July 6, 2009

New research led by investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) sheds light on a genetic function that gives breast cancer cells the ability to survive and spread to the bone years after treatment has been administered. The findings support the study of therapies that target this survival capacity and force the death of latent breast cancer cells before they get a chance to metastasize, or spread - a problem that accounts for a majority of breast cancer-related deaths. The research will be published in the July 7 issue of Cancer Cell. [PubMed Abstract]

Using gene-expression profiling techniques, researchers found that breast cancer cells that infiltrate the bone marrow can survive over time if they contain the gene product Src, which has known effects on cell mobility, invasion, and survival. The investigators discovered that genetically disabling Src activity in human breast cancer cells inhibits these cells from surviving in the bone marrow and forming metastases in mice. They also observed that treatment with the drug dasatinib inhibits the formation of bone metastasis by human breast cancer cells inoculated into mice.“Our results should encourage oncologists to consider the study of Src inhibitors to attack reservoirs of disseminated, latent cancer cells and prevent metastasis in breast cancer patients after their tumor has been removed,” said the study's senior author, Joan Massagué, PhD, Chair of the Cancer Biology and Genetics Program at MSKCC and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator.

Breast tumors may shed cancer cells from the outset, and some of these cells may infiltrate vital organs, including the bones, lungs, and brain. When a tumor is diagnosed and removed, chemotherapy is administered with the goal of eliminating these residual cancer cells. However, metastasis may still emerge in some patients and may take years or decades to occur, suggesting that these cells may not inherently possess - and need some time to acquire - all of the molecular characteristics needed to metastasize.

According to the study, nearly one-third of cases of breast cancer relapse emerge three or more years after diagnosis, with some cases developing decades later. At present, the major clinical benefits from postoperative drug therapies are observed in the first few years after treatment, which may mean that latent cancer cells are at least partially resistant to conventional therapy.

The following investigators contributed to this study: Xiang H. F. Zhang, Clifford A. Hudis, Larry Norton, Qiongqing Wang, and the late William Gerald of MSKCC; and Marcel Smid and John A. Foekens of Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam.

The research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Kleberg Foundation, the Alan and Sandra Gerry Metastasis Initiative, the Hearst Foundation, and the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NGI)/Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.

New research led by investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) sheds light on a genetic function that gives breast cancer cells the ability to survive and spread to the bone years after treatment has been administered. The findings support the study of therapies that target this survival capacity and force the death of latent breast cancer cells before they get a chance to metastasize, or spread - a problem that accounts for a majority of breast cancer-related deaths. The research will be published in the July 7 issue of Cancer Cell. [PubMed Abstract]

July 6, 2009

New research led by investigators at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) sheds light on a genetic function that gives breast cancer cells the ability to survive and spread to the bone years after treatment has been administered. The findings support the study of therapies that target this survival capacity and force the death of latent breast cancer cells before they get a chance to metastasize, or spread - a problem that accounts for a majority of breast cancer-related deaths. The research will be published in the July 7 issue of Cancer Cell. [PubMed Abstract]

ATLANTA - Shishir K. Maithel, MD, has joined Emory's Department of Surgical Oncology and the Emory Winship Cancer Institute as assistant professor of surgical oncology.  He specializes in gastrointestinal oncology, with an emphasis in liver, biliary, and pancreatic surgery. 

Dr. Maithel comes to Emory from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York where he completed a fellowship in both surgical oncology and hepatopancreatobiliary surgery.  His areas of research interest include clinical investigation and outcomes analysis of hepatopancreatobiliary tumors.  Previous research projects include determining predictors of pancreatic tumor resectability, assessing the clinical and economic affects of pancreatic fistulas, and examining the utility of staging laparoscopy.  He also will initiate a translational research program to investigate molecular predictors of outcome and chemotherapeutic response, particularly for colorectal cancer liver metastases and pancreatic cancer.

“We are very excited about the contributions Dr. Maithel will make to our already strong surgical oncology team,” says Charles Staley, MD, section chief of surgical oncology at Emory.  “Dr. Maithel's exceptional track record of teamwork, innovation and focused patient care will fit well within our multidisciplinary care model.”

Dr. Maithel is widely published in peer-reviewed journals such as the Annals of Surgical Oncology, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, and Annals of Surgery.  He has also authored numerous abstracts, book chapters, and co-authored two books. 

Dr. Maithel earned his medical degree at the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha, and completed his residency in general surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School. 

As Georgia's first and only National Cancer Institute Designated Cancer Center, Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute serves as the coordinating center for a vast array of resources in medical, surgical, radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, and the subspecialties of cancer care throughout Emory University. 

Recently, Emory was recognized as one of the top 50 cancer centers in the United States by U.S. News and World Report and received the Blue Cross Blue Shield Designation for Treatment of Rare and Complex Cancers.  To learn more about the Emory Winship Cancer Institute, its research, outreach, clinical trials, and faculty and staff, visit www.cancer.emory.edu

Source:
1. Dr. Shishir K. Maithel Joins Emory Surgical Oncology

ATLANTA - Doctors at Winship Cancer Institute are testing an anti-cancer drug that exploits the vulnerabilities of particularly hard-to-treat tumors.

 Suresh Ramalingam, MD, associate professor of hematology and medical oncology at Emory University School of Medicine and chief of thoracic oncology at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute, is the national chair of the study. Medical centers in California and Pennsylvania also are participating.

 The study is open to patients with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which have been shown to increase the risk of breast, ovarian and several other forms of cancer. To enroll, patients must carry this gene and meet other inclusion criteria.  Patients can have breast, pancreas, colon, ovarian or any other type of cancer - as long as they have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, they are eligible. 

 The drug under study, ABT-888 (Veliparib), inhibits PARP or poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, an enzyme that helps cells respond to DNA damage. ABT-888 is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. The study tests the combination of ABT-888 with the commonly used drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel.

Scientists believe combining a PARP inhibitor with conventional anti-cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation should kill cancer cells more effectively by blocking their ability to repair DNA damage. The proteins encoded by the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are also involved in responding to DNA damage, and BRCA1/2 mutations may make tumors especially vulnerable to PARP inhibition.

 Although these tumors are more likely to be sensitive to ABT-888, the safety of this drug combination needs to be tested. Preliminary studies have shown promise, and this study is designed to determine the highest dose of the drug that does not cause unacceptable side effects. If it proves safe and increases tumor shrinkage, then larger trials examining survival rates will be undertaken.

 The study is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, which recently highlighted this study as one of several supported by the ACTNOW program (Accelerating Clinical Trials of Novel Oncologic Pathways) at  http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/081109/page4   

 More information is available online by visiting http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00535119 or by calling the Emory Winship Cancer Institute at 404-778-1900 - ask for information on ABT-888. 

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1. Clinical Trial of Anti-Cancer Drug Open to Patients with BRCA1 or 2 Mutations

ATLANTA - Emory University Hospital through its Department of Radiation Oncology has earned provisional full membership in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). 

RTOG is one of nine National Cancer Institute-supported cooperative groups conducting large multi-center cancer clinical trials in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere.  RTOG has been continuously funded by the NCI for over forty years, and Emory joins 28 American and 7 Canadian institutions who currently constitute the group's full member roster. Emory is the first institution in the United States in more than in 3 years to be granted this designation. 

“Emory's provisional full membership in RTOG is a major accomplishment,” says Walter Curran, MD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and chief medical officer of the Emory Winship Cancer Institute.  “RTOG is the leading multicenter research organization testing novel radiotherapy approaches against cancer. The fact that Emory and its affiliated hospitals earned this designation in a little over one year's time speaks to the focus and dedication of our research faculty and staff at Emory, Emory Midtown, Grady, and the VA.” 

The provisional full membership enables the Emory Winship Cancer Institute to establish affiliate members across the United States and Canada.  Affiliate members play an important role because clinical researchers are able to accrue patients from a wide geographic and demographic spectrum and more patients have an opportunity to participate in clinical trials. 

“The benefit to patients is increased access to new investigational therapies and the absolute highest standard of care, which are established by the NCI and other federal agencies,” says Curran, who has served as RTOG Group Chairman for the past twelve years.  “We will work with the Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education to expand the availability of RTOG trials throughout the state of Georgia.” 

Emory will be re-evaluated by RTOG in 2010 for full membership status. 

Source:
1. Emory Earns Full Provisional Membership in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group

BUFFALO, NY – Western New Yorkers are invited to “Aim for a Cure,” a special event at the Walden Galleria Mall on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6. The event marks the launch of the Prostate Club for Men, a six-month empowerment campaign to raise awareness about the importance of prostate cancer screening and early detection.

The Prostate Club for Men is co-sponsored by the Prostate Cancer Center at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI); WGRZ-TV Channel 2; BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York; and WBEN Radio, 930 AM.

“The Prostate Club for Men will start a conversation about prostate cancer among men and their health care providers, and among men and their loved ones,” said Willie Underwood III, MD, MSci, MPH, Department of Urology, RPCI. “The goal is to encourage men to learn about prostate cancer, and, most important, to prevent premature deaths from this disease.”

James Mohler, MD, Senior Vice President for Translational Research at RPCI, added, “National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines have been revised this year to focus on earlier detection of prostate cancer in younger men who, if diagnosed with prostate cancer, are more likely to die from the disease. Men are encouraged to discuss prostate cancer screenings with their doctors beginning at age 40. Those at high risk, including African Americans and men with a family history of prostate cancer, should begin annual screening for prostate cancer at that age, while men at lower risk should have a baseline PSA.”

The “Aim for a Cure” festivities will take place near the Lord & Taylor department store and will offer something for everyone. Activities will include:

• Meet the da Vinci™ surgical robotic. Roswell Park surgeons will provide onsite demonstrations and answer questions about the surgical robot, which has assisted surgeons with more than 700 prostate surgeries at Roswell Park.
• Play the prostate cancer quiz game and win prizes.
• Cancer experts will offer information and insights about the latest in cancer treatments and quality-of-life issues.
• Local support groups will be available to discuss their programs and services. These include Women Against Prostate Cancer and Us TOO, along with representatives from WGRZ-TV and WBEN Radio.

More information about the event can be found at ProstatePros.com or by calling 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724).

The mission of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. RPCI, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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Source:
1. Roswell Park and Partners Launch Prostate Club for Men

BUFFALO, NY - Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has appointed three new faculty members to the Department of Medicine.

Foluso Olabisi (Bisi) Ademuyiwa, MD, MPH, will see patients in the RPCI Breast Clinic.Dr. Ademuyiwa comes to RPCI from Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, where she completed a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology. She earned her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) in 1999 from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Dr. Ademuyiwa also earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) in 2001 from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University. She completed a combined residency training program in 2006 in the Division of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health, CT.

Dr. Ademuyiwa is board-certified in Internal Medicine and General Pediatrics. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. Her research interests focus on racial disparities in breast cancer, identifying novel therapies for triple negative breast cancer and molecular epidemiology.

Hongbin Chen, MD PhD, will treat Roswell Park patients diagnosed with lung cancer. Dr. Chen comes to RPCI from The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University where he completed a fellowship in medical oncology. He earned his medical degree in 1992 at the Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, China and his doctoral degree in Aging Studies in 2002 from the University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. Dr. Chen completed residency training in Internal Medicine at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Chen is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He also is board-certified in medical oncology. He is a member of the American College of Physicians; American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, American Geriatrics Society and the Gerontological Society of America. He will focus his research on translational and clinic trials in thoracic oncology.

Hong Liu, MD PhD, will provide care to Roswell Park patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma and leukemia. Dr. Liu comes to RPCI from the College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, where she completed residency training in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology. She earned her medical degree from the Beijing Medical University, and her doctorial degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Dr. Liu is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a member of American Society of Hematology, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Her research interests focus on clinical research of multiple myeloma and leukemia.

The mission of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. RPCI, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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Source:
1. Three New Faculty Members Join Department of Medicine at Roswell Park

BUFFALO, NY – Celebrate this Labor Day with a “labor of love” and donate much-needed blood or platelets at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). Your donation today will help to save a life tomorrow. Many cancer patients require blood and platelet transfusions as part of their care. RPCI is seeking blood donors willing to take the time to donate platelets to meet an ever-increasing need.

Platelets are the blood cells in your body that help stop bleeding. Treatments such as chemotherapy and blood and marrow transplantation leave patients with dangerously low levels of platelets. Without platelets and the donors who give them, patients are at increased risk of bleeding even before they can benefit from the treatments. To have a chance at life, platelet transfusions are necessary for the patient’s healthy recovery.

A donation of platelets, called plateletpheresis, is similar to donating whole blood. The simple, safe process takes approximately 90 minutes. Blood is removed from the donor and passed through a machine that separates and collects the platelets. The donor’s body quickly replaces the removed platelets.

The RPCI Donor Center is open six days per week, with flexible daily hours of operation. To donate, you must be at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. By making a commitment to be a donor, you are helping Roswell Park meet the daily needs of its cancer patients. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 845-8275 or visit our website at Roswell Park Cancer Institute - Donate Blood - Comprehensive Cancer Center

The mission of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. RPCI, founded in 1898, was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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1. Donating Blood… A Labor of Love!

With approximately 44 million Americans uninsured, health care systems and providers bear much of the financial burden by providing unreimbursed services. The absence of health insurance is a major impediment to receiving preventative health care as well as other health care needs extending beyond prevention. According to a study done at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University’s School of Medicine and Henry Ford Health System, the success of targeted programs in addressing some of these preventive needs may nevertheless leave other health care needs unaddressed. Little is known about the magnitude of the additional costs that might be incurred by participating health systems – this study aimed to begin to comprehend this growing problem. To better understand the potential financial impact health systems endure, Robert Burack, M.D., professor of internal medicine at Wayne State University and the Karmanos Cancer Institute, and Elston Lafata, M.D., of the Center for Health Services Research at Henry Ford Health System, have published an analysis in the recent issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. It focuses on the cost of health care services provided to women enrolled in a community-based breast and cervical screening program. The Wayne County Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program provides breast and cervical cancer screening, follow-up and treatment services for uninsured and underinsured low-income women ages 40 to 64. Developed and funded through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) and Michigan Department of Community Health, the program is designed to provide only breast and cervical services and thus other types of care are not reimbursed through the program. All clinical services are delivered by participating health care organizations who determine which, if any, additional services to provide to program enrollees. The study found that nearly 50 percent of the total cost of care provided to those enrolled in this program was uncompensated, with about 15 percent being paid for by the Breast and Cervical Program and the remainder from other sources. The NBCCDEP has benefited tens of thousands of women each year. As successful as the program has been in accomplishing its breast and cervical cancer control objectives, it was not designed to meet other health care needs of enrollees. Those health care providers who choose to participate are then faced with the challenge of determining whether and how to address these needs. “This program’s success in providing access to health care for underserved women highlights the economic challenges of uncompensated care already faced by health care providers serving disadvantaged communities,” said Burack. “Until the larger issue of no or inadequate health insurance is addressed, the unmet health care needs of the uninsured will grow, while the capacity of already challenged safety net providers to meet this need will decline.” To review the full paper, click here.
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1. Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University review of breast and cervical cancer screening program highlights need to address economic challenges of uncompensated care

Cancer patients who are separated from their spouses at the time of their diagnosis do not live as long as widowed, divorced and never married patients, according to a new study to be published in CA, the journal of the American Cancer Society. Andre Konski, M.D., M.B.A., M.A., chief of Radiation Therapy at the Karmanos Cancer Center and professor and chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, took part in the study and co-wrote the article with a group of researchers led by Gwen Sprehn, Ph.D., of the Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Neurology. Dr. Konski said the study’s results suggest that the stress associated with marital separation may compromise an individual’s immune system and lead to a greater susceptibility to cancer. Research has shown that personal relationships play a significant role in physical health, Dr. Konski said. Many studies focusing on cancer prognosis have found that patients who are married live longer than those who are single. “This study should help us understand the role of how important social support is for the cancer patient and how it impacts outcome of cancer therapy,” Dr. Konski said. To look for trends in cancer survival among patients who are separated, divorced, widowed and never married, the researchers analyzed data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database, a population-based cancer registry in the United States. The researchers assessed the five- and 10-year survival rates of 3.79 million patients diagnosed with cancer between 1973 and 2004. They found that married patients had the highest five-year and 10-year survival rates, at 63.3 percent and 57.5 percent respectively. Separation carried the poorest survival rates, at 45.4 percent and 36.8 percent respectively. The five-year and 10-year survival rates of widowed patients were the next lowest, at 47.2 percent and 40.9 percent respectively; for divorced patients, the respective survival rates were 52.4 percent and 45.6 percent; and for never married patients, they were 57.3 percent and 51.7 percent. The researchers, Dr. Konski said, believe the stress of separation may compromise the immune system and thus create greater vulnerability to cancer. “The reason is unclear, but I have written a couple of papers showing that unpartnered male patients do worse in head an dneck cancer and metastatic prostate cancer,” he said. “The reason is unclear, and could be related to reduced support while going through treatment.” While additional research is needed, the researchers said, certain interventions might help. Those include psychological interventions to reduce stress that may impact the immune system. “Patients who are going through separation at the time of diagnosis may be a particularly vulnerable population for whom intervention could be prioritized,” Dr. Sprehn said. “Identification of relationship-related stress at time of diagnosis could lead to early interventions that might favorably impact survival. Ideally, future research will study marital status in more detail over time and also address individual differences in genetic profile and biomarkers related to stress, immune and cancer pathways in order to determine mechanisms which might underlie this possible critical period for cancer pathogenesis.” Other researchers who developed the article, “Decreased cancer survival in individuals separated at time of diagnosis: critical period for cancer pathophysiology?” include Indiana University School of Medicine faculty members Joanna E. Chambers, M.D., of the Department of Psychiatry; Andrew J. Saykin, PsyD., of the Department of Radiology; and Peter A. S. Johnstone, M.D., of the Department of Radiation Oncology.
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1. Cancer patients separated at diagnosis have worse survival rates

WHAT:   Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive WHEN:   Wednesday, Sept. 2 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. WHERE:   Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center, first floor Wertz Classroom 4100 John R, (between E. Warren and Mack Ave.) Detroit, MI 48201 Parking will be validated for participants parking at the Karmanos Cancer Center valet parking area only.

WHAT’S INVOLVED? To be a member of the Be The Match Registry, participants will go through a health history form and take a swab of cheek cells. Each person’s information is coded for confidentiality. The NMDP will contact volunteer participants if they are a potential match for a searching patient and coordinate further testing and information sessions. Every person who joins the registry gives patients hope, and new patient searches begin every day. WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE? Eligible participants need to be between the ages of 18 – 60, in general good health and willing to donate to any patient in need. HOW TO HELP: Join the Be The Match Registry on Sept. 2. You do not need to make a reservation. If you are not able to come but would like more information about the Be The Match Registry and ways to get involved, call 313-494-2809 or visit BeTheMatch.org to join online. Everyone can help save lives.

For more information on the Be The Match Registry call 313-494-2809 or visit BeTheMatch.org. For more information on the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center’s Bone Marrow Program or Karmanos’ J.P. McCarthy Cord Stem Cell Bank, call 1-800-KARMANOS or visit www.karmanos.org.

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1. Help Save a Life - Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive Sept. 2 at the Karmanos Cancer Center