The Latest on FA Research

Research is the answer to one day making FA a treatable, manageable disease.

Here, you’ll discover the most recent strides in FA research and activities funded by FCF. Every quarter, we’ll bring you updates on newly funded grants, ongoing projects, and significant milestones.

None of this progress would be possible without the unwavering support of our generous donors, fundraisers, and passionate researchers. Join us in fueling this vital research by making a gift today.

Last updated: July 23, 2024

Projects that Wrapped Up in 2024

Synthetic Lethal Approaches to Treatment of Fanconi Anemia (FA) Gene Mutant Head and Neck Cancer
Barbara Burtness, MD, and Gary Kupfer, MD
Yale University and Georgetown University
Funded in 2020

Dr. Burtness and Dr. Kupfer’s study aimed to achieve several objectives: first, they sought to pinpoint and confirm specific genetic mutations in a type of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Next, they aimed to create laboratory models of this cancer using samples that had the identified mutations. Finally, they tested different drugs to see if they could effectively target the vulnerabilities in these mutated cells.

Their research revealed two promising approaches for treating head and neck cancer with Fanconi gene defects. One approach involves using existing drugs, which are ready for immediate testing and could soon be used in clinical trials. The other approach focuses on developing a new drug that targets a previously unexplored biological pathway. Both strategies hold potential for improving treatment outcomes for individuals with Fanconi anemia who are at risk of developing head and neck cancer.

A Small Molecule Approach to Overcome Replication Dysfunction in FA
Sharon Cantor, PhD, and Peter Kurre, MD
University of Massachusetts Medical School and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Funded in 2020

Dr. Cantor and Dr. Kurre’s study aimed to address bone marrow failure in individuals with FA by targeting the DNA replication issue underlying the condition. They developed a reliable method to assess DNA replication gaps, which are elevated in cells lacking the FA pathway. Using bone marrow from mice with specific FA gene deficiencies, they successfully expanded long-term hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro, demonstrating their potential for transplantation. This discovery is significant because hematopoietic failure due to HSPC loss is a major cause of health problems and death in FA patients. The adapted protocol for this research is available upon request by contacting Dr. Cantor or Dr. Kurre via email. Sharon.Cantor@umassmed.edu and KURREP@chop.edu. 

Acetaldehyde Exposure and DNA Damage in the Oral Cavity of FA Patients Before and After the Consumption of a Low Alcohol Dose
Investigator: Silvia Balbo, PhD 
Institution: University of Minnesota
Funded in 2021

Dr. Balbo’s study initially aimed to see how one alcoholic drink affects DNA in the mouth of people with Fanconi anemia (FA) compared to those without FA. Due to recruitment challenged, the study shifted to examining DNA damage at baseline by collecting mouthwash samples and oral swabs from people with FA. The team collected oral cell DNA from five people with FA and analyzed these samples. They found certain DNA changes (called adducts) that appeared only in the FA samples and some that were more frequent in FA compared to controls. This research is important for people with FA because understanding harmful exposures can help them make healthier lifestyle choices.

Updates From Ongoing Projects

Psychosocial Experiences of Adults with Fanconi Anemia: A Participatory Mixed-Methods Research Study
Kathleen Bogart, PhD, and Megan Voss, DNP
Oregon State University and University of Minnesota
Funded in 2022

Dr. Bogart and Dr. Voss focuses on understanding mental health outcomes in individuals with FA, revealing high rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression, alongside common challenges such as stigma and fertility issues. Their research emphasizes the importance of accessible mental health support and community connections, particularly for marginalized groups, with recommendations intended for the Fanconi Cancer Foundation.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center Comprehensive Program for Natural History of Development of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Fanconi Anemia
Neelam Giri, MD, and Sharon Savage, MD
National Institutes of Health
Funded in 2022

Dr. Giri and Dr. Savage’s study aims to establish a central facility for comprehensive screening of individuals with FA, tracking cancer development through detailed evaluations and biospecimen collection. With more than 50 enrolled participants, the study collaborates with other FA investigators to uncover genetic and immunological mechanisms underlying cancer susceptibility in FA, ultimately aiding in early detection and treatment strategies for this high-risk population.

Cytology Based DNA Analysis to Investigate the Malignant Potential of Oral Lesions in Patients with Fanconi Anemia
Martial Guillaud, PhD, and Denise Laronde, PhD
BC Cancer
Funded in 2022

Dr. Guillaud and Dr. Laronde are working to create and test a semi-automatic DNA image cytometry platform to detect aneuploidy in oral cancer among individuals with FA. Utilizing deep learning algorithms and analyzing sixty oral brush biopsy specimens, their study seeks to enable early lesion identification, potentially improving survival rates for this high-risk population through timely interventions and treatments.

Oral Mucosal Gene Therapy as a Prevention for FA-Associated Cancers
Markus Grompe, MD, and Ray Monnat, MD
Oregon Health and Science University and University of Washington
Funded in 2022

Dr. Grompe and Dr. Monnat are developing advanced imaging techniques for studying mouth tissue in mice, improve methods for delivering genes into the mouth of mice with FA, and investigate whether fixing FA-related gene defects in mouth cells provides an advantage. They found that a certain type of genetic material can effectively enter mouth cells and that a specific gene plays a role in the development of mouth cancer in mice with FA. Their work could lead to better ways of detecting early mouth cancers in both mice and humans with FA, and might eventually open the door for gene therapy trials to treat FA-related mouth problems.

Modeling Environmental Responses of Fanconi Anemia Epithelial Stem and Progenitor Cells to Prevent Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, PhD, and Kenneth Weinberg, MD
Colombia University and Stanford University
Funded in 2022

Dr. Nakagawa and Dr. Weinberg are working to understand how modifying certain compounds and using retinoid treatment affect the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in FA mouse models. Their research also involves studying 3D organoids to learn more about SCC biology and how it responds to treatment. By identifying potential cancer-causing mechanisms and testing drugs, their study could lead to preventive measures for cancer in individuals with FA, who are particularly vulnerable to cancer treatments.

Building Collaborative Partnerships to Understand Fanconi Anemia Tumor Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment
Agata Smogorzewska, MD, PhD
The Rockefeller University
Funded in 2022

Dr. Smogorzewska’s study aims to unite stakeholders in the FA cancer consortium, expand clinical partnerships, establish a data-sharing platform, and create patient-derived models for research. They’ve identified a potential marker for pre-malignant oral lesions in FA individuals and are working to validate it further. Collaborating with various institutions, their research seeks to improve treatments for FA by involving patients, families, physicians, and researchers.

Development of In Utero Therapies for Fanconi Anemia
Investigator: Agnieszka Czechowicz, MD, PhD 
Institution: Stanford University
Funded in 2023

The goal of Dr. Czechowicz’s project is to develop the first in utero therapy for FA. Dr. Czechowicz and her team have successfully performed in utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (IUHSCT) in their mouse model. The mouse model that Dr. Czechowicz’s team developed has been able to engraft the donor cells more strongly compared to other heterozygous and wild type mice that also received IUHSCT. This study is significant for individuals with FA because IUHSCT may be a safe and curative prenatal treatment for the hematopoietic component of FA, which would prevent individuals with FA from developing bone marrow failure before they are born. If individuals with FA do not develop bone marrow failure, then they will not need to receive any toxic therapies to treat their bone marrow failure.

AFAN Trial: Phase Ib/II Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of Afatinib When Administered as Therapy in Fanconi Anemia Patients with Unresectable and/or Metastatic Locoregionally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity, Oropharynx, Hypopharynx, or Larynx
Investigator: Ramon Garcia-Escudero, PhD and Jordi Surrallés, PhD
Institution: Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital de Sant Pau
Funded in 2023

The goal of Dr. Garcia-Escudero and Dr. Surrallés’ clinical trial is to examine the efficacy and safety of the drug Afatinib after it is administered to individuals with FA who have metastatic advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity region. Dr. Garcia-Escudero and Dr. Surrallés have created the final protocol for this clinical trial and have signed the agreement between the Afatinib manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, to package and distribute Afatinib to the trial recruiting centers in Spain and Germany. They expect to initiate the trial this fall. This clinical trial is significant for individuals with FA because the first drugs could be developed to specifically treat FA head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which would allow for individuals with FA to be treated for HNSCC without toxic medications and ultimately improve their quality of life. 

Fanconi Anemia Antibody Project and Fanconi Anemia Research Materials Program
Investigators: Markus Grompe, MD and Leslie Wakefield 
Institution: Oregon Health and Science University
Funded in 2023

The goal of the Fanconi Anemia Research Materials (FARM) program is to maintain and distribute established Fanconi-related cell lines and antibodies to the FA research community. In 2023, Dr. Grompe and Ms. Wakefield have distributed approximately 50 FA cell lines, HNSCC cell lines, and antibodies to FA researchers who have requested materials as part of this program. They have continued to improve the FARM’s website and datasheets and recently added animal models to the FARM’s offerings. The FARM will help individuals with FA by making FA materials available to researchers around the world, which will help researchers to pursue better treatments for FA and FA-associated cancers. 

Reducing the Burden of SCC in FA/Health Literacy Initiative: Cancer Awareness Team
Investigators: Christine Krieg and Eunike Velleuer-Carlberg, MD 
Institutions: Heinrich-Heine-University and German Fanconi Anemia Family Support Group and Research Fund
Funded in 2023

The goal of the Cancer Awareness Team’s work is to advance and improve cancer prevention, detection, and treatment for individuals with FA and to provide education and resources that allow individuals with FA to make informed decisions about their health. Dr. Velleuer-Carlberg and Ms. Krieg have developed oral care educational programs for individuals with FA and medical professionals, translated existing oral screening teaching materials, partnered with individuals with FA to improve their clinical care trajectory, and facilitated international partnerships for the development of the Fanconi Research Initiative for Education, Networking, and Data Sharing (FRIENDS). The Cancer Awareness Team’s work will help individuals with FA by empowering them to perform regular oral mouth self-examinations and engage in general cancer screenings. 

Fanconi Anemia Cancer Cell Line Resource Project
Investigator: Raymond Monnat, MD
Institution: University of Washington
Funded in 2018

Dr. Monnat’s grant aims to create pairs of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines, one set with Fanconi anemia (FA) and one set without, for comparison. These cell lines have been successfully developed and documented in a manuscript submitted to Cancer Research, which can be viewed here. The remaining grant funds are being used to expand and ship these cell line stocks to the FARM at Oregon Health and Science University and to maintain the original stocks and their derivatives. This will help ensure the availability of these cell lines for further research.

Modeling Environmental Responses of Fanconi Anemia Epithelial Stem and Progenitor Cells to Prevent Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Investigators: Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, PhD and Kenneth Weinberg, MD
Institutions: Columbia University and Stanford University
Funded in 2022

Dr. Nakagawa and Dr. Weinberg’s grant aims to understand how FA epithelial stem and progenitor cells develop into squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) using mouse models and lab-grown organoid models. They have confirmed abnormal cell development in their mouse model and performed single-cell RNA sequencing on the mouse’s esophageal tissue. They identified two unique cell groups: one containing FA-SCC stem cells and another containing FA-SCC epithelial cells found in mice showing early signs of cancer. This research is important for the FA community because it provides new models to develop preventive cancer treatments, which were previously unavailable. Early results suggest that delaying cancer in people with FA is possible, paving the way for new drug therapies to prevent FA-SCC.

Fanconi Anemia Associated Neurological Syndrome – A Search for a Cause with Advanced Technologies
Investigators: Prashanth Ramachandran, MBBS, BMedSci and Michael Wilson, MD, MAS
Institutions: University of Melbourne and University of California, San Francisco
Funded in 2022

The goals of Dr. Ramachandran and Dr. Wilson’s study are to describe a phenotype for Fanconi Associated Neurological Syndrome (FANS), profile the peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immune response in individuals with FANS, and detect possible inflammatory triggers. FANS is characterized by the development of brain lesions, with some individuals developing large pseudo-tumors. Dr. Ramachandran and Dr. Wilson recruited six individuals with FANS into their study. All six individuals consented to phenotyping, and three individuals consented to the collection of blood and CSF for further analysis. Dr. Ramachandran and Dr. Wilson’s overall findings suggest that thickening and leakage of the blood vessels in the blood and eyes is the primary driver of FANS development. All six individuals enrolled in this study developed retinal vasculopathy, which can result in the progressive loss of vision. These findings are significant for individuals with FANS because prior studies have failed to demonstrate clear causes of FANS development, and knowledge of the cause of FANS may help develop improved screening practices and treatments. 

Updates on Other Research Initiatives

Data Commons Initiative (aka FRIENDS)

The FRIENDS initiative, the Fanconi Research Initiative for Education, Networking, and Data Sharing, has launched to foster collaboration in the FA community, highlighted by recent meetings to establish a data commons. Together with our partners Data for the Common Good, these efforts aim to pool global expertise and data to address various scientific priorities, including:

• Cancer
• Fertility
• Bone marrow failure
• Psychosocial research
• Breakage analysis and diagnosis
• Environmental exposures
• Developmental abnormalities
• Family history
• Demographics
• Community engagement
• Genetics
• Dietary history
• Fanconi Associated Neurological Syndrome (FANS)

As of summer 2024, The FRIENDS governance and planning group has been developing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will formally establish the FRIENDS consortium. FCF and D4CG aim to have the MOU finalized by August 15 and prepare the MOU for the data contributors to sign at this year’s FCF Scientific Symposium on Sunday, September 22. 

The FRIENDS data dictionary working group has decided to divide the data dictionary work into groups sorted by topic area. Invitations for these working groups have recently been issued. If you are interested in participating in the data dictionary working groups, please email FCF Research Program Manager Laura Hefner at laura@fanconi.org. 

Scientists, families, patients, and advocates are encouraged to contribute to this collaborative effort by contacting Laura Hefner at laura@fanconi.org.

Fanconi Anemia Neurological Syndrome (FANS)

The FANS board recently convened for the first time on March 8th, where Dr. Prashanth Ramachandran shared updates on his ongoing research supported by an FCF grant. Collaborating with Dr. MoY Fiesco-Roa and Dr. Eunike Velleuer-Carlberg, Dr. Ramachandran’s team has recruited six individuals with FANS and is developing a database to consolidate data from FANS cases worldwide, with the aim of integrating it into the FRIENDS initiative.

Charting a Path Forward for FA Cancer Prevention Trials

On Friday, April 12, more than 60 participants, including those with FA, researchers, clinicians, and family members, participated in a virtual meeting focused on planning FA cancer prevention clinical trials. The goal was to review existing data and agree on the next steps for launching a collaborative chemoprevention trial across multiple institutions.