Stromal Biomarker Predicts Advanced Prostate Cancer
(Published 6-25-2009) The absence of a stromal protein called caveolin-1 appears to be a marker for advanced prostate cancer and metastasis, researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson and Harvard Medical School reported in Cell Cycle.

Philadelphia Cancer Patients to Benefit from Expansion of the American Cancer Society Patient Navigator Program
(Published 6-16-2009) The American Cancer Society today launched its Patient Navigator Program at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia, thanks to support received from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP . This is the first site to launch in Pennsylvania as part of a strategic nationwide effort to significantly extend the reach of this innovative program and assist individual cancer patients in negotiating the health care system.

Common Migraine Pain Condition Also Prevalent in Cluster Headache
(Published 6-15-2009) A pain condition common in people with migraines also has a high prevalence in patients with cluster headache, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Jefferson Headache Center at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience.

New Jefferson Study May Redefine How a Chronic Auto-Immune Disease is Diagnosed
(Published 6-10-2009) New research from Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience (JHN) may redefine how Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) is diagnosed. Eduardo De Sousa, M.D., assistant professor of Neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and director of the Electrodiagnostic Neuromuscular Lab at JHN, led the study which looked at the number of demyelinating features that are needed to differentiate between CIDP, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease) and diabetic neuropathy. His research suggests a minimum number of three demyelinating features can be used to positively identify CIDP in a patient. CIDP is a neurological disorder characterized by progressive weakness and impaired sensory function in the legs and arms. It affects about 50,000 people in the United States. The study, available in the current edition of the Journal of Clinical Neuromuscular Disease, may help doctors more effectively diagnose and treat CIDP.

Jefferson Researchers Receive $1.7 Million Grant to Study Stem Cells in Intervertebral Discs of the Spine
(Published 6-4-2009) Scientists at Jefferson Medical College have received a five-year, $1.7 million National Institutes of Health grant funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to study mechanisms regulating stem cell self-renewal and differentiation with the aim of regenerating diseased and painful intervertebral discs. A previous study by the same group showed that stem cells exist in both animal and human intervertebral discs. This grant will enable the researchers to continue studying the disc cells and determine factors which govern their activities in health and disease.

Pre-emptive Treatment Helped Curtail Skin Toxicity Associated with Colon Cancer Drug
(Published 6-1-2009) With a pre-emptive, prophylactic skin regimen, patients who receive panitumumab for treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer may be able to avoid some of the skin-associated toxicities, according to data being presented at the 2009 ASCO Annual in Orlando. (Abstract # CRA4027).

Jefferson Researchers Identify Critical Marker of Response to Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Cancer
(Published 6-1-2009) A protein related to aggressive cancers can actually improve the efficacy of gemcitabine at treating pancreatic cancer, according to a Priority Report in Cancer Research, published by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University.

Common Migraine Pain Condition Also Prevalent in Cluster Headache
(Published 5-28-2009) A pain condition common in people with migraines also has a high prevalence in patients with cluster headache, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Jefferson Headache Center at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience.

New Universal Breast Cancer Marker Predicts Recurrence and Clinical Outcome
(Published 5-14-2009) Reporting online in the American Journal of Pathology, researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have implicated the loss of a stromal protein called caveolin-1 as a major new prognostic factor in patients with breast cancer, predicting early disease recurrence, metastasis and breast cancer patient survival.

Type of Connection Procedure after Pancreatic Surgery Influenced Rate of Pancreatic Fistula
(Published 5-1-2009) After surgery to remove the head of the pancreas, invagination of the pancreas into the small intestine resulted in a lower rate of pancreatic fistula, according to researchers at the Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center. The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. It was performed as a randomized trial – the gold standard for studies.

MST An Herbal Extract Inhibits the Development of Pancreatic Cancer
(Published 4-22-2009) An herb recently found to kill pancreatic cancer cells also appears to inhibit development of pancreatic cancer as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties, according to researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. The data were presented at the AACR 100th Annual Meeting 2009 in Denver. (Abstract #494)

Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy Beneficial as Salvage Therapy for Recurrent Low-Grade Glioma
(Published 4-22-2009) Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy was well-tolerated and improved symptoms in patients with recurrent low-grade glioma, according to researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. The data were presented at the AACR 100th Annual Meeting 2009. (Abstract #3617)

Vitamin K and Sorafenib Combination Demonstrated Anti-Tumor Effects in Pancreas Cancer and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
(Published 4-22-2009) A combination of sorafenib and vitamin K had an effect in vitro on both human pancreas cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, according to researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson. Data from the two studies were presented at the AACR 100th Annual Meeting 2009 in Denver. (Abstract #5470 and #5483)

Bipolar Disorder to be Subject of 31st Annual Biele Lecture at Jefferson
(Published 4-17-2009) David J. Kupfer, M.D., Thomas Detre Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and director of Research at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, will present “The Medical Burden of Bipolar Disorder” at the 2009 Albert M. Biele, M.D. Memorial Lecture, sponsored by the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Thomas Jefferson University. The 31st annual Biele Lecture will be held Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 11 A.M., in the DePalma Auditorium.

New Therapeutic Target for Melanoma Identified
(Published 4-16-2009) A protein called Mcl-1 plays a critical role in melanoma cell resistance to a form of apoptosis called anoikis, according to research published this week in Molecular Cancer Research.

Jefferson Researcher Awarded Landenberger Foundation Grant for ALS Research
(Published 4-15-2009) Piera Pasinelli, Ph.D., co-director of the Frances and Joseph Weinberg Unit for ALS Research at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University was recently awarded a Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Foundation grant to identify why drug therapies that showed promise in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) mouse models have proven unsuccessful in human clinical trials.

Therapeutic Effect of Imatinib Improved with Addition of Chloroquine
(Published 4-15-2009) The therapeutic effects of the blockbuster leukemia drug imatinib may be enhanced when given along with a drug that inhibits a cell process called autophagy, researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Jefferson to be Home of a Roche Molecular Center of Excellence
(Published 4-15-2009) Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital will be home to more leading-edge molecular research, thanks to an alliance with Roche Diagnostics.

Jefferson’s Kimmel Cancer Center Researchers Receive $6.7 million Grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure
(Published 4-15-2009) Researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson were awarded a Susan G. Komen for the Cure Promise Grant of almost $6.7 million for five years for continued breast cancer research.

Jefferson Awarded Highest Honor for Nursing Excellence
(Published 4-14-2009) Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Center City Campus, ranked as one of America’s best hospitals, has been granted MAGNET® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) MAGNET Recognition Program®. ANCC is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association.

Jefferson First Hospital in the City to Offer Robotic Assisted Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy
(Published 4-6-2009) Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is the first in the city to offer robotic esophageal mobilization surgery, using the da Vinci® Robotic System. This procedure is ideal for esophageal cancer patients who require surgery to remove all or part of their esophagus. It is a viable alternative to more invasive ‘open’ surgery and will allow the patient to recover faster and leave the hospital sooner. It improves on conventional minimally invasive techniques by decreasing the number of incisions required to perform the procedure.