Recently in Cancer Research Category

By Charles Haynes, J.D.

In 2006, frustrated by the lack of research and treatment options for patients with ependymoma, Mark Gilbert, M.D., deputy chair of the Department of Neuro-Oncology at MD Anderson, proposed  creating an international group to develop new treatments for this rare type of brain tumor.

Under Gilbert's guidance, the Collaborative Ependymoma Research Network (CERN) Foundation was established with the mission of developing new treatments for ependymoma, improving the outcomes and care of patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.  

Today, the CERN Foundation is a dynamic, multi-institutional collaborative effort comprised of investigators from over 20 international cancer centers with leadership from MD Anderson (for adults) and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (for pediatrics).  

The CERN initiative is built around the following interrelated projects: pathology, developmental therapeutics, stem cells and laboratory models, patient outcomes  assessment, public awareness and outreach. These complimentary projects are all focused on supporting CERN's clinical trial efforts, which are currently accruing patients to three Phase II trials and one Phase I trial.

On April 19, 2012, the CERN Foundation was joined by patients, caregivers, advocates and health care professionals from around the world in celebrating the first Ependymoma Awareness Day. Ten governmental entities, including the City of Houston and the state of Texas, officially recognized April 19 as Ependymoma Awareness Day. 

Hope takes flight
The special day was commemorated with a mass butterfly release on the grounds of the Houstonian Hotel. Over 700 live butterflies were released to honor those affected by ependymoma and to support ependymoma research.

Continue reading Shedding Light on the Ependymoma Fight .

I have spent more than 30 years of my career trying to help cancer patients prevent or overcome sexual problems related to treatment. Although we better understand the causes of those problems, and have a few medical options to restore firm erections, most men still don't get accurate information when they need it.

To try to solve this situation, my research team has been working with a small business grant from the National Cancer Institute (and our small business partner Paul Martinetti, M.D., of Digital Science Technologies L.L.C.), to create a website that will provide education, self-help suggestions and advice on getting the best medical care for men's cancer-related sexual problems.

In creating the website, we interviewed 48 men of varying ages and ethnicities with different types of cancer. We asked them to review drafts of the website and report their experiences.

Alarming findings
The first, rather discouraging finding was that many men had never been given a chance to discuss this important part of life after cancer. Some valued the interview so much that they sent emails or called back to personally thank Evan Odensky, the senior behavioral research coordinator on our project.

Another common pattern was that men didn't realize how important a sexual problem could be until they experienced it. When they were planning their cancer treatment, 62% worried just a little or not at all that cancer treatment would damage their sex life.

Preserving sexual function was a major factor in choosing a treatment for only 13%. At the time of the interview, however, 79% of men rated their sexual function as moderately to very important.

Continue reading Using the Internet to Help Men With Cancer-Related Sexual Problems.

By Cheryl Keenan, advanced practice nurse, Department of Neurosurgery

I have been involved with Run for the Rose since it started 10 years ago.

Dr. Marnie Rose was one of our patients. I met her when she was working in her pediatric residency. She was a brave and courageous physician and patient.

It was during her residency that Marnie found she had a brain tumor.

In 2005, the neurosurgeon I worked for and who helped care for Marnie during her illness was also diagnosed with a brain tumor. My involvement with these two exceptional physicians has driven me to be passionate about the care of brain tumor patients and Run for the Rose.

The Brain and Spine Center team from MD Anderson is out there every year with a booth for patient and family education. We pass out information about our center, which is one of the largest and most comprehensive programs of its kind in the world.

Financial support from the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation has done so much to help with brain cancer research and improved patient outcomes in the Brain and Spine Center.
It's also heartwarming to see survivors with their families returning to support Run for the Rose.

Continue reading Brain and Spine Supports Run for the Rose.

Results from a report released today in a leading medical journal indicate that low dose daily aspirin reduces the risk of metastasis of several cancers. According to articles in The Lancet, the protective effect occurs within 3-5 years of beginning aspirin use.

Read more about the study in a post from our Cancer Frontline blog.

Raymond DuBois, M.D., Ph.D, MD Anderson's provost and executive vice president and a professor of cancer biology and cancer medicine, shares his insights on the study's significance and addresses questions about aspirin dose, and how cancer patients should respond to this news.

At MD Anderson, we continue to focus on improving the effectiveness of cancer treatments for our patients.

Today, with the announcement of the new Institute for Applied Cancer Science (IACS), we intend to develop a more robust process for testing new cancer targets and drugs. The institute will make that possible by accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into new, safe and effective drugs for cancer patients.

In 2011, we reached the 40th anniversary of the landmark National Cancer Act, heralded in when President Richard Nixon declared a "war on cancer" in 1971 and increased the federal dollars devoted to winning that war.

While far too many people still die from cancer, real progress has been made. Between 1990 and 2007, death rates in the United States for all cancers combined decreased by 22% for men and 14% for women. This means that 898,000 fewer people died from cancer during this time period (American Cancer Society, Facts & Figures, 2011).

Leaky pipeline for new drugs
This progress we've achieved in curbing cancer death rates is a direct result of ongoing drug discovery and development, an incredibly time-consuming and expensive endeavor.

According to statistics from the American Association for Cancer Research, completing the clinical trials and getting Food and Drug Administration approval for every cancer drug that makes it into the clinic takes more than seven years and $1 billion.

Continue reading Institute to Bring New Hope for Better Cancer Drugs.

By Patrick B. Mulvey, vice president, Development

At Thursday's annual meeting of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, we announced big news: the completion of MD Anderson's largest fundraising campaign ever.

Thanks to the generosity of supporters around the world, Making Cancer History®: The Campaign to Transform Cancer Care has raised $1.215 billion. That's a remarkable
accomplishment in these challenging economic times, and extremely important during an era of declining federal and state funding.

Even more remarkable, the campaign closed ahead of schedule, well exceeding its original goal of $1 billion.

Every dollar of private philanthropy generates an invaluable return on investment, and that Return on Investment translates to hope for a future free of cancer.

The more than 630,000 gifts contributed to this campaign since we began just more than five years ago add up to enormous benefits for thousands of patients, their families and friends. Every gift, regardless of size, plays a significant role, enabling researchers to pursue novel ideas, gather data and successfully compete for federal funding.

Making a difference
The Board of Visitors has spearheaded five major campaign initiatives since 1993, and the Making Cancer History® campaign, led by Harry Longwell of Dallas, was by far the most ambitious.

Along with my colleagues in the Development Office, I'm grateful for the efforts and expertise of the 19-member campaign executive committee and for the support of each BOV member whose personal financial commitment was an inspiration others.

Continue reading Making Cancer History®: The Campaign to Transform Cancer Care.

By Will Fitzgerald, MD Anderson Staff Writer

On the morning of Sept. 24, runners, walkers and all those interested in supporting melanoma research will congregate at MD Anderson's Mays Clinic for the 2011 AIM for a Cure Melanoma Walk and Fun Run.  The event is an opportunity for patients/survivors, family members and friends to unite against one of the most dangerous and commonly diagnosed forms of skin cancer.

It's co-hosted by MD Anderson and the AIM at Melanoma Foundation, with high hopes of surpassing the more than $80,000 raised last year to support the latest advances occurring in MD Anderson's Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology. Just as critical as supporting innovative research, the run also raises awareness about a disease that more than 70,000 men and women will be diagnosed with this year alone.

Judy Sager, president of AIM at Melanoma's Houston Chapter and event organizer, was personally affected by melanoma after losing her husband Jurgen to the disease at age 48.

"My husband searched the world for any treatment that he thought would save his life," Sager says. He was willing to try anything and practically did, but it didn't save his life. We can do better."

Continue reading Lace Up Your Sneakers in Support of Melanoma Research.

By Riders for the Cure officers

Riders for the Cure was founded in 2006 by Samuel Hassenbusch, M.D., Ph.D., and Patrick Browning, J.D., both MD Anderson employees and avid motorcycle riders. It was to give a voice to employee motorcycle riders, but it was quickly realized that more substantial goals could be achieved.

Today, Riders for the Cure membership comprises more than 150 employees from various departments and roles within MD Anderson. Membership is free and also is open to retirees, former employees and non-employee cancer survivors.

We promote community awareness for different types of cancer and we support research and education initiatives. We strive to promote communication and cooperation within the Texas Medical Center, and assist MD Anderson in raising funds for Making Cancer History ®.

In the past five years, Riders for the Cure has raised more than $60,000 for cancer research and for Anderson Network, MD Anderson's patient and caregiver support program.

We host two organized rides per year: The Ride for Life in June and Sam's Jam in October.  Sam's Jam IV will be on Saturday, Oct. 15. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.,with kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $20 per rider, which includes lunch and musical entertainment by Cross Town Renegades and Electric Blues Crew.

Continue reading Riders for the Cure Zoom to Sam's Jam.

Ronald DePinho, M.D., begins his presidency of MD Anderson today, Thursday, Sept. 1.

"To eliminate cancer around the world - what could be a more clear and noble mission? Cancer is a daunting foe and too many people still succumb to it. Your many discoveries and extraordinary advances in care have moved the entire field forward over the past 70 years, " DePinho said Thursday in a message to MD Anderson employees. "While much work remains in the lab, the clinic, the classroom, the community and the world, MD Anderson has the people, commitment and resources to conquer this dreaded disease. We will make that happen.

I intend to focus on where the greatest new opportunities lie for us, especially in basic science, in science-driven clinical care, and in education. And I will help you build upon the expertise, compassion and quality of our immense and unmatched clinical operation. I also will not shrink from the task of preparing MD Anderson for continued achievement in a challenging economic climate and era of health care reform."



DePinho is internationally recognized for basic and translational research in cancer, aging and age-associated degenerative disorders. He's the fourth full-time president of MD Anderson.

Learn more about DePinho's background and research.

DePinho succeeds John Mendelsohn, M.D., who remains on MD Anderson faculty, returning to clinical and translational research as co-director of a new Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy.

By Soumen Khatua, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics

The use of cell phones among children has increased dramatically over the last decade. So has the rising concern over whether cell phone use causes brain tumors.

A survey in 2003 showed 30% of Americans believe there's a correlation between the two. Since then, many studies have been done, which have failed to draw any robust conclusions Thus, the controversy continues.

Radiation effects
The effects of continuous exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted from mobile devices have been studied intensely. Some preliminary studies of EMR effects on animals have raised concern.

Dysfunction of the blood brain barrier due to radiation has been reported in animals, which could allow leakage of cancer-causing substances into brain. This could result in the potential increase of tumor formation.

Continue reading Cell Phone Use and Brain Tumors in Children.

This year, approximately 11,000 patients combined will be diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Compared to other cancers, such as breast and lung, these two lymphomas are considered relatively rare cancers. So, chances are, you didn't hear the news about brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), which is now called Adcetris.  

HL and ALCL are potentially highly curable types of lymphoma when conventional chemotherapy regimens and radiation therapy are used. For this reason, no new drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Hodgkin lymphoma since 1977.

But if you are one of the unlucky ones who aren't cured with these conventional regimens, today is a good day for you. Indeed, it's a good day for all of us. A good day for humanity.

A new drug has been approved
Today, the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee/ODAC, an FDA advisory panel, voted 10-0 to recommend accelerated approval for Adcetris to treat patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma after having a stem cell transplant, and for patients with relapsed or resistant systemic ALCL.
 

Continue reading A Good Day for Patients With Lymphoma .

By Bob Ruggiero, director of publications and public information, Quilts, Inc

Since its 2002 inception, the Ovarian Cancer Quilt Project at MD Anderson has educated the public about the risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer through the artistry of quilting. The teal ribbon quilt block has been the hallmark of the project.

Quilters from MD Anderson's Ovarian Cancer Support Group and the community have donated teal ribbon quilt blocks, which are then made into quilts and displayed each year at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. All who have been touched by ovarian cancer -- survivors, family members and friends -- have been invited to contribute a block. Quilters from across the state and local quilt shops also have created and donated hundreds of quilt blocks, plus entire quilts.

The  quilt project and online auction benefit the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Program, which aims to develop effective screening methods and, ultimately, a cure for ovarian cancer through innovative research.

Continue reading Quilting for a Cause.