Study Suggests Colon Cancer Vaccine Possible
(Published 6-24-2008, Reuters) A protein found only in the intestines may help lead the way to a vaccine that can treat colon
cancers and perhaps other tumors too, researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson report.
Mice immunized with the protein and then infected with colon tumors had fewer tumors spread to the lung and liver than usual,
they reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The work, led by postdoctoral fellow Adam Snook, Ph.D., and
Scott Waldman, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chair of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Jefferson Medical College,
found that unvaccinated animals had an average of 30 new tumors in the lungs and liver. Vaccinated animals had three.
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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Preventive Surgery for Breast Cancer
(Published 5-2-08, WebMD) Many women who undergo a mastectomy for cancer in one breast and choose to have their other, healthy
breast removed as a preventive measure are extremely satisfied with the results, researchers report.
"The majority of women felt it gave them a sense of control," says researcher Anne Rosenberg, MD, a breast surgeon at the
Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia. "They had low anxiety and depression scores. And they were particularly
proactive about instituting healthy lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking," she tells WebMD.
The procedure is called a contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. The findings were presented here at the American Society
of Breast Surgeons (ASBS) Ninth Annual Meeting.
Rosenberg says that better breast reconstructive techniques are a major reason why more women are opting for the procedure.
"They can choose contralateral mastectomy and have both breasts reconstructed at the same time."
Department of Surgery
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Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors 2008
(Published 04-25-2008, Phillymag.com) Philadelphia Magazine’s Top Doctors issue features a guide to health care in the Philadelphia
area. The comprehensive list features top local doctors and a list of Centers of Excellence, featuring hospitals to go to
for the finest care in different specialties, a new addition this year.
46 Jefferson doctors were featured, as well as hospital appearances in 24 categories in the Centers of Excellence list, selected
for the very highest level of expertise. Dr. Paul DiMuzio, of endovascular surgery, is featured on the magazine’s cover.
The magazine is available at Philadelphia-area newsstands for the month of May as well in an online full-list version, complete
with a searchable database, at PhillyMag.com.
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New Drug Duo Helps Cut Colon Cancer Risk
(Published 4-14-08, Washingtonpost.com) A new drug duo might help prevent colorectal cancer, and the powerful new cancer drug
Sutent may slow the progression of liver cancer. So conclude two studies presented Monday at the American Association for
Cancer Research annual meeting in San Diego.
In a third report, researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson in Philadelphia found that blood pressure-lowering
drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers appear to retard pancreatic cancer cell growth and cause malignant cells to die.
This type of drug is able to inhibit the function of the hormone angiotensin II in the pancreas. The same receptor is found
in pancreatic cancer cells. In laboratory experiments, the researchers found that the drug was able to block the production
of a growth factor called VEGF, which helps spur the growth of tumor blood vessels.
"This is really exciting because the role of this receptor has never been known," lead researcher Dr. Hwyda Arafat said. "The
exciting thing is that this receptor already has so many available pharmaceutical blockers on the market." Ultimately, the
group hopes to be able to test these agents in human trials, she said.
Department of Surgery
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Your Guide to Cancer Treatment
(Published 4-11-08, Philadelphia Daily News) "It's different when it's you," said breast-cancer patient Dorothy Hall, of South
Philadelphia. Since 1991, Hall has been standing strong alongside her mother, Dorothy Sworob, as she toughed out four bouts
of metastatic breast cancer. Originally given just two months, 83-year-old Sworob has now outlived her grim prognosis by more
than 16 years.
Today, Hall is toughing out her own case of breast cancer: a lump that had already spread to one lymph node by the time she
discovered it while lifting some pots in her garden. She has had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, which is scheduled
to end today.
Despite an overall survival rate that has climbed to 66 percent, cancer is still the disease that scares people most, said
Dr. Richard Wender, chairman of family and community medicine at Thomas Jefferson University and immediate past president
of the American Cancer Society.
If you or someone you love is grappling with the disease - the American Cancer Society estimates that 70,110 Pennsylvanians
will be diagnosed this year - Wender said it's important to know that times have changed. "We've turned the tide. Death rates
are coming down. They peaked in 1991, and they've been coming down since."
Heroes who are fighting colorectal cancer
DR. EDITH MITCHELL: Crusading physician
In her medical practice at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Mitchell specializes in colorectal and other digestive cancers,
plus breast cancer. Nationally, she's a leader in the crusade to figure out why black patients' survival rates are lower than
white patients' -- and to fix that.
Heroes who are fighting prostate cancer
DR. MICHAEL LISANTI: Lab leader
Lisanti, a researcher at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center, has won global acclaim for some breakthrough discoveries about
how prostate-cancer cells operate. He's also making strides in breast- cancer research.
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