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View Printer Friendly           Home | Research | Fellowship and Award Opportunities | Daniel Sciubba, MD

NREF/Kyphon Research Fellow Daniel Sciubba, MD Johns Hopkins University Effects of BMP-2 and BMP-7 on human breast cancer spine tumors using a rate intravertebral tumor model. Given that breast and prostate cancer account for the majority of spinal metastases, and that BMPs 2 and 7 are currently used in spinal fusion operations, we propose to study the relationship of these growth factors to human tumor cell lines in a previously established rat spine tumor model. Specifically, MDA-231 human breast cancer cells will be implanted into the vertebral body of nude rats. Tumor size in the presence of local and systemically delivered BMPs will be evaluated via radiographs, motor strength testing, and histopathological assessment, and overall survival and onset to paresis will be measured.