News

UM/Sylvester Expands Use of Lung Cancer Vaccine to More Patients

07.14.2004

The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is expanding the use of a unique vaccine for patients with non-small cell lung cancer, which claims the lives of more than 120,000 Americans each year. A study published in the July 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology shares the dramatic results of the first clinical trial of the therapy. “We tested the vaccine in 19 people who had incurable disease,” said Luis Raez, M.D., F.A.C.P., co-leader of the UM/Sylvester Lung Cancer Site Disease Group. “Six of them are still disease-free and three have passed three years with no sign of relapse.”

Brothers Kyle, Ian Amber – 16-year-old and UM Med Student – Present $20,000 Check to UM/Sylvevester

07.14.2004

Ian Amber was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at age 10. While he fought to stay alive, his five-year-old brother Kyle began selling stickers and, joined by his brother, began running bake sales to help pay for a pediatric bone marrow transplant unit in case Ian needed that option. Ian recovered without a transplant, but over the last 11 years the brothers’ Kids That Care charity has raised more than $100,000. Ian’s experiences with cancer convinced him not only to help raise money for cancer research but also to enroll in the University of Miami’s highly competitive undergraduate Honors Program in Medicine.