Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

Matthew L. Meyerson, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘95-‘98 and Current Fellowship Sponsor) of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, and David M. Sabatini, MD, PhD (Former Fellowship Sponsor) of the Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, are two of this year’s recipients of the Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research.  The awards recognize three young investigators under the age of forty-six who have taken significant steps toward advancing the understanding of cancer. 

Dr. Meyerson is a leader in the field of cancer genomics and plays a key role in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project that aims to improve the understanding of the molecular basis of cancer.  One of his most significant discoveries is the identification of mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene that drive lung cancer and its response to the targeted therapies erlotinib (Tarceva®) and gefitinib (Iressa®).  He has also studied other cancer-related genes that function in some types of leukemia, lung cancer, neuroblastoma, glioblastoma and endometrial cancer. His laboratory is also identifying cancer-causing microbes.

Dr. Sabatini identified the mTOR protein kinase, a key protein in regulating cell growth, proliferation, and survival. He has focused on determining how the mTOR pathway relates to cancer.  His findings have contributed to two drugs, temsirolimus (Torisel®) and everolimus (Afinitor®), both of which target the mTOR pathway and are approved for the treatment of kidney cancer.  His current work is examining how metabolism affects cancer.

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