A five-year, $3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute will support physician-researcher Dustin Deming, MD, assistant professor, Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care and colleagues in their pursuit of more effective treatments for patients living with colorectal cancer. 

The study will involve growing colon cancer cells from patient-derived tissue to help predict how an individual patient’s cancer will respond to various treatments. Using three-dimensional, or organotypic, cultures, allows the researchers to better simulate a given patient’s cancer in a laboratory setting. 

"Specifically, we are looking at whether we can predict the response to chemotherapy and radiation for patients with colorectal cancers."

Resources:

• "UW Carbone Cancer Center Study to Look for Ways to Personalize Therapy in Colorectal Cancer," UW School of Medicine and Public Health, June 15, 2018

Photo (top): Dr. Dustin Deming in his laboratory. Credit: Clint Thayer/Department of Medicine