Research

For access to our comprehensive list of active clinical trials, go to Clinical Trials.

Biomedical research is a major component of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's mission and is vital to our commitment to maintain excellence in patient care. At any given time, hundreds of clinical studies are being conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Many are focused on finding ways to prevent, treat and cure cancer.

Cedars-Sinai is currently involved in a wide range of basic and translational cancer-related research, including:

Basic and Translational Research

Basic science research refers to studies done in the laboratory. The objective of these studies is to explore the effects of different substances, such as natural or artificially made plant extracts, on what are thought to cause a disease. If the drugs or procedures appear promising, they are applied to live animals.

Translational research is a relatively new term used when researchers who have success with experiments in the laboratory apply or "translate" the results in humans.

Basic and translational cancer research is ongoing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Ranked among the top 10 non-university independent hospitals nationwide in terms of research, Cedars-Sinai is currently conducting more than 600 research projects through the Burns & Allen Research Institute. Our scientists publish more than 200 scientific papers every year in peer-reviewed journals.

In 2001, Cedars-Sinai's Board of Governors funded the Board of Governors Gene Therapeutics Research Institute, a state-of-the-art program dedicated to clinical translation of leading-edge molecular technology. The Board of Governors Gene Therapeutics Research Institute enhances Cedars-Sinai's current strength in genetics, cell and molecular biology, cell signaling and immunology and will generate direct patient care benefits.

The General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at Cedars-Sinai is funded by the National Institutes of Health's Center for Research Resources. Our center includes an outpatient unit that supports protocols with patients undergoing special testing, sample collection, drug/hormone administration and more. It also features a mobile unit for collecting biological samples and a sample-processing laboratory to facilitate collection, handling and triage of samples and clinical data. The GCRC at Cedars-Sinai was launched in 1995 and now supports more than 50 protocols from different departments.

Cedars-Sinai has an efficient Internal Review Board (IRB), which has a proven track record of effective protection of human subjects, and timely review of clinical studies. The Board is directed by experienced doctoral- and master-level biostatisticians, who provide a wide range of research services, including data analysis and reporting, consultation on study design and required sample sizes, and development of databases, data collection forms and quality control procedures.

Outpatient studies may be conducted through more than 2,000 attending physicians affiliated with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The Medical Center admits more than 30,000 patients a year. Our computerized system allows researchers to quickly identify inpatients who may potentially qualify for a clinical study. To ensure patient recruitment, Cedars-Sinai distributes leaflets, protocol booklets and other printed promotional materials, as well as strategically placed news press releases. Our researchers and doctors also promote outpatient clinical study participation through community outreach and cancer screening programs.

Full-time research nurses, data managers and support employees are experienced in ensuring strict compliance to research procedures, full patient compliance and efficient data collection and processing. They are specially trained to handle different types of clinical studies and are well-versed in the diverse tasks involved.

Tumor Suppressor Gene Research

Our lab features extensive tumor banks for storage of more than 20 different tumor types. Each cancerous tissue sample has matched normal tissue from the same individual. Using over 300 micro-satellite probes, researchers are pinpointing exact locations where tumor-suppressing genes undergo changes in certain cancers. Major ongoing efforts are attempting to clone and study the mutated tumor suppressor genes. This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health, as well as philanthropic funding.

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Kaposi's Sarcoma Virus Research

Our scientists have developed a unique cell line that produces large amounts of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated virus, or HHV8. This virus probably is involved in the development of the disease, as well as a specific type of lymphoma. Experiments are underway to find out how the virus is stimulated and determine ways to stop it. Dr. Phillip Koeffler received a National Institutes of Health grant to fund this study. He has also filed for a patent. Taking advantage of re-agents developed from the cell line, the team now suspects that multiple myeloma may also be associated with infection by this virus. Further studies are being conducted to explore this possibility.

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Translational Stem Cell Biology Research

Stem cell transplantation is now largely performed using blood stem cells from the patient. The type and appearance of these cells are identical to those found in bone marrow; however, there may be functional differences between the two. Dr. Michael Lill's research group has shown that blood stem cells grow more slowly than bone marrow stem cells, and this may effect the success of the transplant. Their studies have also shown that blood stem cells seem to be able to change into B-lymphocytes, as do bone marrow cells. Dr. Lill's research group is continuing to discover more differences and similarities between these cell sources.

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Ovarian Cancer Research

Under the direction of Dr. Beth Karlan, the Gynecologic Oncology Research Laboratory at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Burns & Allen Research Institute is pursuing a many-sided approach to understanding the causes and molecular alterations that produce cancers in the female reproductive tract. The current primary focus of Dr. Karlan's group is ovarian cancer, although the group has conducted experiments on genetic changes related to cervical and endometrial cancers.

As a result of the busy clinical service in gynecologic oncology at Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Karlan has developed an extensive bank of frozen tumor tissues that are used in studies of cancer cell growth. These specimens are analyzed and compared to normal ovarian tissues for genetic changes. Dr. Karlan and her group have developed techniques to grow normal and malignant ovarian epithelial cells in the lab, allowing the group to investigate biologic responsiveness and molecular mechanisms involved in ovarian tumors. The research group's activities include:

  • p53 gene therapy for ovarian cancer. The p53 gene plays a key role in controlling cell growth, high frequency of p53 mutations in ovarian cancers and the potential of ovarian cancer to remain confined to the pelvic cavity. The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation and the Ahmanson Foundation fund these studies. In addition to in-lab study, researchers are using the p53 gene in a clinical trial, along with traditional chemotherapy, to treat women with certain forms ovarian cancer. Funded by Schering-Plough Corporation, these studies are being performed in collaboration with Drs. Dennis Slamon and Mark Pegram.
  • Ovarian cancer xenograft model systems. Experiments are now being directed toward grafting ovarian cancer cells into mice. Cultures are injected into these animals in several ways. Tumors have been successfully established and have carried through six generations. Survival data is being carefully monitored for use in future experiments. Studies are funded by the Ahmanson Foundation.
  • Ovarian cancer screening. The focus of the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Detection Program is to discover effective means to diagnose ovarian cancer at a curable stage. State-of-the-art ultrasound technologies and tumor marker tests are performed on participants on an annual basis. More than 1,200 participants who are genetically at risk for ovarian cancer have taken part in the program since its establishment in 1991. Approximately 20% of this population are of Ashkenazi Jewish decent. These individuals are undergoing BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing. A large serum and DNA bank has been established from this population.
  • BRCA1 and BRCA2 in ovarian cancer. In collaboration with Dr. Steven Narod, researchers have been studying the mutation frequency in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in ovarian carcinoma patients of Ashkenazi Jewish decent. To date, more than 80 patients have been studied. Prognosis factors, tumor type and other risks are being evaluated in this analysis.
  • Ovarian cancer imaging modalities. In collaboration with investigators at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratories, scientists are developing devices to detect ovarian cancer. Work on creating miniature potential detection devices is concurrently ongoing.
  • HER-2/neu oncogene studies. In collaboration with Dr. Dennis Slamon, the research laboratory is studying the HER-2/neu oncogene as it relates to regulating steroid hormones in females with ovarian cancer. Currently, analyses of more than 500 Stage III ovarian cancer specimens are underway. Our database includes pathologic data on these patients that will help determine whether the gene puts a woman at greater risk for the disease. This work has been funded in part by the American Cancer Society.
  • Stromal-epithelial interactions. This research focuses on techniques to establish surface and primary cultures of normal human ovaries. Using these specimens, researchers are investigating the connection between cell growth and environmental factors. This work has been funded in part by the Concern Foundation.
To view a list of current clinical trials relating to ovarian cancer, visit our Clinical Trials Directory.

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Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Research

Many tumors take on added and more complex chromosome abnormalities as they progress. In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), this is a factor of certain secondary cell changes and the course of the disease in later stages. Research is ongoing to see if there is a correlation with specific types of lymphoma. Data is also being compared to results of genetics research.

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Brain Tumor Research

Under the direction of Dr. Keith L. Black, the Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery and Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute is conducting genetic research to investigate potential viruses capable of shuttling "good" genes to areas with brain tumors. New gene therapy strategies for brain lesions are also being investigated to make brain tumors vulnerable to attack, either by the immune system or by chemotherapy drugs. One key area involves using cells that introduce tumor molecules to the immune system. These cause the immune system to attack the tumor and improve the chances for patient survival.

Another major research focus relates to boosting the immune response. Brain tumors are known to release immune-suppressing proteins that turn down the body's immune responses and may enable the tumor to grow even larger. At the Neurosurgical Institute, scientists have genetically manipulated brain tumor cells using what is called the TGF-b treatment. This treatment allows the immune system to recognize and begin to destroy both modified and unmodified brain tumor cells. The TGF-b treatment is now available to Neurosurgical Institute patients in clinical trials.

To view a list of current clinical trials relating to brain tumors, visit our Clinical Trials Directory.

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