索拉茲紀念基金會Stephen J. Solarz Memorial Fund: 促成台美合作實驗室成立

癌細胞會集體轉移！中研院揪出「帶頭大哥」2019-03-06 〔記者吳亮儀、吳柏軒／台北報導〕中研院基因體中心研究團隊發現，癌細胞有成群結隊移動的習性，一旦聚集、集結成團，就是即將轉移的前兆，若提早發現，有機會避免癌細胞轉移、及時控制病情。美國前紐約州眾議員索拉茲非常支持台灣，在他逝世後，夫人妮娜（Nina）繼續支持台灣，也透過索拉茲紀念基金會，促成這次台美合作實驗室成立。中研院基因體中心研究員張瑛芝、台北榮總醫師暨陽明大學教授楊慕華研究頭頸癌轉移，發現癌細胞有成群移動的習性，並由名叫「claudin-11」蛋白扮演糾集群眾的角色。這項研究的關鍵工具是由張瑛芝發明的癌細胞捕捉器平台（簡稱CMx平台）；只需要二西西血液，細胞捕捉器平台就可測出患者血液中的癌細胞數量。研究團隊花了超過四年研究，臨床數據顯示，當血液中的頭頸癌細胞是多顆集結狀態時，與轉移到患者肺部的嚴重性明顯成正比。透過老鼠及人體實驗證明，頭頸癌細胞分裂時，經由「snail」轉錄因子產生的claudin-11蛋白，會「糾眾」把癌細胞集結在一起。楊慕華說，「CMx平台」已可和臨床醫師配合使用，能應用的科別很多。未來用在檢測頭頸癌和治療後的追蹤上，應可成為預後的照顧利器，也是很好的觀察指標。這項研究成果已在今年一月下旬，刊登在國際期刊《Nature Cell Biology》。台美合作開設癌症實驗室 另外，肺癌在台灣、美國都是癌症死亡率之冠，肺腺癌是台、美肺癌病患的主要罹患類別，但台灣多數病患約五成有EGFR（上皮生長因子接受器）基因突變，美國病患EGFR基因突變比例則僅約兩成，基因突變會影響醫師臨床治療的策略及標靶藥物。為了探究差異，美國國家衛生研究院癌症研究所首度與台灣合作開設實驗室，將與陽明大學、台北榮民總醫院等攜手，希望合作解開基因謎題、發展精準醫療。

Stephen J. Solarz, a former member of Congress, received treatment for esophageal cancer at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that added years to his life.  His family and friends have established the Stephen J. Solarz Memorial Fund to support research at NCI and to provide other patients with the blessing of life. Congressman Solarz was treated by a phenomenal team of doctors and nurses at NCI led by Dr. David Schrump. Dr. Schrump's pioneering research in the field of thoracic oncology led to the treatments that allowed Steve to live years beyond what otherwise would have been possible. Before he died, Steve and his wife Nina dedicated themselves to supporting Dr. Schrump's research so that even better treatments may be available to other patients. The Stephen J. Solarz Memorial Fund supports research activities led by Dr. Schrump and selected in consultation with Nina Solarz and her family. The Stephen J. Solarz Memorial Fund is administered by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, which is authorized by Congress to raise private funds in support of the mission and work of NIH. Steve said that the NIH was the "jewel in the crown of the Federal government," because it serves the people of the United States and the world by conducting creative and disciplined scientific research and treating patients in ways that enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.