Short Description: The UP-PGH Biobank continues its pursuit of cancer research with this newest study that aims to (1) explore the expression profiling of breast cancer through the next generation sequencing, and (2) determine the response to neoadjuvant therapy in vivo and in vitro, and (3) expand the breast cancer biobank of the Philippine General Hospital. The program has two components, namely, (Project 1) identification of gene expression profile of Filipino breast cancer patients and (Project 2) development of breast cancer mammosphere assay for chemotherapy screening. This would allow testing chemotherapeutic agents specifically targeting particular cancer cell lines. These two projects aim to explore approaches to cancer characterization and diagnosis, gearing towards individualized/personalized cancer management. Overall, the study hopes to serve as an attempt to develop precision medicine in the country.
Principal Investigator: Rodney B. Dofitas, M.D.
Co-investigators and Affiliation: Nelson Cabaluna, M.D., Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Gemma Leonora Uy, M.D., Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Shiela Macalindong M.D., Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Eugene Odoño, M.D., Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Apple Valparaiso, M.D., Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Anne Camille Yuga, M.D., Philippine General Hospital (PGH), Eva Marie Cutiongco – Dela Paz, M.D., Philippine Genome Center (PGC), Michael Velarde, Ph. D., University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD), and Ma. Easter Joy Sajo, Ph.D., University of the Philippines-Baguio (UPB).
Funded by: Department of Science and Technology -Philippine Council of Health Research and
Development (DOST-PCHRD)
Short Description: Most of the data on hereditary breast cancer, specifically BRCA mutations, are derived from Western studies, of which Asian population (more specifically the Philippines), comprises a very small subset. With the Philippines having a high incidence of breast cancer at an age-standardized rate of 47.7 per 100,000 per year, data on hereditary breast cancer and BRCA mutations are needed to come up with better treatment guidelines in battling the disease, especially in aspects of genetic screening, mapping, and testing. The study aimed to determine genetic mutations among high-risk hereditary Filipino breast cancer patients by utilizing a testing kit on collected saliva samples. This was done with the aim to improve management of patients or family members, thereby leading to early detection and higher chance of survival among breast cancer patients. Data collected from this study will hopefully impact policies and guidelines on how to handle genetic mutation in this population group.
Short description: The establishment of a Philippine cancer phenome-banking system will be two- pronged: 1) the human cell repository system and 2) the biomonitoring program. The human cell repository system was established to meet national and international needs for Filipino-derived cell lines that can be used in ethnicity-dependent health disparity studies and drug discovery research. At present, Filipino researchers have limited access to sources of Filipino-derived cancer cell lines, leading to difficulty in translating efficacy of these natural products to treat human diseases in Filipinos. The biomonitoring program, on the other hand, was established to analyze Filipino individuals for a panel of endocrine disruptors that may increase cancer and/or contribute to poor patient prognosis. (Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals found in agricultural pesticides, commercial food packaging, and many household and personal care products (including anti-bacterial soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics, plastic bottles, kids’ toys, and PVC plastics), which at relevant human exposure levels, can increase cancer risk.)
Principal Investigators: Linda C. Giudice, M.D., Ph.D.
Philippine Collaborators and Affiliation: Michael C. Velarde, Ph.D., University of the Philippines-Diliman (UPD), and Rodney Dofitas, M.D., University of the Philippines- Manila (UPM) and Ma. Antonio Habana, M.D., University of the Philippines- Manila (UPM)
Funded by: CHED-PCARI
Project Duration: March 2017 – February 2019, including 6-month extension in March 2019 – August 2019
