York University Professor Wins Banting Foundation Award for Research on Breast Cancer Treatment

Findings May Help Reduce Unpleasant Chemotherapy Side Effects

TORONTO, November 27, 1998 -- The war against breast cancer has an ally in York University Professor Dr. Imogen Coe. At a ceremony held earlier today, Coe was awarded a prestigious grant valued at $20,000 from a new joint program between The Banting Research Foundation and BioChem Pharma for her research on breast cancer.

Coe, who joined York University June 1998 and teaches cell/molecular biology, won the first BioChem Pharma/BioChem Therapeutic Award. Coe is part of an international team that cloned the first proteins, known as transporters, responsible for moving anti-cancer drugs into human body cells. She is now identifying ways to stimulate activity of these transporters and improve their efficacy in delivering cancer-fighting drugs.

"While there has been a lot of work on developing new drugs," said Coe, "there has been very little on the cellular aspects of how the drugs get into cells which is the critical component of this type of treatment. If the drugs don't get in, they can't kill the cancer cells which is what they are designed to do. We need to understand how they get in, and how to make more of them get in faster. If we can do this in patients, we could give them lower drug dosages, stimulate cells so that they absorb more medication and reduce some of the unpleasant side effects associated with chemotherapy, " she said.

Many drugs have not been successful in the past in treating solid tumours such as in breast cancer or prostate cancer. Coe is looking at how steroid hormones affect the activity of these all-important transporters. This research will provide valuable insight into improving current types of treatment and possibly developing new ones.

"I am greatly honoured," said Coe. "These types of awards are highly significant to new researchers just starting out as independent investigators. They not only provide much-needed financial support to individuals who might not yet have acquired major grants from the large federal funding agencies, but they also provide recognition of the merit of the proposed research," she said.

This is the second year in a row that researchers in York University's Biology Department have been recognized by The Banting Research Foundation for excellence and innovation in research. York University Professor Chun Peng, a cell/molecular biologist, was an award recipient last year.

"This is a reflection of the strength of our research at York University and the quality of the new hirings that have taken place over the last few years," said Associate Vice-President (Research and Faculties) Dr. Brock Fenton. "I heartily congratulate Professor Coe on her award and on her contribution to the scientific community and to the advancement of research," he said.

Coe is available to do interviews on her research and future projects.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Imogen Coe
Department of Biology
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 30825

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor for Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22807

Ken Turriff
Media Relations Officer
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
YU/088/98