# Case GI SPORE

> **NIH NIH P50** · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $2,375,000

## Abstract

OVERALL SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This Case GI SPORE renewal application provides for a cutting edged Specialized Program of Research
Excellence in gastrointestinal malignancies with emphasis on colorectal cancers and adenocarcinoma of the
esophagus. This comprehensive program builds on the resources of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
to propose 4 translational Research Projects to bring new molecular advances to patients with GI Cancers. A
series of 3 core resources support these projects and also establish a strong programmatic infrastructure for
translational research in GI cancers. We have further developed a comprehensive infrastructure for identifying
new Developmental Research Projects from basic science and clinical investigators from across the Case
Cancer Center. Drawing on our strong track record of developing new faculty who emphasize translational
research in GI cancers, we have also developed a targeted Career Enhancement Program to further advance
and recruit to the translational research cadre of SPORE faculty. The 4 SPORE translational research projects
constitute novel and cutting edge approaches to GI cancers and include studies of: i) Targeting the 15-PGDH
colon cancer tumor suppressor pathway for prediction of cancer risk, prediction of response to chemoprevention
with aspirin, and development of new colon cancer prevention and treatment strategies (Project 1, Drs.
Markowitz, Li, and Berger); ii) Elucidating the basis for and the clinical significance of a mutational signature of
African American colon cancer (Project 2, Drs. Willis, Li, and Wang); iii) Development of molecular markers of
and non-endoscopic detection of Barrett's esophagus and early esophageal adenocarcinomas (Project 3, Drs.
Chak, Guda, and Markowitz); and iv) Development of personalized treatment of PIK3CA mutant colon cancers
using targeted inhibitors of glutamine metabolism (Project 4, Drs. Wang and Meropol). These projects are built
on major advances from the SPORE's first funding period that include: i) publication in Science that 15-PGDH
regulates colon crypt stem cells; ii) publication in Science Translational Medicine that individual's 15-PGDH
levels regulate whether taking aspirin will or will not reduce their colon cancer risk; iii) publication in Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences of genes preferentially targeted for somatic mutations in colorectal cancers
of African Americans; iv) publication on the cover of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention that
testing for methylated vimentin DNA in esophageal brushings could detect over 90% of Barrett's esophagus and
esophageal adenocarcinomas; v) publication in Nature Communications that PIK3CA mutant cancers are
addicted to glutamine and sensitive to inhibitors of glutamine metabolism. These projects are advantaged by
special populations and scientific resources developed for evaluation of GI cancer biomarkers, new drug
discovery, Next-Generation sequencing of formalin fixed tumor sampl...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9987266
- **Project number:** 5P50CA150964-09
- **Recipient organization:** CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** SANFORD D. MARKOWITZ
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $2,375,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2011-09-14 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9987266

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9987266, Case GI SPORE (5P50CA150964-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9987266. Licensed CC0.

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