Stuart A. Aaronson
Encyclopedia
Stuart A. Aaronson, M.D. , is an American
author
and internationally recognized cancer
biologist
. He has authored more than 500 publications and holds over 50 patents, and is currently the Jane B. and Jack R. Aron Professor of Neoplastic Diseases and Chairman of Oncological Sciences at Mount Sinai Medical Center
in New York City
.
, in 1962, with a degree in chemistry
. He earned his M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center in 1966, and completed a fellowship at the University of Cambridge
in England
and an internship in medicine at Moffitt Hosptial in San Francisco.
In 1967, Aaronson joined the National Institutes of Health
as a Senior Staff Fellow. He headed the Molecular Biology Section of the Viral Carcinogenesis Branch from 1970 until 1977, after which he became Chief of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the National Cancer Institute
, until 1993, when he was named Chairman of Oncological Sciences at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
viruses and molecularly cloned many of their oncogene
s. His investigations of the v-sis oncogene established the first normal function of an oncogene and its role in growth factor signaling. His discovery of erbB2
as a v-erbB-related gene amplified in a human breast carcinoma and the demonstration of its transforming properties paved the way for targeted therapies directed against its product, and his successful isolation of KGF
(FGF7), a growth factor present in the epithelialization-phase of wound healing, led to Amgen
's successful phase III clinical trial
and FDA approval of KGF for treatment of mucositis
. Current research includes investigations into the mechanisms by which tumor suppressor genes induce permanent growth arrest/senescence
, the signaling pathways involved, and investigations of the autocrine and paracrine acting growth factors PDGF
, KGF, HGF
, and Wnt
ligands.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Academic authorship
Academic authorship of journal articles, books and other original works is a means by which academics communicate the results of their scholarly work, establish priority for their discoveries, and build their reputation among their peers. Authorship is a primary basis on which many academics are...
and internationally recognized cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
. He has authored more than 500 publications and holds over 50 patents, and is currently the Jane B. and Jack R. Aron Professor of Neoplastic Diseases and Chairman of Oncological Sciences at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest and largest teaching hospitals in the United States. In 2011-2012, Mount Sinai Hospital was ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Biography
Aaronson graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, in 1962, with a degree in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
. He earned his M.D. from the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center in 1966, and completed a fellowship at the University of Cambridge
School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge
The School of Clinical Medicine is the medical school of the University of Cambridge in England. According to QS World University Rankings 2010, it currently ranks as second best in the world....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and an internship in medicine at Moffitt Hosptial in San Francisco.
In 1967, Aaronson joined the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
as a Senior Staff Fellow. He headed the Molecular Biology Section of the Viral Carcinogenesis Branch from 1970 until 1977, after which he became Chief of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute
The National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...
, until 1993, when he was named Chairman of Oncological Sciences at Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Research
Aaronson's early research established the transformation-competent but replication-defective nature of mammalian sarcomaSarcoma
A sarcoma is a cancer that arises from transformed cells in one of a number of tissues that develop from embryonic mesoderm. Thus, sarcomas include tumors of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, and hematopoietic tissues...
viruses and molecularly cloned many of their oncogene
Oncogene
An oncogene is a gene that has the potential to cause cancer. In tumor cells, they are often mutated or expressed at high levels.An oncogene is a gene found in the chromosomes of tumor cells whose activation is associated with the initial and continuing conversion of normal cells into cancer...
s. His investigations of the v-sis oncogene established the first normal function of an oncogene and its role in growth factor signaling. His discovery of erbB2
HER2/neu
HER-2 also known as proto-oncogene Neu, receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2, CD340 or p185 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the ERBB2 gene. Over expression of this gene is correlated with higher aggressiveness in breast cancers...
as a v-erbB-related gene amplified in a human breast carcinoma and the demonstration of its transforming properties paved the way for targeted therapies directed against its product, and his successful isolation of KGF
Keratinocyte Growth Factor
The Keratinocyte Growth Factor , also known as FGF7, is a growth factor present in the epithelialization-phase of wound healing. In this phase, keratinocytes are covering the wound, forming the epithelium....
(FGF7), a growth factor present in the epithelialization-phase of wound healing, led to Amgen
Amgen
Amgen Inc. is an international biotechnology company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Located in the Conejo Valley, Amgen is the world's largest independent biotech firm. The company employs approximately 17,000 staff members. Its products include Epogen, Aranesp, Enbrel, Kineret,...
's successful phase III clinical trial
Clinical trial
Clinical trials are a set of procedures in medical research and drug development that are conducted to allow safety and efficacy data to be collected for health interventions...
and FDA approval of KGF for treatment of mucositis
Mucositis
Mucositis is the painful inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract, usually as an adverse effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for cancer. Mucositis can occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract, but oral mucositis refers to the particular...
. Current research includes investigations into the mechanisms by which tumor suppressor genes induce permanent growth arrest/senescence
Senescence
Senescence or biological aging is the change in the biology of an organism as it ages after its maturity. Such changes range from those affecting its cells and their function to those affecting the whole organism...
, the signaling pathways involved, and investigations of the autocrine and paracrine acting growth factors PDGF
Platelet-derived growth factor
In molecular biology, platelet-derived growth factor is one of the numerous growth factors, or proteins that regulate cell growth and division. In particular, it plays a significant role in blood vessel formation , the growth of blood vessels from already-existing blood vessel tissue. Uncontrolled...
, KGF, HGF
Hepatocyte growth factor
Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor is a paracrine cellular growth, motility and morphogenic factor. It is secreted by mesenchymal cells and targets and acts primarily upon epithelial cells and endothelial cells, but also acts on haemopoietic progenitor cells...
, and Wnt
Wnt signaling pathway
The Wnt signaling pathway is a network of proteins best known for their roles in embryogenesis and cancer, but also involved in normal physiological processes in adult animals.-Discovery:...
ligands.
Awards and honors
- 1982 Rhoads Memorial Award
- 1982 PHS Meritorious Service Medal
- 1989 Paul Ehrlich Award
- 1989 PHS Distinguished Service Medal
- 1990 Milken Award
- 1991 Chirone Prize
- 1991 Harvey Lecture
- 1991 Wadsworth Memorial Foundation Award
- 2005 FLC Mid-Atlantic Regional Excellence in Technology Transfer Award – Kepivance
- 2006 National FLC Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer – Kepivance: Improving the Quality of Life for Cancer Patients
Patents
Partial list:| Patent Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 6479255 | Polynucleotides encoding human FRP and fragments thereof |
| 6225088 | DNA encoding plasminogen-like growth factor (PLGF) and related embodiments |
| 6228600 | Immunoassays for the alpha platelet-derived growth factor receptor |
| 6403769 | Fusion proteins that include antibody and nonantibody portions |
| 6566098 | DNA encoding truncated hepatocyte growth factor variants |
| 6639060 | erbB-3 nucleic acids |
| 6653084 | Anti-erbB-2 antibodies to human receptor related to but distinct from EGF receptor |
| 6660488 | Antibodies for the alpha platelet-derived growth factor receptor |
| 6709842 | DNA encoding a growth factor specific for epithelial cells |
| 6833132 | Method of stimulating epithelial cells using keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and method of inhibiting KGF activity |
Publications
Partial list:- Asciutti S, Akiri G, Grumolato L, Vijayakumar S, Aaronson S. "Diverse mechanisms of Wnt activation and effects of pathway inhibition on proliferation of human gastric carcinoma cells." Oncogene 2011; 30:956-966. PMID 21042278
- Akiri G, Cherian M, Vijayakumar S, Liu G, Bafico A, Aaronson S. "Wnt pathway aberrations including autocrine Wnt activation occur at high frequency in human non-small-cell lung carcinoma." Oncogene 2009; 28: 2163–2172. PMID 19377513
- Liu G, Grumolato L, Arroyave R, Qiao H, Akiri G, Aaronson S. "Canonical Wnts function as potent regulators of osteogenesis by human mesenchymal stem cells." Journal of Cell Biology 2009 April; 185(1): 67-75. PMID 19349579
- Zhao B, Benson E, Qiao R, Wang X, Kim S, Manfredi J, Lee S, Aaronson S. "Cellular senescence and organismal ageing in the absence of p21 CIP1/WAF1 in ku80-/-mice." EMBO 2009;: 71-78. PMID 19079133
- Ongusaha PP, Qi HH, Raj L, Kim YB, Aaronson SA, Davis R, Shi Y, Liao J, Lee SW. "Identification of ROCK1 as an Upstream Activator of the JIP-3 to JNK Signaling Axis in Response to UVB Damage." Sci Signal 25 November 2008; 1(47): ra14. PMID 19036714
- Munoz-Fontella C, Macip S, Martinez-Sobrido L, Brown L, Ashour J, Garcia-Sastre A, Lee SW, Aaronson SA. "Transcriptional role of p53 in Interferon-mediated antiviral immunity." Journal of Exp. Med 2008 July;: 1-10. PMID 18663127
- Mahale A, Khan Z, Igarashi M, Nanjangud G, Qiao RF, Yao S, Lee SW, Aaronson SA. "Clonal Selection in Malignant Transformation of Human Fibroblasts Transduces with Defined Cellular Oncogenes." Cancer Research 2008; 68(5): 1417–1426. PMID 18316605
- Brown L, Ongusaha P, Kim H, Nuti S, Mandinova A, Lee J, Khosravi-Far R, Aaronson SA, Lee S. "CDIP, a novel pro-apoptotic gene, regulates TNFalpha-mediated apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner." The EMBO Journal 2007; 26(14): 3410-3422. PMID 17599062
- Das S, Raj L, Zhao B, Bernstein A, Aaronson SA, Lee SA. "Hzf, a key modulator of p53 mediated transcription, functions as a critical determinant of cell survival and death upon genotoxic stress." Cell 2007; 130: 624-637. PMID 17719541
External links
- Mount Sinai Medical Center homepage
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine homepage
- Activation of a Cancer Gene by Single Mutation Reported. The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, September 28, 1983 - Cancer Gene Linked to Flaws in Growth of an Ordinary Cell. The New York Times, February 10, 1984
- The Long Road: Scientists worked for years to unravel Met's role in cancer. Cover story, Chemical & Engineering NewsChemical & Engineering NewsChemical & Engineering News is a weekly magazine published by the American Chemical Society, providing professional and technical information in the fields of chemistry and chemical engineering...
, August 20, 2007