Notice Number: NOT-CA-07-022

Key Dates
Release Date: September 25, 2007

Issued by
National Cancer Institute (NCI) (http://www.nci.nih.gov/)

Purpose

This Notice is to inform potential applicants that, effective immediately, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), (http://www.nci.nih.gov) is joining the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD),  (http://www.nichd.nih.gov), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), (http://www.niddk.nih.gov) and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), (http://www.ninr.nih.gov) in participating on the program announcement (PA), PAR-07-420, entitled “Lymphatic Biology in Health and Disease (R01).” 

Examples of potential areas of research pertinent to NCI participation in PAR-07-420 are listed below.  These  additional suggestions are merely illustrative and not inclusive, and include the following examples:

• Molecular characterization and comparison of normal and tumor lymphatic endothelia and their component cells, including identifications of molecular markers, secreted factors, and/or receptors;
• Determination of the functional status of tumor lymphatic vessels, e.g. the uptake and transport of fluid and macromolecules;
• Study of the post-natal transformation of blood endothelial cells (BECs) into lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and its relevance in tumor lymphangiogenesis;
• Study of the interplay between angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis;
• Study of interactions between tumors and lymphatic vessels, and relationship(s) between lymphangiogenesis and nodal metastasis;
• Identification and characterization of cells that are involved in the origin of tumor lymphangiogenesis;
• Study of mechanisms of entry of tumor cells into lymphatics and initiation of nodal metastasis;
• Determination of roles of stroma cells, immune cells, bone marrow-derived cells, and other circulating cells in tumor lymphangiogenesis;
• Study of the heterogeneity of lymphatics amongst different types of tumors;
• Determination of the functional relevance of the sentinel lymph node(s)
• Design and execution of anti-lymphangiogenesis strategies to prevent metastasis,(e.g., identifications of potential drug targets and/or therapies for normalization of abnormal tumor);l
• Design and validation of imaging modalities to visualize normal and tumor lymphatics;
• Studies of the biology of cancer-associated lymphedema, including those that allow a better understanding of:
  • Lymphangiogenesis-stimulating factors that are released during wound healing;
  • Diagnostic and prognostic markers of lymphedema;
  • Mechanisms that underlie resistance of lymphatic tumors to therapeutic modalities or interventions;
  • Genetic, anatomic, and functional risk factors that predispose particular individuals to lymphedema; and/or
  • Pro-lymphangiogenesis molecules to alleviate edema.

Inquiries

Suresh Mohla, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Division of Cancer Biology
Program Director, Tumor Microenvironment Network
Chief, Tumor Biology & Metastasis Branch
Division of Cancer Biology
National Cancer Institute
6130 Executive Boulevard, EPN Room 5038, MSC 7364
Bethesda, MD 20892-7364 (for U.S. Postal Service express or regular mail)
Phone: 301-435-1878 (for non-USPS express/courier delivery)
Fax: 301-480-0864
E-mail: mohlas@mail.nih.gov