Critical role of genetics in cancer prevention and treatment
It is now widely recognized that one of major cause of cancer are inherited predispositions. Abnormalities (mutations) of such genes like BRCA1, BRCA2, MSH2, MLH1, MSH6, VHL, Rb-1, NBS1, CHEK2, NOD2, p16 or CYP1B1 are the early indicators of cancers of the breast, ovary, colon, endometrium, kidney, eye and/or prostate. It is crucial to identify cohorts of patients with increased inherited risk of cancers since these patients have a unique chance to benefit from early prevention efforts. Furthermore, preventive medicine could drastically reduce cancer treatment costs by either averting cancer occurrence or by detecting them at the early stage when treatment is the most effective. Until recently, genetic markers identifying individuals with high susceptibility to cancer were known on average for around 10% of all cancers. Researchers are actively seeking to increase this percentage as well as to define protocols of the most efficient DNA testing. In order to identify the crucial genes related to predisposition to cancers and to define new prevention protocols e.g. using chemopreventive drugs, it is necessary to deploy large (hundreds of thousands of individuals) databases (registries) of DNA samples and of clinical data. Such registries are particularly useful when developed in populations with high degree of genetic homogeneity.
In the forefront of genetic cancer prevention
Professor Lubinski and his team at the Pomeranian Medical University at Szczecin have been in the forefront of the genetic cancer efforts both in Poland and internationally. As early as 1992, they created the first Polish hereditary cancer center (IHCC) in Poland. This center carries out triple activity:
- Setting up and managing a large registry of DNA samples and clinical data
- Developing basic and applied research on genetic factors affecting most common forms of cancer
- Operating an out-patient detection and early treatment activity.
Resources
The Center is located on the main campus of PMU campus. It occupies two floors (4000 square meters), of a recently renovated building. To support its activities, IHCC has at its disposal state-of-the art equipment. The total budget of IHCC is 4 million PLN (1 million euros.) This budget is funded as follows
- 30% contributed by PMU
- 20% contributed by outside research funds
- 50% paid by other sources (in particular National Health Insurance)
Organisational structure
To carry out its activities, IHCC has built a strong team. It comprises 68 persons, with 30 academic staff, including 3 full and associate professors and 13 postgraduate researches (Ph.D. and / or M.D.). The average age of the team is 33 years and the average tenure of its academic staff is 15 years. Organisational structure of IHCC includes following units:
Key personnel
The IHCC team is led by Professor Jan Lubinski, who is also a Full Professor at the Pomeranian Medical University and the Head of the genetics department. Founder of IHCC, Professor Lubinski obtained his MD and PH.D degree at Szczecin but has extensive international experience, having working in France (Institut Pasteur) and in the United States (as a Fullbright Fellow). Other key members include: Grzegorz Kurzawski, Bohdan Górski, Cezary Cybulski, Jacek Gronwald, Tomasz Huzarski and Anna Jakubowska.