Los Angeles , CA - Fazlul H. Sarkar, Ph.D., professor at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI) and Wayne State University in Detroit, MI was honored today for making significant contributions to the field of cancer research. This honor comes from the Society of American Asian Scientists in Cancer Research (SAASCR) at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in Los Angeles, CA.

“We are extremely pleased that Dr. Sarkar is being honored this year,” John C. Ruckdeschel, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Karmanos Cancer Institute, said. “He is a tireless researcher committed to achieving the best in translational research.”

In the last year, Dr. Sarkar has published over 30 journal articles, 12 of which have appeared in “Cancer Research,” considered one of the most prestigious journals in its field. Dr. Sarkar and members from his lab will have several presentations at the AACR annual meeting.


Fazlul H. Sarkar, Ph.D.

Dr. Sarkar has worked at Karmanos for more than 16 years, and in that time he has collaborated on numerous successful research projects. In conjunction with Omer Kucuk, M.D., a medical oncologist and professor of internal medicine with Karmanos, Dr. Sarkar investigated the effect of soy isoflavones on the body. Their research shows that soy isoflavones may increase a patient’s sensitivity to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This sensitivity means less radiation or chemotherapy is needed for effective treatment, reducing a patient’s exposure to toxicity.

Several clinical trials at the Karmanos Cancer Institute are currently exploring this concept. The most recent is a Phase II clinical trial combining standard chemotherapy with soy isoflavones in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. This study is in collaboration with Karmanos Drs. Philip Philip and Basil El-Rayes. This protocol is also being opened at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in collaboration with Dr. James Abbruzzese.

In conjuction with Adhip N. Majumdar, Ph.D., a professor for the Karmanos department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Sarkar was jointly awarded an antibody patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office last year for the discovery of antibodies expressed by the EGF-Receptor Related Protein (ERRP). Between the two doctors, they have published over 20 articles exploring the role of ERRP in cancer treatment. They hope that the discovery of this protein will lead to a Phase I trial at Karmanos.


“Translational research, bringing research from the bench to the bedside, is one of the most important things we do at comprehensive cancer centers,” Dr. Sarkar says. “When
research originates in the laboratory, and then is translated, at the same institution, it puts the institution at the front line of innovation. Now we, and other investigators, can build on this research.”

The AACR was founded in 1907 by a group of eleven physicians and scientists interested in research, “to further the investigation and spread the knowledge of cancer.” Today, AACR accelerates progress toward the prevention and cure of cancer by promoting research, education, communication, and advocacy.