Carlo Croce, MD, and
Albert de la Chapelle, MD, PhD 

Carlo Croce, MD, left, and Albert de la Chapelle, MD, PhD

The Human Cancer Genetics Program at OSU strengthened its status as one of the world’s finest in 2004 by recruiting Carlo Croce, MD, to team with such other renowned OSU geneticists as Albert de la Chapelle, MD, PhD.

Croce directs the program, which was founded and led to international acclaim by de la Chapelle after his arrival at OSU in 1997. Longtime acquaintances, the two work closely with each other and with several other esteemed OSU colleagues in genetics. De la Chapelle is also in-terim director of the OSU Division of Human Genetics and the Clinical Cancer Genetics Program at the OSU James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Croce chairs the OSU Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology and Medical Genetics.

Together, they and their colleagues strive to understand the biological basis of cancer and find better ways of detecting and treating it based on their discoveries.

Croce, a member of the National Academy of Sciences who formerly served as director of Kimmel Cancer Institute/Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, studies early molecular changes in genes that lead to cancer and how those changes might serve as targets for new treatments and preventive agents. Known as a prolific “gene hunter,” he has identified several mutated genes involved in leukemias, lymphomas and other cancers. His research led to the first mouse model for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the most common adult leukemia in the Western Hemisphere. The model is helping doctors better understand biological mechanisms of this incurable disease, since the mouse form of CLL is nearly identical to human CLL. 

De la Chapelle, also a member of the National Academy of Sciences, has made many important discoveries regarding the genetics of cancer. In collaboration with an international team of scientists, he recently discovered an American “founder mutation” conferring a high risk of colorectal and other cancers. The mutation was brought to America in 1727 by a German immigrant and may now occur in 5,000-15,000 Americans. Recently his team published a study in which all patients with colorectal and endometrial cancer in central Ohio were screened for heritable gene mutations. Already, more than 100 individuals with high-risk mutations have been offered life-saving cancer surveillance. A statewide screening program is being proposed that would lead to considerable public health benefits.

Research collaborators with Drs. de la Chapelle and Croce include: Mark Clendenning, PhD; Heather Hampel, MS, CGC; Huiling He, PhD; Krystian Jazdzewski, MD, PhD; Jan Lockman, BS; Rebecca Nagy, MS; Jenny Panescu; and Stephan Tanner, PhD.