$3.1M Boost for Ontario Cancer Research: New Therapies and Precision Diagnostics

Two new funding streams from the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) aim to accelerate cancer treatment development, reduce side effects, and improve patient outcomes.

The Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) has allocated $3.1 million over two years to four Ontario-based research teams through its Cancer Therapeutics Innovation Pipeline (CTIP) program. The funding is designated to advance the development of cancer therapies aimed at increasing effectiveness, reducing side effects, and decreasing recurrence rates.

Separately, OICR has also funded four studies through its new CATALYST program, which utilizes existing patient data and donated samples to advance cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

CTIP Program Overview

The CTIP program supports drug discovery and collaborates with institutions across Ontario to facilitate the delivery of cancer therapies to patients. Applications undergo a review by an expert panel from academia and industry, which also provides scientific and strategic guidance to the awarded teams. The funded research focuses on therapeutic approaches based on new insights into cancer biology.

"These grants are part of OICR's efforts to address issues such as side effects and drug resistance."
— Dr. Lincoln Stein, Acting Scientific Director, OICR

Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, affirmed government support for OICR's research initiatives. Terry Hawrysh, a CTIP patient partner, noted the importance of faster access to new therapies offering improved options and outcomes.

CTIP Funded Projects

Inhibiting Oncogenic Transcription Factor-Cofactor Interaction

Dr. David Andrews (Sunnybrook Research Institute) is leading a project to target a cancer-driving protein linked to poor patient outcomes. The approach involves disrupting its interaction with a stabilizing partner protein to trigger its destruction and selectively eliminate cancer cells. The team plans to optimize compound screening to develop a first-in-class therapy for tumors dependent on this protein.

Targeting Breast and Ovarian Cancer: New "Frankenprotein" Drugs Against Old Diseases

Dr. Jumi Shin (University of Toronto, Mississauga) is developing a class of protein-based drugs, termed "frankenproteins," designed to enter cancer cells and disrupt a major cancer network active in over 70% of tumors. Early versions of these drugs have shown success in slowing tumor growth in aggressive triple-negative breast cancer models. The goal is to provide treatments for challenging breast and ovarian cancers, including for patients with limited options or drug resistance.

From Surface Profiling to Precision Therapy in Leukemia

Dr. Anastasia Tikhonova (University Health Network) is working to create targeted therapies for T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). By identifying a surface marker present on leukemia cells but not healthy immune cells, the team intends to design antibody drugs or engineered immune cells that selectively target cancer cells. This approach aims to offer treatments for T-ALL patients, including those with relapsed or treatment-resistant disease.

A Therapeutic Strategy Targeting Lipid Metabolism

Dr. Sheila Singh (McMaster University) is focusing on a metabolic vulnerability in Group 3 medulloblastoma, an aggressive childhood brain tumor. The project aims to block an enzyme essential for tumor fat production. The team will develop orally available inhibitors capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. This strategy may provide options for children with resistant disease.

CATALYST Program Overview

CATALYST is a new OICR funding stream designed to leverage existing patient data and donated samples. The studies were selected through an iterative evaluation process. The program aims to maximize the impact of discoveries by reanalyzing existing resources.

"Patients want their participation to make a difference."
— Vivian Simbul Sim, cancer survivor and patient partner

Dr. David Cescon, Scientific Director of OICR's Clinical Translation research theme, and Dr. Lincoln Stein emphasized that these studies maximize research efficiency by avoiding the need to start from scratch. Nolan Quinn expressed government support for the CATALYST program.

CATALYST Funded Studies

• Dr. Neil Fleshner (University Health Network) is investigating whether metformin, a diabetes medication, can slow clonal hematopoiesis, a condition that increases blood cancer risk. The study builds on prior work showing metformin impedes growth of cells with a genetic mutation causing this condition.

• Dr. Hon Leong (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre) and Dr. Lillian Siu (University Health Network) are examining whether a blood test measuring endogenous retrotransposable elements (ERE) can predict immunotherapy response, based on earlier findings that high ERE in tumors correlated with better response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

• Dr. Enrique Sanz Garcia and Dr. Scott Bratman (University Health Network) are exploring a blood test to identify head and neck cancer patients at high risk of recurrence after treatment, using advanced genomic sequencing to detect tumor DNA fragments.

• Dr. Vikas Gupta (University Health Network) and Dr. James Kennedy (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre) are developing a system to predict therapy response in myelofibrosis patients, reanalyzing data from a prior risk scoring tool to determine optimal timing for bone marrow transplant.