> CPDR News
Urology Resident Awarded First Place
June 27, 2008
MAJ Eric Richter, Urology Resident was awarded first place in Basic Science at the Metropolitan Washington Chapter, American College of Surgeons, Washington Academy of Surgery. The Metropolitan Washington Chapter of the American College of Surgeons was founded in 1972 to promote aims, interests, ideals, and programs of the College in the metropolitan area of Washington, which includes DC as well as suburban Maryland and Virginia. He Presented the Role for DNA Methylation in Regulating the Growth Suppressor PMEPA1 Gene in Prostate Cancer.
MAJ Richter described how epigenetic events contribute to the selective growth advantage of cancer cells during tumor progression. PMEPA1 gene is an androgen-inducible negative regulator of cell growth in the prostate epithelium. In prostate cancer progression PMEPA1 gene transcription is reduced. He presented a mechanistic model to describe this loss-of-expression by epigenetic mechanisms. His findings highlights the clinical applicability of decitabine in prostate tumors harboring wild type androgen receptor. One of the main aims of the Metropolitan Washington Chapter is to recognize outstanding accomplishments of Surgical Residents and young surgeons.
The CPDR mission is fulfilled primarily through its three principal programs – the Clinical Research Center, the Basic Science Research Program and the National Multicenter Prostate Cancer Database– and through a robust education and training program that operates out of its Headquarters location, the Clinical Research Center, and the original laboratories at USUHS. CPDR is also committed to patient outreach, primarily through its affiliation with the WRAMC US TOO! organization and through a heavy schedule of health fairs in which it participates.
