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

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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