With immense appreciation to the award nominators, selection committee, and both esteemed societies, I had the delightful honor of accepting the prestigious Society of Women in Urology/Society for Basic Urologic Research Award of Excellence in Urological Research on behalf of the late Dr Nora Navone.

Dr Navone was a professor in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She dedicated her entire scientific career to translational research in prostate cancer bone metastases.

A native of Argentina, Dr Navone received her computer science, medical, and doctoral degrees from the University of Buenos Aires. She came to the United States in 1989 to conduct postdoctoral studies at MD Anderson, which resulted in the discovery that p53 gene mutation is a late event in the progression of prostate cancer to a castrate-resistant, metastatic phenotype.¹ She remained at MD Anderson for the remainder of her career, steadily accumulating professional achievements and securing the title of full professor in 2015.

Dr Navone was instrumental in determining the importance of bone in advanced prostate cancer. Her expertise in bone biology in the context of the pathogenesis of prostate cancer bone progression resulted in the establishment of MD Anderson’s Bone Histomorphometry Core, which she directed. Subsequent studies in this field led her to the discovery that prostate cancer cells induce osteoblast differentiation through the osteoblast-specific transcription factor Runx2,² the existence of a synergistic paracrine loop between prostate cancer cells and osteoblasts, and the involvement of the Wnt canonical pathway in the growth of prostate cancer cells in bone.^3,4

Because of the limited availability of clinically relevant models encompassing the spectrum of potentially lethal disease, she dedicated considerable effort to developing models from patient specimens. Cell lines MDA PCa 2a and MDA PCa 2b were the first successes in this endeavor, which later materialized in the establishment of the prostate cancer patient-derived xenograft program. This program, which has established more than 150 prostate cancer patient-derived xenografts (the MDA PCa PDXs series), is one of the largest platforms of prostate cancer patient-derived xenografts worldwide and an indispensable preclinical tool for the study of tumor biology and complex epithelial–bone stromal interactions.^5-7 These models have been distributed to scientists worldwide and have resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications and federally funded research projects. One of Dr Navone’s most compelling findings resulting from the use of these prostate cancer models was the identification of aberrant fibroblast growth factor–mediated signaling that occurs during prostate tumor growth in bone.^8-10 These findings led to clinical trials that hold promise to improve the management of prostate cancer. Given that teamwork is fundamental in science, notable acknowledgment goes to the team and all those who have supported and dedicated efforts at all levels to the operation of such a valuable resource and to the achievement of these scientific milestones.

A physician-scientist by training, Dr Navone had extensive experience in meaningfully translating laboratory observations into the clinic. Her contributions to the field, particularly in the development of prostate cancer models and applying them to study bone–tumor interactions, have been fundamental in evolving our scientific knowledge and guiding future cancer treatments, creating a lasting impact on the research community.

Not only was Dr Navone a dedicated and talented scientist, but a big-hearted mentor and an advocate of her team’s and colleagues’ accomplishments. She allowed her mentees the freedom to explore their ideas with endless support and guidance. She was an extraordinary colleague, always willing to share her experience and contribute ideas with scientific criteria and solidity. Her collaborators thought highly and fondly of her, as she did of them.

As a mentee of Dr Navone and as a woman in urology research myself, Dr Navone set an outstanding example of determination, strength, and resilience. In addition to being a brilliant investigator, Dr Navone was thoughtful, empathetic, and most generous of spirit. She always shared her warm sense of humor and witty personality and was honest and transparent in expressing her opinions and persevering in her ideals.

Those of us who knew Dr Navone on a personal and/or professional level are dedicated to honoring and continuing her legacy. Her absence is deeply felt, but her wisdom and lessons will eternally endure, inspiring and guiding us.

Acknowledgment

Thanks to Sarah E. Townsend (MD Anderson Cancer Center) for editorial review.