Asfar Azmi, Ph.D., associate professor of Oncology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, was named the winner of the 2021 Anthony and Joyce Danielski Kales Endowed Faculty Award for Innovative Cancer Researcher for his research on Selinexor with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Dr. Azmi’s study, “Preclinical Assessment with Clinical Validation of Selinexor with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel for the Treatment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma,” was published in Clinical Cancer Research.
“I am really humbled to be honored with this wonderful award,” Dr. Azmi said. “Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a deadly disease in urgent need of newer treatments, and I am proud to contribute research to this field.”
Dr. Azmi’s research demonstrates that the nuclear exporter protein exportin 1, or XPO1, is critical in enabling pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors to grow and persist. Targeting XPO1 using drugs such as Selinexor has shown antitumor activity in stem cell-derived models, and multiple patient-derived models when combined with standard-of-care treatment or used alone. In a phase I clinical study, Dr. Azmi and his team observed remarkable response in a patient with metastatic PDAC, tripling the survival on a regimen of selinexor–gemcitabine–nab-paclitaxel. His team’s studies introduce a new and clinically effective therapy.
“Our research team has shown that overexpression of XPO1 contributes to therapy resistance and poor survival in solid tumors. Therefore, XPO1 inhibition and subsequent realignment of TSPs to the nucleus is an attractive anticancer strategy,” he said.
Dr. Azmi was honored for his research at a virtual Grand Rounds ceremony Nov. 18, when he spoke about his research, specifically nuclear protein transport biology and the publication for which he was recognized.
The Kales Award was created in 2012 at the WSU School of Medicine to recognize exemplary and innovative cancer research. It is supported by the Drs. Anthony and Joyce Danielski Kales Endowed Faculty Award for Innovative Cancer Research Endowment. Selection is based on a comprehensive review of published articles within the previous year.