Thomas Jefferson University Receives $1.25M Grant to Tackle Bone Destruction in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Karen Bussard, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, has been awarded a three-year grant by the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation. The $1,246,824 gift will fund her research study entitled “Reducing osteolytic bone destruction in bone metastatic breast cancer”.

Recurrent metastatic breast cancer (BC) remains incurable and fatal. Bone is a frequent site of metastasis in these cases. Patients with bone metastasis suffer from severe bone pain, fractures, and debilitating bone lesions caused by excessive bone destruction, and report the worst quality of life of all sites of metastasis. There are currently no preventative therapies to combat these symptoms. Bone-modifying drugs neither cure bone destruction present upon diagnosis, nor stimulate new bone growth. Dr. Bussard’s work focuses on the critical, unmet need for new therapeutic strategies that prevent bone destruction.

“For breast cancer patients with recurrent disease, reducing and limiting bone loss is vital to providing much-needed relief from devastating symptoms due to bone metastasis and ultimately enhancing their quality of life. The Kleberg Foundation’s vision, generosity, and commitment will facilitate vital new research essential to the development of critical new therapies in this battle,” said Dr. Bussard.

Bussard and her research colleagues have discovered that a subset of bone-depositing osteoblast cells called “educated osteoblasts” (EOs) reduce the formation of bone-destroying osteoclast (OC) cells and limit bone destruction in models of bone metastatic BC. The hope is that further studies will define the molecular changes in OC cells that limit bone destruction, and lead to new approaches to prevent bone loss in bone metastatic BC and to limit OC cell formation.

“We are grateful for the wonderful generosity of the Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation,” said Susan C. Aldridge, PhD, president of Thomas Jefferson University. “This grant will not only have significant implications in treating BC bone metastases and reducing bone loss, it will undoubtedly inspire our next generation of students and scientists in their quests to improve—and save—lives through continued research and scientific inquiry.”

“Thanks to the philanthropic partnership of the Kleberg Foundation, this important research will help to lay the groundwork for the creation of innovative therapeutic strategies, bringing hope to—and potentially improving the quality of life and outcomes for—patients suffering from breast cancer with bone metastatic disease,” said Said Ibrahim, MD, MBA, MPH, the Anthony F. and Gertrude M. DePalma Dean of Sidney Kimmel Medical College.