Obesity is associated with an increased risk for a broad spectrum of tumors, including colon cancer. And once cancer develops, statistics show that overweight or obese individuals are at higher risk of cancer recurrence and have a decreased chance of survival. The underlying mechanisms for this are unclear.

One of the emerging possibilities with regard to colon cancer is that excess lipids -- a class of organic compounds, including fats, that are insoluble in water -- accumulate in both the fat-storing and non-fat-storing tissues of obese individuals. These intracellular lipids are stored in droplets (LDs) and are seen at higher volumes in colonic tumors relative to normal tissues. It is theorized that these droplets not only drive inflammation in the colonic epithelium, but they could also be the energy source that drives colon tumor formation and growth.

"In order for cancer cells to grow and persist, they need fuel," said Suzana Savkovic, PhD, associate professor of pathology and laboratory medicine. "Overweight or obese individuals store excess energy in the form of fat, and cancer cells derive their energy from muscles and fat. So we know obesity and cancer progression are connected, but we don't yet fully understand how." Savkovic and her team were recently awarded a five-year, $1.6 million National Cancer Institute grant to investigate the connection.

But lipid accumulation is not the only culprit, according to Dr. Savkovic. LD accumulation PLUS the suppression of a gene involved in halting tumor growth -- the FOXO3 tumor suppressor gene -- seem to represent a co-dependent signaling network that drives colon cancer progression.

"We discovered that when FOXO3 loses function, there is an increase in LD accumulation. The cells actually start to accumulate more food," said Savkovic. Why is this important? Because LDs are actually changing these cells. Even if they were normal before, now they can become cancerous cells because they are storing LDs. And LDs provide the physical building blocks that cancer cells need to create new cells as they rapidly divide, as well as the fuel to support tumor growth.

There is also a third player in this process, according to Savkovic -- enzymatic molecules called DGATs. Savkovic's preliminary data show that DGATs levels are elevated in human and mouse colonic tumors relative to normal tissues, with even higher levels in obese individuals and mice. Elevated DGATs are linked to poor patient survival.

"In the laboratory, inhibition of DGATs in human colonic-transformed cells blocked the pathway responsible for the loss of FOXO3, lowered LDs and prevented tumor cell growth," said Savkovic. "The whole process is a big loop. We hypothesize that elevated levels of DGATs help to drive the LD/FOXO3 signaling network, and if we block DGATs, we can not only preserve FOXO3 tumor suppressor function, but also lower LD accumulation and in turn suppress tumor formation and growth. If we target DGATs, the rest of the loop falls apart." This knowledge could provide opportunities to establish new therapeutic approaches for colon cancer.

Savkovic is especially excited that she and her team used the tissues of local colon cancer patients in generating the preliminary data that led to this grant. The tissues were acquired by and stored in the Louisiana Cancer Research Center's (LCRC) Biospecimen Laboratory.

"These patients are from across the Greater New Orleans area, not just Tulane," said Savkovic. "I feel so privileged that people from this community are contributing to this important research. We don't have to rely on others; we have a presence on the national scene."

The LCRC - a cancer research partnership between Tulane, LSUHSC, Xavier and Ochsner - was created and funded by the State of Louisiana to help foster collaborative cancer research. Savkovic feels the resources it provides help to "drive her work." In addition to utilizing the Biospecimen Core Laboratory, she has used the services of the Cancer Crusader's Next Generation Sequence Analysis Core to help analyze her data, and her recent lecture to all LCRC faculty helped to kick start potential research collaborations with colleagues at LSUHSC and Ochsner.

"I'm so grateful to have an opportunity to give back to the community here based on what I do and what I know," said Savkovic.

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology recently welcomed Professor Jun-yuan Ji, PhD, (top left) to the faculty.

Dr. Ji is a developmental geneticist with research interests in cancer biology. He and his laboratory team have made several important contributions to understanding the regulation of lipid metabolism and cell cycle progression using the fruit fly - Drosophila melanogaster - and cultured cancer cells as experimental systems.

Dr. Ji will be teaming up with Dr. Wu-Min Deng (bottom left), the Gerald and Flora Jo Mansfield Piltz Endowed Professor of Cancer Research, who also utilizes the fruit fly model in his cancer investigations. Together, they plan to establish a Center for Disease Models here at Tulane, with the goal of fostering interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers across the Greater New Orleans area.

Drosophila melanogaster has been used in laboratories around the world for over a century to study the fundamentals of genetics and development. Sharing approximately 75% of its genome with humans and having an overlap of approximately 90% in disease-causing genes, Drosophila has been influential not only in the discovery of many genes and fundamental regulatory mechanisms, but also in the study of cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and neurological disorders.

“Dr. Ji's arrival helps us to further broaden our Drosophila research program, enhancing the expertise in diverse animal models within the Tulane Cancer Center," said Prescott Deininger, PhD., Cancer Center Director. "We are very excited at the promise of their collaborations - with each other and with other researchers at Tulane and beyond."

Krewe de Pink's (KDP) Annual Pink Bra Run, benefiting Tulane Cancer Center's Breast Cancer Research Program, is going VIRTUAL this year!

So grab your favorite pink bra, get outside, and enjoy the fun, while helping to support breast cancer research right here at home!

"We want everyone to join together with their family and friends -- complying with social distancing requirements, of course -- and have quirky New Orleans-style fun while also raising funds for this amazing cause," said Stephanie Cantrell, Krewe de Pink's run coordinator. "And the really cool thing this year is that you don't have to be here in New Orleans to participate. Because it's virtual, you can join from anywhere in the world."

The Pink Bra Run is one of three annual signature events planned by KDP. The other two include Death by Chocolate...Not Breast Cancer (see below Save-The-Date) and the Krewe de Pink Prom, held annually in the fall.

Dedicated to producing fundraising events with a New Orleans flair, KDP was started in 2015 by a team of concerned and passionate individuals who were all affected by breast cancer and who wanted to fight back. Over the last five years, KDP has raised over $125,000 to help support Dr. Bridgette Collins-Burow's research into triple negative breast cancer at Tulane Cancer Center.

Krewe de Pink's designated race day is always the Saturday before Mother's Day. This year, that date is May 8. However, since the event is virtual, participants can choose their own race date this year, so long as their run/walk is completed and their times submitted by May 8 at 9 p.m.

Participants may register through Eventbrite by clicking here!

Once registered, your bib number will be assigned and your printable bib emailed to you. We encourage all participants to print and wear their bibs during their personal run/walk to show observers that they are participating in a registered race.

Adult Virtual Race Registration - $35 per person.

Youth Virtual Race Registration (13 years and younger) - $25 per person

Use your favorite fitness app (Fitbit, Motion X, Strava, etc.) to log your run or walk for distance, time and route. Save the information on a screenshot. Then visit the race website and fill out the run form to show that your event is completed.

You can follow Krewe de Pink's traditional route or select your own 5K (3.1 mile) route!

The KDP route starts on the Mississippi River levee in Historic Gretna (across from River Shack, 714 1st St.) and continues toward Algiers Point (ending near Old Point Bar, 545 Patterson Rd.). The traditional route offers some of the most beautiful views of the New Orleans skyline and the Crescent City Connection in the area.

Each participant will receive a 2021 Pink Bra Run medal in commemoration of the event once their race form is completed. You may opt out of receiving a medal if you wish. Please indicate your preference at registration.

Since this year's event is virtual, with a variety of fitness apps in use, we are considering it a FUN event, not a qualifying event for other races.

Participate in running gear or in costume! Remember, this is a Pink Bra Run, so go ahead and bedazzle that bra and go for a memorable stroll!

Krewe de Pink wants your pictures!! Tag them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or your platform of choice. (#PBR2021, #PinkBraRun)

Please email: info@krewedepink.org

Or visit: https://www.krewedepink.org/pink-bra-run

Krewe de Pink, in its continued effort to support Tulane Cancer Center’s Breast Cancer Research Fund, will once again partner with Schoen Mansion and Delgado Community College's Culinary and Pastry Arts Program in hosting this uniquely delicious event. Delgado will sponsor a live cooking competition -- featuring Callebaut chocolate -- among the school's hospitality students. Each student will be judged on their chocolate-inspired creations -- both sweet and savory -- and their table designs. First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded. In addition to sampling all of the tasty creations and voting for their favorites, guests will receive a swag bag compliments of Delgado Community College. This year's event is being held in honor of Norma Jane Sabiston, a 2020 Sweet Survivor Honoree.

Event planners are closely monitoring all COVID-19 restrictions and will follow all guidelines in place at the time of the event. Current plans potentially include a socially distanced in-person event combined with drive-through pick-up of sample food items for additional guests. Stay tuned for additional details.

For more information or to PURCHASE TICKETS, visit https://www.krewedepink.org/death-by-chocolate.

To increase awareness of the causes, symptoms, risk factors and treatment options for various urological conditions, the Department of Urology recently launched a Men's Health Webinar Series.

To register, please click here.