UNC cancer research finds success with compound treatments

They’ve got money, and they’re working together.

Faculty and researchers across UNC’s medical programs say state support and a collaborative environment are the main reasons why UNC has had so many recent breakthroughs in cancer research.

Shelton Earp, director of UNC Cancer Care and a Lineberger professor of cancer research, has been at the cancer center since 1977, almost since the beginning.

“We don’t think that one person or even one group has the key, but that we want to put together teams across every discipline in the University,” Earp said.

One recent study investigating acute myeloid leukemia — led by Stephen Frye, a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member and a professor in the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy — created a drug around a target identified in Earp’s laboratory 20 years ago. 

“The idea was if we could make a drug that hit this target in leukemic cells where it was overexpressed, perhaps we could get cures at a higher rate,” Earp said.

Frye’s team created a new compound to treat tumors that become resistant to molecules and medication over time. He said collaborating is just part of the UNC spirit.

“We’re all trying to do something good and change the world,” Frye said.

Al Baldwin, associate director of basic research at UNC Lineberger and a biology professor, said grant support for cancer research is in the hundreds of millions. 

“There’s a strong commitment to cancer research,” Baldwin said.

Part of that support comes from the University Cancer Research Fund, said Karen McCall, spokesperson for the School of Medicine and the UNC Health Care System. The fund was established by the state of North Carolina in 2007 to bolster cancer research. 

“It was initially set up to invest $50 million a year and there’s been varying amounts throughout the years,” McCall said.

Baldwin said there are great cancer research programs all over the country. While UNC is not unique, it’s a stellar program, he said.

“It’s exemplified by our great publications, our great faculty, our national presence in clinical trials, companies that have started out of Lineberger that are dedicated to problems in cancer,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin said cancer is a significant problem that hits every family.

“People suffer and we’re committed to trying to improve that in small steps, but big steps occur as well,” Baldwin said.

Shawn Hingtgen, a pharmacy school professor and UNC Lineberger member, led the first study ever to show that skin cells can be used as cancer-killing stem cells. 

“We really needed to make the cells come from you, from your skin,” Hingtgen said. “So that if you’re your own source for stem cells, we don’t have to worry about rejection.”

Hingtgen said there hasn’t been an effective brain cancer treatment in almost 30 years.

“It opens a new door for the future where we can actually make personalized, patient-specific, cancer-choosing cells simply by using your skin,” Hingtgen.

Hingtgen said the goal of cancer research is to make a difference in people’s lives.

“It is really devastating and terrible to watch patients suffer when the treatment options are just not good enough and we need something better to help these patients,” Hingtgen said.

Earp said cancer affects society at every level and is the leading cause of death in North Carolina.

“It’s a disease that 1.6 million people in this country get every year and that creates a lot of cost and a lot of hope and opportunity,” Earp said.

Chad Ellis, associate director of UNC Lineberger for planning and administration, said the fight to cure cancer is a national effort. 

“The University Cancer Research Fund really enables us to focus on the state of North Carolina,” Ellis said. “It’s a very unique state.”

The Lineberger Cancer Center has brought together 1,000 faculty members from many of UNC’s schools, not just the School of Medicine, McCall said.

Ellis said UNC has created an environment where everyone wants to work together.

“We’re really trying to create a place where those folks can come together and try to tackle a problem from every possible angle.”

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