Toronto scientist receives top Canadian Cancer Society award for research improving lung cancer treatment

TORONTO, May 9, 2012 /CNW/ - Toronto researcher Dr Ming-Sound Tsao has been honoured with the Canadian Cancer Society's prestigious O. Harold Warwick Prize, which is given to a scientist whose research has had a major impact on cancer control in Canada.

"Dr Tsao is tackling our biggest challenge —lung cancer, which every year kills more Canadians than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined," says Dr Martin Kabat, CEO, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. "The Society is taking the lead by providing much-needed funding into lung cancer and Dr Tsao's work continues to provide answers to improve the way in which lung cancer is being treated today. We're pleased to honour his scientific vision and clinical leadership with the O. Harold Warwick Prize."

Dr Tsao is a pathologist-scientist at the University Health Network in Toronto where he holds the M. Qasim Choksi Chair in Lung Cancer Translational Research. He is a Senior Scientist at the Campbell Family Institute for Cancer Research/Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital and Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. He co-chairs the NCIC Clinical Trials Group (CTG) Correlative Science Tumour Biology Committee. He is also the Chair of the Pathology Committee of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.

"It is a great privilege for me to receive this scientific honor in recognition of O. Harold Warwick, one of Canada's forefathers of cancer research. I am thankful to the Canadian Cancer Society for celebrating and supporting my accomplishments," says Dr Tsao.

Dr Ming-Sound Tsao's research has significantly advanced the understanding and use of molecular information to improve the treatment of lung cancer. His research team was among the first to define the role of molecular markers that may be used in selection of patients for new targeted anti-cancer drugs. His team has also identified gene signatures that may improve the prediction of outcome for early stage non-small cell lung cancer patients and identify patients who may benefit from post-surgery chemotherapy. He has made significant contributions to international collaborative efforts in the molecular characterization of lung cancer.

Dr Tsao is a long-standing contributor to lung cancer clinical trials in Canada led by the NCIC (CTG). His leadership in the molecular analyses of tumour samples from several seminal CTG trials has established Canada as a global leader in lung cancer research. He has also led several efforts to institute and standardize molecular testing in lung cancer across Canada.

Dr Tsao is recognized globally as a leading lung cancer molecular pathologist. He has published close to 300 scientific papers in highly ranked peer-reviewed journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine and Nature. Dr Tsao has been a generous contributor to the peer-review system in Canada, and is an outstanding teacher and mentor, dedicated to training the next generation of pathologists and clinicians in molecular and translational research.

Dr Tsao was one of three Ontario researchers to receive Awards for Excellence today. More information about the scientists and the Awards for Excellence can be found at Honouring our researchers at cancer.ca.

About the O. Harold Warwick Prize
The O. Harold Warwick Prize is given to a scientist whose research has had a major impact on cancer control in Canada. The prize is named after Dr Warwick, a pioneering researcher in cancer control and treatment, who became the first executive director of both the former National Cancer Institute of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society. This prize comes with $2,000 for the recipient and $20,000 for their research.

About the Canadian Cancer Society
The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. If you want to know more about our organization or if you would like information about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.

Image with caption: "Dr Ming-Sound Tsao is the 2011 recipient of the Canadian Cancer Society's prestigious O. Harold Warwick Prize. (CNW Group/Canadian Cancer Society (Ontario Division))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120509_C5760_PHOTO_EN_13442.jpg

Media contacts:

Karen Ramlall, Manager, Research Communications, Canadian Cancer Society, National office: [phone]; [e-mail]

Christine Koserski, Sr Coordinator, Public Affairs, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division: [phone]; [e-mail]