Stuart A. Aaronson
Stuart A. Aaronson | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 28, 1942 |
| Occupation(s) | Cancer researcher, author |
| Known for | Research on oncogenes, HER2/neu amplification in breast cancer, Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF) |
| Notable work | Over 500 scholarly articles, over 50 patents |
Stuart A. Aaronson (born February 28, 1942) is a distinguished American cancer researcher and author. He has contributed to over 500 scholarly articles and holds in excess of 50 patents. Aaronson was the Jane B. and Jack R. Aron Professor of Neoplastic Diseases and led the Department of Oncological Sciences at The Mount Sinai Hospital until March 2013. Following his tenure, he assumed the role of Founding Chair Emeritus in the same department. The position of Chairman is currently held by Ramon E. Parsons.
Biography
Aaronson completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating summa cum laude in 1962 with a degree in chemistry. He obtained his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center in 1966. Subsequently, he pursued a fellowship at the University of Cambridge and fulfilled an internship at Moffitt Hospital located in San Francisco.
In 1967, Aaronson began his career at the National Institutes of Health as a Senior Staff Fellow. From 1970 until 1977, he directed the Molecular Biology Section within the Viral Carcinogenesis Branch. He then served as Chief of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the National Cancer Institute until 1993, when he was appointed Chair of Oncological Sciences at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
Research
Aaronson’s pioneering investigations established that mammalian sarcoma viruses are capable of transformation but lack replication ability, leading to molecular cloning of numerous oncogenes associated with these viruses. His analysis of the v-sis oncogene uncovered its physiological role in growth factor signaling pathways. He identified HER2/neu (erbB2) as an amplified gene in human breast cancers, demonstrating its oncogenic potential and laying groundwork for targeted therapeutic interventions. Additionally, Aaronson isolated Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF/FGF7), which plays a critical role in tissue repair; this discovery facilitated Amgen’s successful phase III clinical trial and subsequent FDA approval for KGF’s use in treating mucositis. His current research endeavors concentrate on tumor suppressor genes that trigger senescence, associated signaling mechanisms, and various growth factors such as PDGF, KGF, HGF, and Wnt ligands.
To date, three publications by Aaronson have been retracted, while two others have been issued expressions of concern.
Awards and honors
- 1982 Rhoads Memorial Award
- 1982 PHS Meritorious Service Medal
- 1989 Paul Ehrlich Award
- 1989 PHS Distinguished Service Medal
- 1990 Milken Award
- 1991 Chirone Prize
- 1991 Harvey Lecture
- 1991 Wadsworth Memorial Foundation Award
- 2005 FLC Mid-Atlantic Regional Excellence in Technology Transfer Award – Kepivance
- 2006 National FLC Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer – Kepivance: Improving the Quality of Life for Cancer Patients
- 2024 Jacobi Medallion – honoring lifelong achievements in cancer biology and translational research at Mount Sinai
Patents
Selected examples:
| Patent Number | Title |
|---|---|
| 6479255 | Polynucleotides encoding human FRP and fragments thereof |
| 6225088 | DNA encoding plasminogen-like growth factor (PLGF) and related embodiments |
| 6228600 | Immunoassays for the alpha platelet-derived growth factor receptor |
| 6403769 | Fusion proteins including antibody and nonantibody portions |
| 6566098 | DNA encoding truncated hepatocyte growth factor variants |
| 6639060 | erbB-3 nucleic acids |
| 6653084 | Anti-erbB-2 antibodies to human receptor distinct from EGF receptor |
| 6660488 | Antibodies for the alpha platelet-derived growth factor receptor |
| 6709842 | DNA encoding a growth factor specific for epithelial cells |
| 6833132 | Method of stimulating epithelial cells using keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and inhibiting KGF activity |
Publications
Selected works include:
- Asciutti S, Akiri G, Grumolato L, Vijayakumar S, Aaronson S (2011) "Multiple modes of Wnt pathway activation and the impact of its inhibition on the proliferation of human gastric cancer cells," Oncogene, 30(8): 956–966.
- Akiri G, Cherian M, Vijayakumar S, Liu G, Bafico A, Aaronson S (2009) "Frequent Wnt pathway abnormalities including autocrine activation found in human non-small-cell lung cancer," Oncogene, 28(21): 2163–2172.
- Liu G, Grumolato L, Arroyave R, Qiao H, Akiri G, Aaronson S (April 2009) "Canonical Wnts serve as strong regulators of osteogenic differentiation in human mesenchymal stem cells," Journal of Cell Biology, 185(1): 67–75.
- Zhao B, Benson E, Qiao R, Wang X, Kim S, Manfredi J, Lee S, Aaronson S (2009) "Absence of p21 CIP1/WAF1 in ku80-/- mice reveals insights into cellular senescence and organismal aging," The EMBO Journal, 10(1): 71–78.
- Ongusaha PP, Qi HH, Raj L, Kim YB, Aaronson SA, Davis R, Shi Y, Liao J, Lee SW (2008) "ROCK1 identified as an upstream activator of the JIP-3 to JNK signaling cascade following UVB-induced damage," Sci Signal, 1(47):14.
- Munoz-Fontella C, Macip S, Martinez-Sobrido L, Brown L, Ashour J, Garcia-Sastre A, Lee SW, Aaronson SA (2008) "Role of p53 transcriptional activity in interferon-driven antiviral defense," Journal of Experimental Medicine, 205(8): 1–10.
- Mahale A, Khan Z, Igarashi M, Nanjangud G, Qiao RF, Yao S, Lee SW, Aaronson SA (2008) "Malignant transformation and clonal selection in human fibroblasts transduced with specific oncogenes," Cancer Research, 68(5): 1417–1426.
- Brown L, Ongusaha P, Kim H, Nuti S, Mandinova A, Lee J, Khosravi-Far R, Aaronson SA, Lee S et al. (2007) "CDIP: a novel pro-apoptotic gene modulating TNFalpha-induced apoptosis through a p53-dependent mechanism," The EMBO Journal, 26(14): 3410–3422.
- Das S, Raj L, Zhao B, Bernstein A, Aaronson SA, Lee SA (2007) "Hzf as a key regulator of p53-driven transcription influencing cell fate under genotoxic stress," Cell, 130(4): 624–637.
External links
- Official website of The Mount Sinai Hospital
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai official site
- Single Mutation Reported to Activate a Cancer Gene. The New York Times, September 28, 1983
- Cancer Gene Associated with Abnormal Growth in Normal Cells. The New York Times, February 10, 1984
- The Long Journey: Researchers' prolonged efforts to decode Met’s involvement in cancer. Cover story from Chemical & Engineering News, August 20, 2007
- https://web.archive.org/web/20120909024225/http://www.science-fraud.org/?tag=sw-lee