: 36.81 EDUCATION INSTITUTION: 0.37 BC CANCER FOUNDATION AND OTHER FOUNDATIONS AND NONPROFITS: 29.7 EDUCATION INSTITUTION: 1.0

26 PB Liquid biopsy for patients with advanced prostate cancer

ell free, or circulating received treatment tumour DNA (ctDNA), with enzalutamide, C is genetic material that is an androgen-recep- released by tumours into a patient’s tor antagonist. They blood. Analysing this ctDNA from conducted integrated a blood sample is like a “liquid genomic profiling biopsy” and permits researchers to of the ctDNA to identify genetic changes in cancer identify changes and to measure how a tumour is that occurred in the potential targets that may be used as one of the five key advances in responding to therapy in real time. androgen receptor gene; as well to treat advanced prostate cancer. prostate cancer research in 2016. Dr. Kim Chi, medical oncologist as changes in 19 other genes associ- This work has also resulted in the With further work, they hope that and senior scientist at the BC ated with primary and acquired launch of an umbrella trial (a type this minimally invasive ctDNA- Cancer Agency, in collabora- resistance. They found that the of trial where a patient is assigned a based method can be used to tion with Dr. Alex Wyatt, senior genetic changes were related to treatment based on their molecular choose the right therapy for each scientist at the Vancouver Prostate how the men were responding to profile) with the Canadian Cancer patient and to avoid treatments Centre, developed and validated a prostate cancer treatment. Trials Group led by Dr. Chi. that will not work. Additional liquid biopsy technique to predict This study demonstrated that the advantages of the liquid biopsy This study was supported by the likely disease course and to approach taken to obtain and method are that blood samples the Canadian Cancer Society monitor responses to therapy in analyse the ctDNA from the study are easy and relatively painless Research Institute, Prostate Cancer patients with advanced prostate participants was feasible and could to obtain, can be repeated on a Canada, Movember, BC Cancer cancer. be used to predict responses of regular basis to monitor treatment Foundation, Nation Cancer They examined the ctDNA from individual patients to treatment. and may reduce or delay the need Institute Specialized Programs of blood collected from 65 men with Dr. Chi and his colleagues could for a core biopsy. Research Excellence and Terry Fox metastatic castrate-resistant pros- determine when therapy resis- Research Institute. This work was published in JAMA tate cancer, before and after they tance occurred, and identify other Oncology and has been highlighted

27 PB Quantitative proteome profiling: development of the SP3-CTP technology

he Genome Sciences Centre Proteomics Platform This novel protocol based on mass spectrometry allows development and pediatric cancer personalized medicine. led by Dr. Gregg Morin and Dr. Chris Hughes has the measurement of >8,000 proteins from the archival Support for this work was provided by a Canadian Cancer T developed the innovative “SP3-Clinical Tissue tumour samples at unmatched sensitivity compared with Society Research Institute Impact Grant, the BC Cancer Proteomics (CTP)” technology. This technology allows other leading international research groups. The BC Cancer Foundation and donors Charles and Elaine Schnier. researchers to comprehensively identify and quantify the Agency has many thousands of such archived samples and BC Cancer Agency collaborators include Drs. Melissa proteins in single formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) associated clinical information available for these studies. McConechy and Dawn Cochrane. Other research partners tumour tissue sections. This highly sensitive method enables As proof of principle for this new technology, Dr. Morin’s include the University of British Columbia. biomarker discovery, therapeutic target identification and team in collaboration with Dr. Huntsman and his OVCARE identification of tumourigenic biological processes. team, performed in-depth quantitative analyses of clinical This technology was developed entirely by the Proteomics ovarian tumour specimens. Results showed that in depth This technology Platform, and is the first demonstration of in-depth proteomic analysis of clinically annotated patient materials proteomics using practical amounts of clinical FFPE tissues. can be effectively used as a biomarker discovery tool and allows researchers to perhaps ultimately as a diagnostic approach. comprehensively identify

The SP3-CTP technology is being integrated in the BC and quantify the proteins Cancer Agency’s precision medicine Personalized Onco- in single formalin fixed Genomics (POG) clinical trial to provide improved guidance paraffin embedded (FFPE) to oncologists for treatment decisions. This technology was tumour tissue sections. the central methodology for three awarded grants that seek to identify protein markers for patient sub-classification for improved diagnosis in breast, ovarian and rare tumours from multiple sites including gynecological, gastrointes- tinal, lung and brain cancers. It is also a component of three large Terry Fox Research Institute grants in the BC Cancer Agency for lymphoma, antibody-based cancer drug

28 PB Understanding genetic characteristics of super seniors: exceptionally healthy individuals over the age of 85

r. Angela Brooks-Wilson, distinguished scientist, Genome Sciences Centre, is leading the Healthy The study will help determine if individuals lack DAging Study, which was recently awarded $761,272 in funding from the Lotte and John Hecht susceptibility factors that contribute to disease or Foundation. This unique BC Cancer Agency-based research possess resistance factors that enhance their ability study is examining why some exceptionally healthy seniors to resist disease and prolong lifespan. remain free of cancer and other common age-related diseases such as cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease.

While some aspects of aging are related to lifestyle choices and environmental exposures, genetic factors may come into play. The study will help determine if individuals lack susceptibility factors that contribute to disease or possess resistance factors that enhance their ability to resist disease and prolong lifespan. The knowledge of genetic variants associated with healthy aging and protection against specific common age-related diseases may help physicians to tailor disease prevention programs for individual patients.

This funding from the Lotte and John Hecht Foundation was used to expand the study with the collection of an additional 200 biological samples from super seniors from across Canada, increasing the number of super seniors to 700.

29 PB Centre for the North

Centre for the Southern Interior

Abbotsford Centre

Fraser Valley Centre

Vancouver Centre

Vancouver Island Centre

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