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U.S. National Institutes of Health
Last Updated: 01/27/12

Cervical SPOREs

Gynecologic (GYN) cancer SPOREs focus on translational research in cervical and endometrial cancers. In 2011, the program supported three GYN SPOREs: one in cervical and two in endometrial cancer. Cervical cancer development is driven by the transforming abilities of the human papillomavirus (HPV), while the etiology of endometrial cancer is associated with hormonal and other metabolic disorders (e.g, obesity, diabetes). Although the incidence of cervical cancer is fairly low in the United States due to the advent of the "pap" smear test (12,710 new cases and 4,290 deaths are projected in 2011), it is a major health threat in Third World and developing countries, with the overall worldwide incidence approaching 400,000 cases per year. Major activities within the Cervical SPORE include developing better screening, prevention, and therapeutic tools. The Cervical SPORE is developing next generation of preventive and therapeutic vaccines against human papilloma virus. Endometrial cancer is expected to be diagnosed in 46,470 women in the United States in 2011 and result in 8,120 deaths. Endometrial Cancer SPOREs are studying the effects of obesity and insulin resistance on the development of endometrial cancer, as well as testing novel treatment and preventative agents, and developing predictive/prognostic biomarkers. Endometrial SPOREs organize annual symposium organized by endometrial SPOREs that reaches out to investigators within the United States and abroad to help support and unify translational activities within this cancer site.

Johns Hopkins University

T.C. Wu, MD, PhD [Click Here]
Professor
Departments of Pathology, Oncology,
Obstetrics and Gynecology and
Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Johns Hopkins University
School of Medicine
Department of Pathology
1550 Orleans Street, CRB II Room 309
Baltimore, MD 21231
Tel: (410) 614-3899
Fax: (443) 287-4295
Email: wutc@jhmi.edu

For more information on this specific SPORE’s institution, please visit:
http://pathology2.jhu.edu/ccspore/index.html

University of Texas/MD Anderson

Karen H. Lu, MD [Click Here]
Associate Professor
Department of Gynecologic Oncology
University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 1362
Houston, TX 77030
Tel: (713) 745-8902
Fax: (713) 792-7586
Email: khlu@mdanderson.org

For more information on this specific SPORE’s institution, please visit:
http://www.mdanderson.org/education-and-research/research-at-md-anderson/early-detection-and-treatment/research-programs/spores/uterine-cancer-spore/index.html

Washington University in St. Louis

Paul Goodfellow, PhD
Washington University
660 South Euclid
Campus Box 8109
St. Louis, MO 63110
Tel: (314) 362-8106
Fax: (314) 362-8620
Email: goodfellowp@wudosis.wustl.edu