CWU NATURAL SCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES CONTINUES FRIDAY

January 23, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- Cancer that starts in a person's bone is relatively rare, with only about 2,500 cases diagnosed annually in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. However, "metastatic" cancer, the kind that begins elsewhere and then spreads into someone's bones, is more common.

It involved developing ways to inhibit the spread of cancer to the bones. He will discuss that work during a lecture, titled "Attempts to Kill Bone Cancer: Identifying a Bone-Specific Gene Promoter to Express Cytotoxic Drugs," at the next CWU winter quarter natural science seminar. It's slated for Friday, Jan. 26, at 4 p.m. in Science Building 147.

"Cancer that spreads to the bones is characterized by having to interact with bone cells to grow," Selski points out.

His research involved trying to determine if they can use that fact against the disease. The idea is, through genetic engineering, to develop and introduce of a therapeutic gene into a cancer patient. The engineered gene would be designed to inhibit cancer spread by actually killing healthy bone cells and nearby cancerous cells.

The concept is based on the cytotoxic drugs now being used that affect the growth and action of some cells that cause arthritis symptoms.

While such a cancer therapy is "way off in the future," according to Selski, a model is under development that could lead to clinical laboratory testing.

For more information about his free, public presentation, sponsored by the CWU biological sciences department, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 963-2731, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.

Contact: Dr. Dan Beck (509-963-2886/fax 509-963-2730/e-mail: beckd@cwu.edu)