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Melanoma Rates Among Minorities in Florida Differ from National Trends

(July 20, 2010) – Miller School researchers have found that melanoma rates among minorities in Florida differ from national trends. Scientists discovered higher incidence rates among Hispanic men and non-Hispanic black women, but lower rates among Hispanic women. The results are published in the July issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the Journal of the American Medical Association/Archives journals.

Panta Rouhani, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, led a team of seven colleagues at the Miller School who compared melanoma incidence in the Florida Cancer Data System to national estimates from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) databases between 1992 and 2004.

Over the past several decades, melanoma has increased more rapidly than any other cancer. An estimated one in 58 Americans will develop melanoma in their lifetime, with lighter-skinned populations more likely to develop the potentially deadly form of skin cancer. However, melanoma is more likely to be diagnosed at more advanced stages among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black individuals than among non-Hispanic white men and women, resulting in higher mortality rates.

Melanoma incidence also varies by region, most likely because of differences in exposure to UV radiation. “It’s critical that we analyze state and national melanoma trends,” says Rouhani, “to identify high-risk regions of the country.”

After evaluating nearly 110,000 patients with melanoma, including more than 36,000 from Florida, the researchers found that the incidence of melanoma among male Hispanics was 20 percent higher in Florida than in the SEER registries, and non-Hispanic black females in Florida had a 60 percent higher incidence of the disease than the same population in the SEER registries. However, female Hispanic patients living in Florida were 30 percent less likely to develop melanoma than those in the SEER database.

Robert Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., vice chair, professor and Stiefel Laboratories Chair of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and member of the Melanoma Site Disease Group at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, was the senior author on the paper. He says the data do not explain the cause of melanoma among non-whites, but he believes the trends in Florida are “partially attributable to UV radiation exposure. The high UV index of Florida may potentially explain the higher incidence pattern in non-white Floridians compared with their non-white counterparts in the national group.”

The researchers say migration differences between ethnic groups may contribute to differences between ethnic groups within Florida. Non-Hispanic white individuals may have moved to Florida from areas with lower UV radiation indexes, while those arriving from Latin American countries were likely exposed to more UV radiation at younger ages.

Rouhani and Kirsner say this study points to the importance of determining melanoma trends by region or state in order to uncover disparities in prevention and detection. “We hope that the analysis of ethnic disparities in melanoma will prompt public health initiatives,” says Rouhani. “The development of educational campaigns on sun safety and skin cancer awareness should be tailored to the unique needs of Florida.”

Media Contact

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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Miller School Scientists Awarded Millions in State Research Grants

(June 16, 2010) – The battle against cancer being waged in numerous Miller School labs is getting a $12 million boost from the Florida Department of Health's Biomedical Research Program grants supporting research in cancer and tobacco-related diseases. Twenty-three UM and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers collectively won about 27.5 percent - the largest share - of the $45.5 million in grants awarded through the James and Esther King Biomedical Research Program and the Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program.

The amount is almost double the more than $6.5 million UM and Sylvester researchers were awarded last year from the highly competitive grant programs. David Lee, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and public health and member of the Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Program at Sylvester, was awarded grants in both categories.

"These Florida grant programs play a critical role in supporting new investigators and provide key support for the early stage of new research ideas,'' said Richard Bookman, Ph.D., vice provost for research and executive dean for research and research training. "UM's scientists once again showed their competitive strength and this support will help them compete for even larger federal grants. Such research will ultimately benefit our patients." Administered by the state Office of Public Health Research, the James and Esther King program supports research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and/or cure of tobacco-related diseases. The Bankhead-Coley program promotes initiatives that can drastically reduce the state's inordinately high cancer burden, and stimulate economic development, particularly in the biotechnology industry. Statewide, 73 of the 332 proposals submitted from 22 universities and research institutes were selected for funding.

"We are grateful for the funding from the Bankhead-Coley Program, and are very optimistic that this research will lead to novel clinical trials for cancer patients in South Florida," said one UM grantee, Krishna V. Komanduri, M.D., Kalish Family Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, director of the Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program at Sylvester and associate director of translational research at the Miami Transplant Institute.

Komanduri says his $1.2 million grant, for a joint effort that includes Ian McNeice, Ph.D., director of the experimental and clinical cell-based therapies program at the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, and Eric Wieder, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine, will fund collaborative studies between the Komanduri and McNiece labs, to improve cord blood transplantation in adults through graft engineering.

Specifically, the researchers will study novel approaches to isolate and expand components of cord blood products to improve recovery of healthy cells in transplant recipients. The goal is to decrease the rates of transplant complications in patients who suffer from leukemia, lymphoma and other diseases curable by bone marrow or cell transplantation, but lack a donor.

Among the dozen UM faculty members awarded James and Esther King grants, is Ana M. Palacio M.D., M.P.H., assistant professor of medicine. Palacio's project will compare the effectiveness of telephone-based behavioral intervention to usual care at improving 18-month adherence to newly prescribed lipid-lowering medications among insured racial and ethnic minorities with cardiovascular risk factors. These medications, in particular those commonly known as statins, can significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events but are underused among racial and ethnic minorities.

"I am very grateful to the James and Esther King Program for supporting the work that the Division of General Internal Medicine is undertaking to reduce health disparities in our communities," said Palacio whose grant is for $1.2 million over five years. "Finding cost-effective strategies that can improve the adherence to this important class of medications among minority groups in Florida is an important step towards the reduction of health disparities in cardiovascular care and outcomes."

Other UM grantees include Cameron Dezfulian, M.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care, who received a "new investigator" James and Esther King grant for $345,000 over three years. Dezfulian, who is researching neuroprotection after cardiac arrest, uses nitrite therapy, believed to operate through nitric oxide-based signaling, to reduce neuronal cell death.

"As a new investigator, it's a big lift when you finally get your first award. Hopefully, this is just the beginning," Dezfulian said.

Other UM faculty receiving Bankhead-Coley grants are: Elizabeth Franzmann, M.D., $1.2 million; Jennifer Hu, Ph.D., $1.2 million; David Lee, Ph.D., $719,998; Shunbin Ning, Ph.D., $399,998; Seigo Nishida, M.D., Ph.D., $719,927; Alan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D., $1.2 million; Taylor Schreiber, Ph.D., $51,850; Renaud Sicard, Ph.D., $56,550; Jean Wright, M.D., $400,000; and Ling Yin, Ph.D., $159,750.

Additional James and Esther King grantees are: David Dweck, Ph.D., $107,900; Leonidas Koniaris, M.D., $1.2 million; David Lee, Ph.D., $716,672; Qiongzhen Li, M.D., Ph.D., $56,550; Hung Wen Lin, Ph.D., $111,300; Jose Pinto, Ph.D., $399,258; Erika Rangel, M.D., Ph.D., $111,300; Liyong Wang, Ph.D., $400,000; Yuhui Wen, Ph.D., $164,450; Karen Young, M.D., $400,000.

The Miller School's Awtar Ganju-Krishan, Ph.D., also was awarded a $100,000 Technology Transfer/Commercialization Partnership grant. All awards are effective July 1.

Free Circulating DNA Might Aid Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Sylvester Researchers’ Discovery Could Reduce Unnecessary Biopsies

(June 1, 2010) – The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is commonly used in men for prostate cancer screening. However, there have been concerns the test is not specific enough. Only one-third of men with elevated PSA are diagnosed with prostate cancer following a biopsy, indicating that a large proportion of patients undergo unnecessary prostate biopsy.

New research conducted at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine suggests that free circulating DNA (fcDNA) blood levels could be a new biomarker, indicating the presence of prostate cancer and improving the specificity of the PSA test. That research will be presented by lead author Rakesh Singal, M.D., associate professor of medicine and co-leader of the Prostate, Bladder and Kidney Cancers Site Disease Group at Sylvester, at the 105th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA).

Singal and his team examined the usefulness of fcDNA analysis in a typical prostate cancer screening setting. They examined the fcDNA blood levels of more than 250 men with PSA levels of >4 ng/mL and/or abnormal digital rectal exam and found that high fcDNA levels were significantly associated with prostate cancer risk. In fact, the combined use of fcDNA with PSA levels improved the specificity of prostate cancer detection by fivefold as compared to the use of PSA levels alone. Singal says their study indicates “fcDNA may be a reliable predictor of prostate cancer and may reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies.”

Alan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chairman of radiation oncology at Sylvester, says Singal’s study “is exactly what is needed to reduce frequency of prostate biopsies. The technology may also be useful to the success of the treatment later.”

Singal’s team from Sylvester included Mark Soloway, M.D., professor and chairman of urology, Murugesan Manoharan, M.D., professor of urology and co-leader of the Prostate, Bladder and Kidney Cancers Site Disease Group at Sylvester, Isildinha Reis, Ph.D., research associate professor of epidemiology and public health, Edna Gordian, MA, senior research associate, and Kavitha Ramachandran, Ph.D., associate scientist.

“Free circulating DNA might aid in screening for prostate cancer,” says Anthony Y. Smith, M.D., an AUA spokesman. “We need to show that these numbers are reliable and that they truly increase the specificity of PSA so that when used in combination with PSA, they improve our ability to select patients for prostate biopsy.”

Drug Therapy Helps Patients Live With Leukemia

Prostate Cancer: Switching on Chemo

As FDA Eyes Prostate Cancer Drugs, Experts Urge Caution

Sylvester Hosts Annual Zubrod Memorial Lecture

(May 21, 2010) – The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center proudly hosted the 11th Annual Zubrod Memorial Lecture and Cancer Research Poster Session on May 21. This year’s distinguished lecturer was Mario R. Capecchi, Ph.D., professor of biology and human genetics at Howard Hughes Medical Center at the University of Utah.

Talking about his work, Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., professor of medicine and interim director of Sylvester, commented that Capecchi’s life reads like a Hollywood movie script. Born in Verona, Italy, Capecchi’s mother was taken to a Nazi war camp when he was only four years old. The child who lived on the streets for three years wound up as an assistant professor of biochemistry at Harvard University, worked with Dr. James D. Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA structure, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 2007.

Marc Lippman, M.D., Stanley and Kathleen Glaser Professor and chair of medicine, and deputy director of Sylvester, formally introduced Capecchi by talking about his “extraordinary discoveries” and listing just some of his numerous awards earned over the years.

Capecchi is best known for pioneering the technology of gene targeting in mouse embryo-derived stem (ES) cells. This allows scientists to create mice with mutations in any desired gene by choosing which gene to mutate, giving the researcher complete freedom in manipulating DNA sequences in the genome of living mice. In his lecture, Capecchi spoke about modeling human cancer in the mouse, and how that can help investigators learn more about the process of how cancer develops.

During the ceremony portion of the day, Eckhard R. Podack, M.D., Ph.D., Sylvester Distinguished Professor and chairman of microbiology and immunology at the Miller School, was named the 2010 Outstanding Cancer Researcher. He spoke about the “fun” in research, in “making new discoveries.” Podack collaborates on several interdisciplinary research studies, including the development of a Phase I clinical trial for lung cancer.

The annual lecture and poster competition are held in honor of Charles Gordon Zubrod, M.D., who worked at the University of Miami for 25 years, heading up what would become the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. His 14 years of work at the National Cancer Institute helped develop a chemotherapy research program and led to his renown as the “father of cancer chemotherapy” and a pioneer in clinical trials.

The Cancer Research Poster Session wrapped up the afternoon, yielding five winners. In the Basic Science category, the Best Graduate Student winner was Robert Newman, Ph.D. candidate, for his study titled “Effective CD8 T-cell Expansion in Murine Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation Recipients Induced by Vaccination with Lymphoma Cells Secreting gp-96-Ig Heat Shock Fusion Protein.”

Yingqiu Xie, Ph.D., senior research associate, won the Basic Science, Post-Doctoral Fellow category with “SRC Signaling Promotes Ligand Activated ER Proteolysis.” The Best Overall Basic Science poster award was given to Fayi Wu, M.D., Ph.D., post-doctoral associate, for “A Novel Vav3 Binding Partner Potentiates Androgen Receptor Activity.”

In the Clinical and Population Studies category, Best Fellow/Resident poster went to Subhasis Misra, M.D., surgical resident, for “The Role of Endoscopic Ultrasound in Assessing Tumor Response and Staging Post Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Esophageal Cancer.”

Best Overall Clinical and Population Studies poster was awarded to Ulas Darda Bayraktar, M.D., hematology-oncology at Jackson Memorial Hospital, for “The Use of High-Dose Azidothymidine in Combination with Chemotherapy Upfront is an Effective Treatment Approach for Gamma-Herpes Virus-Related non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas.”

Media Contact
Lisa  Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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Dr. W. Jarrard Goodwin Receives Chamber Lifetime Achievement Award

(May 20, 2010) – Two Miller School of Medicine faculty members were honored at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Health Care Heroes Awards at Parrot Jungle Thursday afternoon. W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., chief medical officer of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and professor of otolaryngology, was presented the premier honor at the luncheon, the AXA Advisors Lifetime Achievement Award.

University of Miami developing potent weapon against cancer

Clinical Trial for Metastatic Brain Cancer Launching at Sylvester

(May 17, 2010) – Patients battling lung and breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain currently have limited effective treatment options. This has created a critical need for the development of new therapies.  Researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have just received approval to begin enrolling patients in a Phase I clinical trial involving patients with tumors metastatic to the brain. The novel therapy is based on the laboratory discovery of a drug by Sheldon Greer, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology, biochemistry and molecular biology, and radiation oncology, which can lead to a better radiation effect.

Researchers Develop Novel Strategy to Destroy Tumors Using the Immune System

Study published in Nature

(May 12, 2010) – Harnessing the immune system is emerging as one of the most promising new ways to fight cancer.  Most cancer cells are eliminated by the immune system; however, over a lifetime, a few may escape this immune surveillance and lead to tumors and metastases. Hence a formidable opportunity has been to find ways to make the immune system recognize the tumor as a foreign body and trigger a response. A team of researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine overcame this challenge and developed an entirely new method to induce the expression of antigens (the proteins recognized by the immune system) on the surface of tumor cells, thereby spurring a much more robust immune response.  The finding could lead to a new therapy for patients with most forms of cancer, even the more aggressive tumors, in the foreseeable future.

Eli Gilboa, Ph.D., Dodson Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and co-leader of the Tumor Immunology Program at Sylvester, led the study that is being published in the May 13 issue of the journal Nature. The research team consisted of Fernando Pastor, Ph.D., post doctoral associate at Sylvester, Despina Kolonias, M.S., senior research associate at Sylvester, and Paloma Giangrande, Ph.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Iowa.

Pathogens such as bacteria and viruses elicit an immune response because they express antigens that are recognized as foreign. This response revs up the body’s natural defenses and eliminates the microorganisms. Because tumor cells are similar to normal cells in our bodies, they don’t express many foreign antigens. Therefore, they manage to escape the immune surveillance and grow unchecked to form cancers. Gilboa’s team devised a method to force tumor cells to express new antigens on their surface, making tumors appear more like a “pathogen,” and consequently, to trigger a more potent immune response. “We’ve developed what could become an alternative to vaccines,” says Gilboa, “that would be simpler, broadly applicable, and potentially more effective.”

Normally, DNA information is converted to RNA, which in turn translates into a protein, the final product. During RNA synthesis there is a process known as nonsense mediated mRNA decay which detects and eliminates defective RNAs. If a defect is present, the RNA is degraded and the protein is not formed. However, if the nonsense mediated mRNA process is not functional, the defective RNAs are not degraded and they will generate aberrant proteins, which will be viewed as foreign by the immune system and hence stimulate an immune response. With that in mind, Gilboa and his team focused on inhibiting the RNA degradation process, but only in tumor cells.

Specific proteins are present on the surface of tumor cells, such as PSMA on prostate cancer cells. Using nucleic acid technology, the researchers developed a small interfering RNA (siRNA) which inhibits the nonsense mediated mRNA decay process. The siRNA was then linked to a targeting ligand, also made of nucleic acid called “aptamer” which binds to selected proteins present only on the surface of tumor cells. In this research, it bound to PSMA expressed on prostate tumors. Acting as a missile, the aptamer targets the siRNA to tumor cells and spares normal cells. In mice, it eliminated the tumor.

Joseph Rosenblatt, M.D., professor of medicine and interim director of Sylvester, says Dr. Gilboa has developed a “very clever way of embracing the body’s immune response” and his research “represents a completely new approach to immunotherapy of cancer.”

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the UM Miller School of Medicine, describes the work as “groundbreaking and possibly a brand new opportunity for the millions of patients who are victims of cancers.”

Gilboa is the Dodson Professor of Microbiology and Immunology thanks to an extraordinary gift from Eugenia Dodson following her death in 2006. Because of her battle with lung cancer, she dedicated one-third of her $35.6 million estate to be used for cure-focused cancer research at Sylvester.

Gilboa, who worked in vitro and with mice, describes his findings as “a potentially significant discovery toward a new therapy.”  The next step, he believes, is clinical trials at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Gilboa says they would likely start with prostate cancer since the reagents are available, but adds that breast cancer expressing HER2 would be another candidate.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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Pap Corps Gives $3.2 Million to Fund Vital Cancer Research at Sylvester

(May 11, 2010) – The 21,000-member Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research today announced its annual gift to fund vital cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.  The check for $3.2 million was presented to Joseph Rosenblatt, M.D., interim director of Sylvester; Jerry Goodwin, M.D., chief medical officer of Sylvester/UMHC – University of Miami Hospital & Clinics; and Pascal Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School of Medicine.

“I just want to say how proud I am to hand over this check,” said Tutsie Lipkin, president of the Pap Corps.  In speaking to more than 700 guests at the annual donor luncheon, she reminded everyone that “there are still many roads to travel on our course to cure cancer … cancer doesn’t relax for a minute and neither can we.”  

The donor luncheon was held at the Boca Raton Resort with leaders representing all 52 units in attendance celebrating 58 years of support for cancer research at the University of Miami. 

The Pap Corps is an all-volunteer fundraising group with members spread across the tri-county area.  Under Lipkin’s leadership membership has grown from 19,000 to 21,000 and from 47 to 52 units.  She is especially proud of the tremendous increase in male membership, from 710 in 2009 to 2,000 today, which was one of her goals as president. 

Despite the economic downturn nationwide, the Pap Corps maintained its enthusiasm and drive over the past year.  “You all inspire us and I want all 21,000 of you to know you’re our best friends,” said Dr. Joseph Rosenblatt to luncheon guests.  “Tutsie, you came into office just as the economy tanked and yet you never stopped working.  You saw the potential for what the Pap Corps could become and laid the foundation for those who will follow.” 

Rosenblatt reviewed the research report provided to luncheon guests, mentioning 282 active research projects totaling more than $38 million in funding, many of which are specifically supported by Pap Corps’ funds.  The Pap Corps’ ongoing investment provides seed money for physicians and scientists to develop the preliminary experimental data needed to successfully apply for operating grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the American Cancer Society, and other national funding sources.  

Lipkin introduced and thanked Dean Pascal Goldschmidt saying, “We’re most proud of the Dean’s unwavering support for cancer research and Sylvester.”  As guest speaker, Goldschmidt said, “What you’ve achieved is truly remarkable.  I know the damage that cancer can do, but with an army we can fight the disease, destroy the disease, and create a world without cancer.”  Goldschmidt also thanked Dr. Jerry Goodwin for his 14 years of service as Sylvester Director and announced to luncheon guests that “as chief medical officer Jerry is now responsible for cancer services throughout the health system.” 

Goodwin, admittedly overwhelmed by Goldschmidt’s remarks and the standing ovation he received from luncheon guests said, “I’m glad to be here with you to celebrate your good work.  I’m excited now to focus on the clinical side of the business.”  He mentioned the construction and renovation projects in Deerfield Beach to add radiation oncology and a breast health center, along with several other initiatives currently underway.  “We’re taking cancer care to the citizens of South Florida,” said Goodwin.  “I give heartfelt thanks to Tutsie for her two tremendous years of leadership.”  

Goodwin then installed the Pap Corps Officers for 2010-2011, introducing Naomi Prever, president, and her executive board. 

In accepting the presidency, Prever excitedly said, “My passion to become a volunteer started many years ago as a result of my family’s experience with cancer.  Cancer doesn’t discriminate.  I know that I will never rest until our doctors find a cure for cancer.”  Prever’s daughters congratulated their mom on her new role and talked about her 50 years of charitable work.  “We [the Pap Corps] are the ones who fund modern miracles,” said Prever.

Lipkin thanked everyone for attending the luncheon.  “Today is quite a day.  Today marks the end of a very important journey for me as Pap Corps President.”  Lipkin wished Prever   all the best and pledged her support to the new team.  “One of Tutsie’s main strengths is her power of persuasion,” said Sheila Vecker, luncheon co-chair, along with Roberta Oberman and Priscilla Polishook.  Everyone applauded the tremendous work of the luncheon committee. 

For more information about the Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research, please call 877-495-8100 or visit www.papcorps.org. 

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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Medical Reports: Save Your Skin

Kalish Family Dedicates Endowed Chair in Stem Cell Transplantation

(May 10, 2010) – A standing-room only crowd celebrated the official dedication of The Kalish Family Endowed Chair in Stem Cell Transplantation to Krishna V. Komanduri, M.D., last week, a generous gift designed to help one of the world’s leading stem cell transplant innovators fulfill his dream of curing the kind of dreadful cancers that claimed successful businessman Ronald Kalish in the prime of his life.

“Ron and I came from humble means and … his brilliance and his success enabled this magnificent gift that my family and I are proud to give to Krishna,’’ philanthropist Nedra Kalish said at the May 7 chair dedication at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “My son [Geoff], having the same brilliance and success that his father did, enables this endowment and this chair.’’

With humility and gratitude, Komanduri, a professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology and director of Sylvester’s Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program, thanked Nedra Kalish for having the “kindness, conviction and generosity” to make such a difference in the lives of South Floridians stricken with cancer.

During a slide presentation chronicling the history of bone marrow and stem cell transplantation, Komanduri noted that generous contributions from past benefactors have enabled dramatic improvements in transplant survival rates, perhaps to the point of curing the kind of deadly cancer, mantle cell lymphoma, that killed Ronald Kalish, a former Duke University star pitcher and retail industry executive, in 2003.

“Critically, Mrs. Kalish directed her gift to Sylvester to ensure that future  patients in South Florida would not need to leave the region to seek cutting-edge therapy,’’ Komanduri said. “I am humbled by her generosity and all of us will be motivated by her story.’’

Joseph Rosenblatt, M.D., interim director of Sylvester, noted that the Kalish family gift was pivotal in luring Komanduri away from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 2008, and is already having a ‘‘transformational” impact on Sylvester’s goal of becoming a national leader in transplantation.

“Under Dr. Komanduri’s leadership, we already have doubled the number of transplants being performed here,’’ Rosenblatt said. “We are on target to do well over 100 [in 2010] and have increased the complexity and difficulty of transplants we are willing to tackle.’’

Following the ceremony, the Kalish family helped dedicate the Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program’s new Ambulatory Treatment Center at Sylvester, an inviting and cutting-edge wing where stem cell recipients who are highly vulnerable to infection come for outpatient follow-up care.

“They have to be followed carefully and compulsively in as safe a way as possible,  and that’s what’s going to take place in this special space,’’ W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., chief medical officer of Sylvester, said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We have treatment rooms that are specially treated for ventilation and special personnel and systems to follow the patients closely and make sure they receive every advantage to fight this tough fight.’’

And now, thanks to the Kalish family’s endowed chair, South Florida patients have one of the world’s foremost transplant experts in their corner, too. As Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., told the Kalish family, “To be the best you have to have the best…With this amazing chair, you are funding [Dr. Komanduri’s] dream – his dream to save the lives of patients with the most dreadful cases of cancer.’’

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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SunSmart 5K Run/Walk for Melanoma Awareness Draws Hundreds of People

(May 4, 2010) – More than 200 participants turned out for the third annual SunSmart Sprint 5K Run/Walk for Melanoma Awareness on Saturday, May 1. Runners and walkers gathered at Crandon Park on Key Biscayne for the 7 a.m. race, which raised an estimated $8,000 for the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery to research and develop more treatment options for skin cancer patients.

The early morning event was led by Lawrence Schachner, M.D., Harvey Blank Professor and chairman of dermatology and cutaneous surgery, and James Grichnik, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery and director of the Melanoma Program at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. After welcoming everyone, they reminded the crowd about the reason for the event — raising awareness of the warning signs of melanoma and the importance of regular checkups.

Among the runners was Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School. He crossed the finish line in 22:54, winning in his age group. It’s the third year he has run the event, which has personal meaning for him since his father died of melanoma. “I know the importance of getting regular screenings,” Dr. Goldschmidt told the crowd.

The overall winner also ran for personal reasons. Manny Huerta was there with his mother, who is being treated for melanoma at Jackson Memorial Hospital. The 26-year-old Huerta is on the U.S. Triathlon team and finished the 3.1-mile race in 16:01. He took the stage and told the crowd how melanoma runs in his family and his mother’s case was first spotted during a routine exam.

Free skin cancer screenings were offered following the race, along with a light breakfast. Sebastian the Ibis even ran the race, posing for pictures with other early risers.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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Sylvester on Track to Receive $9.5 Million from the State for Cancer Research

(May 3, 2010) – The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine could receive $9.5 million for continued cancer research as a result of the 2010 legislative session. This additional funding approved by the state House and Senate will enable Sylvester to recruit more researchers with expertise in specific areas of cancer, along with their research teams. In turn, this money will play a critical role in helping Sylvester take the necessary final steps toward achieving a National Cancer Institute designation.

“We applaud this historic show of support by our Florida lawmakers, giving Sylvester a better chance to be awarded an NCI designation,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School of Medicine.  “This will bring more cutting-edge research opportunities, clinical trials and innovative treatments to patients in South Florida and beyond.”

As the only academic-based cancer center in South Florida, the impact on patient access to more pioneering therapies will be substantial, enhancing Sylvester’s multi-disciplinary approach. The prestigious “Cancer Center” designation from the National Cancer Institute will allow Sylvester to secure additional sources of funding, recruit scientific and medical talent with greater ease, and improve its research integration with other specialized cancer centers.

“We recognize this is a tight budget year where lawmakers are making difficult decisions, but cancer does not recognize recession,” said W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., chief medical officer of Sylvester. “We thank the members of the Miami-Dade delegation, especially State Representative David Rivera, chair of the Full Appropriations Council on General Government & Health Care, and State Representative Denise Grimsley, chairwoman of the Health Care Appropriations Committee, for their tireless commitment to one of Florida’s most vulnerable populations.”

With the House and Senate approval of the budget, it will now head to Governor Charlie Crist for his signature.

Florida is the third largest state with the second highest cancer burden of any state in the nation, yet has only one NCI Cancer Center.  With an NCI designation, Sylvester is expected to support 14,138 jobs in the year 2020, and the expected economic impact is $1.7 billion. Investing in Sylvester’s future growth and NCI designation is of key importance to ensure a world-class medical and research facility, providing significant economic and social benefits to South Florida and the State of Florida.

“The state’s allocation will not only sustain the promising research at Sylvester,” says Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., interim director of Sylvester, “but also ensure the availability of exceptional clinical trials and options for patients in Florida, the Caribbean and Latin America. This is a visionary move on behalf of the state that will benefit our region medically and economically.”

“The Sylvester Foundation’s extraordinary gift that created this Cancer Center opened up an amazing facility to treat patients across South Florida and the region,” Goldschmidt said.  “This additional infusion of funding will be an investment that further expands access to breakthrough cancer research for millions of Florida residents.

“We look forward to continuing to work with our elected officials to improve the lives of patients and the communities we serve.”

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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Statue Honoring Harcourt M. Sylvester Jr. Unveiled at Gala Reception

(April 8, 2010) – The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center wrote another chapter in its history Thursday evening, unveiling a bronze statue of its benefactor, the late Harcourt M. Sylvester Jr. A crowd of more than seventy people – including Sylvester’s daughters, Jayne Malfitano and Laura Cameron – gathered in the courtyard just outside the cancer center for the event.

Joan Scheiner, chairman of the Sylvester Board of Governors, began the presentation with a surprise announcement. Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and City Commissioner Willy Gort declared April 8, 2010 Harcourt M. Sylvester Jr. Statue Dedication Day.

It seemed a fitting tribute for a man who was described by all who spoke as “humble,”  “dignified,”  “visionary” and “generous.” Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School, talked about how Sylvester “had the ability to see the world as it should be.”

In 1986, Sylvester directed the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation to make a $27.5 million gift to the medical school to build a cancer center. He wanted to “make a statement,” the story goes, by showing how South Florida could be transformed by the creation of a university-based cancer center. At the time, it was the largest donation ever made to the University of Miami.

Since then, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has become a focal point for cutting- edge research and clinical excellence, just as Sylvester envisioned. His daughter Jayne S. Malfitano spoke to the crowd, which included many family members from out of town, including five of Sylvester’s grandchildren. She said the real blessing of the cancer center wasn’t the building or the name, but the people inside - “those who care for patients and families, researchers, volunteers… all singularly focused on easing the human burden from cancer.”

Malfitano spoke about the hope her father always had, and was visibly moved when quoting one of his favorite phrases, “May hope run eternal in us all.” Any tears that fell were replaced moments later by jubilant smiles as the Sylvester family unveiled the Seward Johnson bronze statue in the cancer center courtyard. The figure portrays a smiling and seated Harcourt M. Sylvester, Jr., holding a letter from a grateful patient.

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., chief medical officer of Sylvester summed up the universal sentiment, saying simply, “Mr. Sylvester, we are glad to have you back on campus.”

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Lisa Worley
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University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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Sylvester Surgeons Perform First Removal of Throat Cancer in South Florida Using Surgical Robot

(April 7, 2010) – Surgeons from the Department of Otolaryngology at UHealth—University of Miami Health System have performed the first removal of throat cancer in South Florida using a surgical robot. The operation was performed March 22 at the University of Miami Hospital by Francisco Civantos, M.D., associate professor of otolaryngology and member of the Head and Neck Cancer Site Disease Group at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Giovana Thomas, M.D., associate professor of otolaryngology and member of the Head and Neck Cancer Site Disease Group at Sylvester.  They were accompanied by Raymond J. Leveillee, M.D., professor of urology, who is an experienced urologic robotic surgeon.

Traditional surgery for various head and neck cancers requires large incisions – extending from the lip, across the chin and to the neck before entering the mouth or throat. Numerous times surgeons need to cut through the lower jaw and move aside vital nerves to gain access to the back of the mouth and throat.  By using the da Vinci® Surgical System, surgeons insert the slender instruments into the mouth to reach the base of the tongue, tonsils, and throat. “As a surgeon,” says Civantos, “using a surgical robot allows for greater precision and dexterity to remove cancerous tumors from tight spaces in the mouth and throat.”

The University of Miami Hospital’s da Vinci® System consists of robotic arms that replicate a surgeon’s motions. Throughout a robot-assisted surgery, patients are positioned as they would be during laparoscopic surgery, with surgical team members surrounding them, while the surgeon is located at a console a few feet away.  Supporting surgical team members mount the correct instruments, and supervise the laparoscopic arms and tools being used. 

The instruments are designed with seven degrees of motion that imitate the agility of the human wrist. Each instrument has a specific surgical task such as clamping, and suturing.  Even though the surgeon is not physically in contact with the patient, the da Vinci® control console permits the surgeon to see the surgical field in superior detail as a result of the three-dimensional image transmitted from the laparoscopic cameras.  

Civantos and Thomas say the benefits for patients with head and neck cancers are “dramatic” because the surgeries can be done endoscopically. Thomas says “because there are no external incisions, it offers faster recovery time and a reduced risk of infection or other complications for the patient.”  This procedure represents another stepping stone in the development of minimally invasive endoscopic procedures for treatment of head and neck cancer at UHealth.

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Thousands to Gather at Pap Corps Walkathon to Raise Money for Cancer Research

(March 8, 2010) – On Saturday, March 13, thousands of Pap Corps members, their families, friends, and other supporters will come together on behalf of cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System. Hosted by the Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research, the 10th Annual Pap Corps Walkathon & Health Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton. 

The walkathon is an important fundraising and community outreach event, which had more than 2,500 participants last year and traditionally raises more than $200,000 a year to fund vital cancer research at Sylvester. “Imagine… a World Without Cancer” is this year’s theme.

For a $15 registration fee, all participants will receive a t-shirt, water, breakfast, entertainment, and access to the health fair. The health fair, presented by Sylvester, will feature free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose, tents where the latest technology is showcased, and “Ask the Experts” exhibits with physicians and staff from Sylvester, Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, and UHealth at Boca Raton. Participants will also be able to pay tribute to loved ones by purchasing “In Honor of” and “In Memory of” paper plaques for $15 each. 

This is the second year that the walkathon will be held at FAU, home of the UM Miller School of Medicine’s Regional Campus. “We hope to top last year’s total which brought in $300,000 for cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said event chairwoman Rita Seiff, who is a member of the Boca West Cancer Research Unit, one of 50 units that make up the 20,000-member Pap Corps. Since 2002, Pap Corps members have raised more than $20 million for Sylvester.

The walk encircles the nature path surrounding the FAU campus and covers about 3.1 miles (5K), but participants can walk as much or as little as they choose.  Those who don’t want to walk can sit in the shade and enjoy entertainment provided by event emcee and Pap Corps member Ellen Jaffe of 101.5 Lite FM.  

“I feel the Walkathon is one of the most rewarding events the Pap Corps does,” Seiff said. “It gives me such a good feeling to be able to look out on that day and see our participating members, friends and the community getting together to celebrate life and survivorship.”

About the Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research

Named in honor of cancer research pioneer, Dr. George N. Papanicolaou (developer/founder of the Pap Smear for cervical cancer), the Pap Corps is a non-profit, volunteer group with more than 20,000 members throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The Pap Corps has supported cancer research at the University of Miami since 1952, donating a total of more than $33 million to Sylvester.

The ongoing commitment of the Pap Corps funds Sylvester’s multidisciplinary research programs and investigations of prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers, as well as new diagnostic tools for a variety of cancers at South Florida’s only university-based cancer center. Pap Corps donations provide seed money for physicians and scientists to develop preliminary experimental data needed to successfully apply for operating grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the American Cancer Society and other national funding outlets

For more information about the walkathon and the Pap Corps, visit www.papcorps.org or call the Pap Corps office at 561-798-3116 or 954-425-8100. For information about the health fair, contact Judy Hayden at 305-243-5182 or Giselle Salzmann at 305-243-3663.

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Lisa Worley
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University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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Sylvester Researchers Awarded Five-Year Grant to Study Cancer Viruses

(March 5, 2010) – Viruses are believed to be the cause of as many as 20 percent of all cancers, but some viruses can infect human cells and remain latent. To remain latent, they may have to suppress anti-viral host mechanisms, which can pave the way for cancer. The laboratory of Glen N. Barber, Ph.D., the Eugenia J. Dodson Chair in Cancer Research and leader of the Viral Oncology Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has played a key role in unraveling these host mechanisms, referred to as innate immunity. 

Barber is now leading a team of physicians and scientists at Sylvester who have been awarded a prestigious five-year PO1 grant from the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, to uncover these mechanisms and study them in clinical trials. 

This $8 million grant from the NCI involves multiple investigators. Barber and two other Sylvester researchers will take a three-pronged approach to studying these viral malignancies. “This is a basic research grant with a clinical component,” explains Barber. “We had to show synergy and a solid blend among all the components.”

For several years, Barber’s lab has been working toward understanding the innate immune system, which is critical in fighting viral infections. Cancer-causing viruses seem to subvert these defense mechanisms to avoid being eliminated and in doing so, they remove a restriction which allows the genesis of cancer. Barber’s goal is to understand “how these anti-viral/anti-proliferative mechanisms work and how viruses shut them down.”

One of the viruses Barber has focused on is human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1), which appears to subvert the innate immune process and contribute to adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Like most viruses, HTLV-1 has a specific receptor on the cell surface that is not present on other types of cells. So Barber and his team have devised a new virus to attack and infect HTLV-1 cells using that specific receptor as a contact point. Barber has tested this therapy in the lab and says “it looks really promising.”  He hopes to have this portion of the research as a potential clinical trial in the future.

That’s where the work of the late William J. Harrington, Jr., M.D., co-leader of the Viral Oncology Research Program at Sylvester and professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology-Oncology, and Juan Carlos Ramos, M.D., assistant professor and member of the Viral Oncology Program, comes into play in this multi-investigator grant.  Harrington and Ramos examined the responses of ATL to anti-viral and immunomodulatory therapy and found that specific molecular factors were associated with treatment resistance. This work was published in the journal Blood in 2007. Based on their insight, they designed a new clinical trial to study the mechanisms of treatment resistance in this fatal viral-associated malignancy. 

Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., interim director of Sylvester and professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology, and William J. Harrington Chair in Hematology, who contributed to the HTLV-1 field earlier in his career, recently joined this effort and will assist Ramos with Harrington’s portion of the project.

When the body is infected by a virus, it signals the production of interferon which makes anti-viral genes. However, some viruses, like HTLV-1, shut down the interferon pathways, allowing the virus to replicate.  Harrington and Ramos developed a method to introduce exogenous interferon into the body to reawaken the innate immune system – a therapy that seems effective in about 25 percent of cases. The challenge, Barber explains, is that “in many instances, there’s a resistance to this therapy because the exogenous interferon pathways have been destroyed by the virus, or mutated, and won’t work.”

With this grant, Ramos will continue his clinical trial and laboratory work on adult T-cell leukemia lymphoma (ATLL) initially started by his project funded by the Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation. He is studying the in vivo mechanisms of interferon sensitivity and resistance in this deadly disease, which is generally resistant to conventional chemotherapy. “We want to figure out which molecular factors can help us predict which patients will respond to this biological approach and where the defects which can induce interferon resistance exist,” says Ramos.  From there, “we hope to design a test to screen patients to predict which ones will respond to this therapy and which won’t.”

The study will also include a comprehensive molecular analysis of ATLL specimens obtained from patients under the clinical trial in Miami and the Brazilian state of Bahia, where HTLV-1 is also endemic. Much like HIV, HTLV-1 can be sexually transmitted and passed through direct inoculation and blood products. However, its main route of transmission is through breast milk in indigent settings. The virus causes leukemia/lymphoma in about 5 percent of the infected individuals after a long period of latency of four to five decades. Ramos will be working closely with Barber and colleagues at the Federal University of Bahia, in Salvador, where a long-standing research collaboration with Sylvester and UM established by the late Dr. Harrington Jr. still exists. 

Barber expects the discoveries made with this research and clinical study to have broad implications for other viral malignancies. “Learning how these viruses shut down normal host defense pathways could be applicable to any other cancers,” he says.  They plan to more closely examine other cancers associated with virus infection and determine if similar defects in immunity pathways affect treatments.

The work of Edward Harhaj, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and immunology and member of the Viral Oncology Program at Sylvester, makes up the third portion of the multi-investigator grant. While Barber is examining innate immunity as a whole, Harhaj is more specifically looking at how the virus blocks that normal defense mechanism. He believes that Tax, a protein created by HTLV-1, is the actual culprit that shuts down the innate immune pathways, blocking the production of interferon. “We want to determine exactly how Tax inhibits the production of interferon by identifying the precise target of Tax in these antiviral pathways,” says Harhaj. He and Barber will collaborate on determining the role of Tax in blocking the innate immune pathway.

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Lisa Worley
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University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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Sylvester Hosts 8th Annual Landon-AACR Cancer Research Award Lectures

(March 1, 2010) – Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center proudly hosted the American Association for Cancer Research and Kirk A. Landon and Dorothy P. Landon Foundation awards and lectures on Friday, Feb. 26, with Kirk Landon on hand to personally congratulate the winners.

These awards are considered the most prestigious given to cancer researchers by their peers, and include a cash prize of $100,000 for each award. Landon told the young researchers and medical students in the audience for the eighth annual awards that he looked forward to seeing them “follow in the footsteps” of the recipients.

This year’s Kirk A. Landon-AACR Prize for Basic Cancer Research was jointly awarded to Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc., director of the University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and distinguished professor of urology, biochemistry and molecular biology at the Keck School of Medicine, and Stephen B. Baylin, M.D., professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins University.  Jones and Baylin were recognized for their work in the field of epigenetics. 

Researchers have discovered there is a second layer of genetic information that is not in DNA, but rather embedded in proteins that surround DNA. Baylin and Jones have established that there is a major epigenetic component in cancer causation and malignant cell growth. In essence, in many cancers, genes that should be ‘on’ are permanently silenced. As Jones explained, “the goal is to develop drugs that turn these genes back on,” and to do that, scientists must understand how they are silenced in the first place. Baylin and Jones are working with specific drug combinations in clinical trials, trying to reverse this gene silencing.

Charles L. Sawyers, M.D., investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and chairman of the Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center,  received the Dorothy P. Landon-AACR Prize for Translational Cancer Research. He has been recognized for discovering the mechanism of resistance to drugs like Gleevec (imatinib) in chronic myeloid leukemia. He has also focused on the molecular basis of prostate cancer and currently has a clinical trial at multiple sites for men with this disease.

The Landon-AACR Prizes in cancer research were first presented in 2002 to promote and reward critical contributions to defeating cancer. Last year, the first Landon Foundation-AACR INNOVATOR Awards for International Collaboration and Cancer Prevention were handed out to recognize the importance of international collaboration and outstanding achievement by an early career scientist.

This year’s INNOVATOR Award for Cancer Prevention Research was presented to Gregory P. Tochtrop, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry at Case Western Reserve University, for his work expanding the knowledge of triterpenoids. These are naturally occurring organic chemicals which have a role as small molecule chemopreventive agents. In his presentation, he detailed his team’s exploration of how these natural chemicals might be used to reduce the inflammation sequence in inflammatory-based cancers.

Josep M. Llovet, M.D., professor of research at the Institut d’Investigacions Biomediques August Pi Sunyer Hospital Clinic in Barcelona, received the Landon Foundation-AACR INNOVATOR Award for International Collaboration but was unable to attend the event. His colleague, Augusto Villanueva, M.D., a post-doctoral researcher in Llovet’s Barcelona laboratory, presented the lecture. Llovet is recognized for his efforts uniting researchers in the study of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. He also worked to assemble the HCC Genomic Consortium, an international group of basic and translational researchers to analyze gene samples related to liver cancer. Villanueva explained how this international consortium, which includes teams from Italy, New York and Boston, is concentrating on the molecular classification of HCC as they try to zero in on potential gatekeepers of liver cancer.

Each of the presenters was recognized with a round of applause in appreciation for their research contributions and lecture. W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., chief medical officer of Sylvester and professor of otolaryngology, said there “hasn’t been a year when our faculty and students have not benefited from this symposium.”

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Lisa Worley
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University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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Sylvester Researchers Discover Regulating Mechanism of Key Transcription Factor

(February 25, 2010) – In many cancers, scientists have discovered that key gene regulators which normally control cell growth have either been turned off or mutated.  That change in the regular pattern then allows unrestricted cell production and the creation of tumors. Sylvester researchers have discovered exactly how one critical regulator affects a transcription factor that is consistently turned on in most cancers. The findings of Edward W. Harhaj, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and immunology and member of the Viral Oncology Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Noula Shembade, Ph.D., research assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, have been published in the February 26 issue of the prestigious journal Science.

Transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) regulates hundreds of genes that are involved in a wide variety of different functions such as inflammation, cell development and cell death. When NF-κB is functioning normally, for instance during an infection, certain cytokines will be produced and they will activate NF-κB for a brief period of time. During that time, NF-κB activates specific genes and then it’s shut off. If NF-κB is not tightly regulated, it stays on continuously which can lead to auto-immune diseases and unregulated cell growth that can become cancer.

The zinc finger protein A20 has an essential role in limiting the strength and duration of NF-κB signaling. The process works like an auto-regulatory loop in that NF-κB activates, turning on the expression of A20 which in turn shuts down NF-κB, resetting the system.

The NF-κB pathway is regulated by ubiquitin, a small molecule that attaches itself to proteins and either triggers their degradation or changes how that protein works. Ubiquitination occurs in a 3-step enzymatic cascade consisting of E1, E2 and E3 enzymes. Ubiquitin is first activated by a ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1) and transferred to a ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (E2). In the final step, the ubiquitin ligase (E3) transfers ubiquitin to a protein substrate. 

There are several important proteins in the NF-κB pathway that function as E3s, including TRAF2 and TRAF6. In a normal process, these proteins work by binding to Ubc13 and UbcH5c, both E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes. Harhaj and Shembade discovered that “A20 works by disrupting the interactions between the TRAF proteins and Ubc13 and UbcH5c. It disrupts the binding of E2 to E3 enzymes.”

By shutting down this linear cascade, explains Harhaj, A20 in effect tells NF-κB to stop working. In certain cancers such as lymphomas, if A20 is not present, these E3 ligases are persistently turned on leading to constitutive NF-κB activation and cell survival. Harhaj explains that this finding could lead scientists to “create drugs that mimic the action of A20, that inhibit E2, E3 interactions when A20 is not expressed.”

Joseph Rosenblatt, M.D., professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology and interim director of Sylvester, says Harhaj’s discovery “provides us with unique insight into the regulation of the NF-κB pathway. His research will lead to new discoveries that can be applied to develop new therapies for our patients.”

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Lisa Worley
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Miller School Pediatrics Chairman Publishes Editorial on Cardiotoxicity After Childhood Cancer

New Study Builds on UM Doctor’s Breakthrough Finding

(February 12, 2010) – Steven E. Lipshultz, M.D., professor and chairman of pediatrics and associate executive dean for child health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, co-authored an editorial in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that was released online February 8. The editorial, written with M. Jacob Adams, M.D., M.P.H., of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, is titled: “Cardiotoxicity After Childhood Cancer: Beginning With the End in Mind.” The editorial specifically comments on an original article in the same journal titled: “Role of Cancer Treatment in Long-Term Overall and Cardiovascular Mortality After Childhood Cancer.”

Lipshultz is a leading authority on the late effects of treatment on survivors of childhood cancer, specifically the effects on the cardiovascular system when the survivors reach adulthood. In the editorial, the authors underscore the importance of further research to more specifically pinpoint specific treatments and the specific cardiovascular causes of death. As they point out, “the goal of childhood cancer treatment is not only to cure the patient, but to try to ensure that the patient lives as long and as normal a life as possible.”

In the early 1980s, Lipshultz began noticing a high number of older children who had been treated for childhood cancer were experiencing cardiovascular effects later in life. As he and Adams state in their editorial, survivors of childhood cancer are five to 10 times more likely than their healthy siblings to experience heart disease. 

This latest study involved a large population of over 4,000 survivors of childhood cancer with more than 86,000 patient-years of follow up and survivors who have died. Lipshultz says this work not only “confirms his concerns by showing the dramatic impact of cancer during childhood,” it also adds new information about late cardiac effects by specifically calculating radiation doses to the heart as a factor to assess cardiovascular mortality. Children who received higher anthracycline doses (drugs such as Adriamycin) had more than a four-fold higher risk of having a cardiac death than children who did not receive anthracycline chemotherapy. This study found that as little as 5 Gy of radiation to the heart increased the risk of cardiovascular deaths. Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients are treated with an average of 35 to 40 Gy of radiation.

Lipshultz and Adams argue that using genomics, proteomics and biomarkers to identify those childhood cancer survivors who are most at risk for cardiotoxicity requires much more research. Genetic predispositions along with personal health habits may also play a role. Lipshultz admits that devising cardio-protective treatments to avoid late heart failure is difficult because of an inadequate understanding of the risk-benefit ratio and the inherent challenges of running pediatric clinical trials, but points out the clear need. “Our work over the past 25 years has identified this as one of the largest new populations at risk for premature symptomatic cardiovascular disease, with one in every 560 young adults in the U.S. aged 20-45 years being a survivor of childhood cancer.”

Until less toxic cancer therapies or better screening models are developed, these doctors encourage research involving all childhood cancer survivors and vigilant monitoring for possible cardiovascular disease. These findings however suggest that deliberate and intentional serial cardiac monitoring of childhood cancer survivors is needed not just for the children for whom recommendations exist, such as those treated with anthracyclines, but also for those who have received radiation to the heart or other chemotherapy identified in this study to be associated with cardiac mortality that was not previously noted to be cardiotoxic. In the meantime, Lipshultz says “it appears that for some of these survivors we have substituted one fatal disease of early childhood (cancer) for another fatal disease in early adult life.” 

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NanoKnife Technology Targets Cancer at Sylvester

UHealth Uses First Device in Florida

(January 15, 2010) – One of the newest weapons in the war on cancer, NanoKnife™, is now in the hands of physicians at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth – University of Miami Health System. Sylvester/UMHC – University of Miami Hospital and Clinics is the first provider in Florida, and one of only a handful in the world, to offer this new treatment for destroying soft-tissue tumors.

NanoKnife is a minimally invasive cancer treatment that uses a targeted approach to treating hard-to-reach tumors at the cellular level. It works by delivering electrical energy directly into tumors, which opens the walls of the tumor, killing the cancer cells.

“The NanoKnife allows us to offer cancer patients an effective treatment for selected primary tumors that are considered inoperable,” says Govindarajan Narayanan, M.D., chief of vascular interventional radiology.  NanoKnife is also used in cases where tumors have spread from cancer in other parts of the body to the liver, kidneys and lungs.

As a minimally invasive ablation technology, NanoKnife is able to target tumor tissue while sparing healthy tissue such as nerves, blood vessels and bile ducts. Interventional radiologists use a CT scan or ultrasound to guide them in precisely placing electrodes in the tumor. Once the electrodes are inserted, the NanoKnife uses irreversible electroporation (IRE) to send electrical pulses directly to the tumor.

For patients, there are a number of benefits. Treatment requires only a brief hospital stay, with some patients returning home the same day. Patients undergo general anesthesia and experience little pain. Because NanoKnife spares healthy tissue and causes few side effects, treatments can be repeated if new lesions develop.

The benefits are especially attractive to doctors like David M. Levi, M.D., professor of clinical surgery at the Miami Transplant Institute. He says the NanoKnife “represents the next generation of minimally invasive technologies developed to destroy malignant tumors.” Levi hopes to integrate it into the arsenal “of treatment options available to effectively help our patients with liver cancer.”

Narayanan says in addition to its precision, NanoKnife’s real power “lies in the hands of the highly specialized physicians who will be employing it.” Patients who are treated at Sylvester will benefit from the site-based approach to cancer, where a team of experts specialize in specific types of cancer.

NanoKnife is FDA approved for use in all soft-tissue organs, and Sylvester physicians will be using it to treat tumors that develop in the liver, lung and kidneys.

For more information about NanoKnife at Sylvester/UMHC, visit the Interventional Radiology section, download a printable NanoKnife Factsheet or call 305-243-4062. 

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Most Advanced CyberKnife Comes to Sylvester

UM Physicians to Develop Unique Treatments

(January 12, 2010) – South Florida patients who are candidates for radiosurgery now have the most advanced technology available at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth - University of Miami Health System. Sylvester is now home to the fastest, most powerful model of CyberKnife® currently on the market.

The Accuray CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System does not involve any cutting; instead it delivers a powerful, pinpoint precision beam of radiation to tumors, sparing healthy tissue nearby. Physicians are able to use CyberKnife on cancer of the prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas and kidney, providing a non-invasive alternative to surgery for treating tumors.

Sylvester/UMHC -- University of Miami Hospital and Clinics, is the first medical facility anywhere to acquire the most advanced linear accelerator available for CyberKnife. Alan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chairman of radiation oncology at the Miller School of Medicine, explains that because “this model of CyberKnife delivers radiation at a faster rate, Sylvester patients are able to complete their treatment sessions in a shorter time.”

The CyberKnife system has complete range of motion, so it can be positioned to target cancer anywhere in the body, giving options to patients who would otherwise have no choices. In addition, the CyberKnife employs superior accuracy with the ability to track and target tumors, even as they move within the body due to normal functions. This technology allows Sylvester radiation oncologists to deliver concentrated doses of radiation to the tumor itself without immobilizing or sedating patients, and without hitting healthy tissue.

Pollack, a renowned radiation oncologist, says the real difference comes from the fact that the CyberKnife is in the hands of site disease specialists at Sylvester. “Because this technology is being used by clinical investigators who focus on specific cancers, our patients will have access to novel applications in clinical trials designed to take full advantage of the unique capabilities of the CyberKnife.”

A high-resolution CT scan is used to map the exact size, shape and location of the tumor. Once the treatment plan is developed, the patient lies on the table, while the CyberKnife System’s computer-controlled robot moves around, delivering precise doses of radiation to the exact points of the tumor. Each session lasts between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the type of tumor, and a treatment cycle is typically completed in one to five days. In comparison, traditional radiation treatments can take as many as 40 treatments.

“We intend to push this technology to its limits with the goal of improving tumor control while lowering patient toxicity,” says Pollack. “Being at an academic cancer center and working closely with academic medical physicists and other disease site physician specialists in medical and surgical oncology, have resulted in the development of conceptually new approaches that have tremendous promise.”

“Adding the CyberKnife to our treatment arsenal,” adds Pollack, “is another key reason for patients to come to Sylvester/UMHC. Arming our top-notch physicians with the most advanced model of CyberKnife means Sylvester patients will have the optimum combination of disease site specialization and technology, a powerful combination that sets Sylvester apart and maximizes cure rates.”

For more information, go to www.sylvester.org or call 305-243-7278.

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Phase III Trial Shows Biomarkers Predict p53 Gene Therapy Efficacy

Discovery Allows Selection of Treatment for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

(January 5, 2010) – In most cases, patients with recurrent, late-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck are facing a disease that is incurable. The vast majority of patients do not respond to standard therapies after a recurrence, and even if they do, the median survival is only four to six months. Those factors point to a clear need for improved therapies.

One of the first Phase III gene therapy clinical trials has determined that biomarkers can predict the efficacy of gene therapy in these recurrent cancers. W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was one of the study’s senior authors. The results have been published in the December 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Goodwin explains that using biomarkers to predict the efficacy of a treatment is critically important for patients with short life expectancies. “If we can better predict which treatment will be the most effective,” he says, “we can apply that therapy as quickly as possible. The very low levels of side effects and toxicity seen in this study are also exciting.” 

P53 is a tumor suppressor gene that acts as a cell cycle regulator. In virtually all cases of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), the p53 tumor suppressor pathway is dysfunctional. This occurs either by the presence of a mutated p53 genotype or by overexpression of p53 inhibitors HDM2 or HDM4. Because this tumor suppressor gene plays such a critical role in the development of SCCHN, it has made gene therapy to restore p53 function a logical targeted treatment for this disease. 

The team of nearly 20 physician-scientists hypothesized that tumor profiles that would be favorable for gene therapy would have wild-type p53 gene configurations, as compared to high-level expression of mutated p53 proteins. 

The phase III trial enrolled 116 patients at sites across the United States and in Europe between April 2001 and April 2008. The Head and Neck Site Disease Group at Sylvester was among the most productive in the study.  Each of the patients with recurrent SCCHN had previously been treated with either radiotherapy and/or surgery, with or without chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either adenoviral p53 gene therapy or methotrexate, a drug used to slow the growth of cancer cells.

Goodwin and the team of investigators found that 74 percent of patients with favorable p53 biomarkers (wild-type gene configurations) experienced significant tumor responses with gene therapy. Conversely, patients with unfavorable p53 biomarkers (high levels of mutation), did not show a marked tumor response following gene therapy. The study concludes that biomarker profiles are effective at predicting which patients will benefit from p53 gene therapy against this particular disease.

Goodwin says the findings are a “significant benefit to clinicians who need to identify an effective therapy for their patients.” Joseph Rosenblatt, M.D., professor of medicine and associate director of clinical and translational research at Sylvester, describes the study as “an important milestone in gene targeting of p53.”

Physicians believe the findings will open the door to new applications of biomarker predictions. “We think these results,” says Goodwin, “should encourage the identification of other predictive markers to guide cancer therapies.”

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Head & Neck Cancer Survivors Who Smoke and Drink Have Increased Death Risk

(December 4, 2009) – Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption before a head and neck cancer diagnosis strongly predict the patient’s future risk of death, according to previously published studies. Now, results of a new study show a similar effect among those who continued these habits after their cancer diagnosis.

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was a senior author of the study. “We found that survivors who smoked after their diagnosis,” said Goodwin, “were two times as likely to die.”

“Most cancer survivors are counseled to quit smoking; despite this, many still smoke. In our study, 21 percent continued to smoke even after their cancer diagnosis, increasing their risk of death,” said lead researcher Susan T. Mayne, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology at the Yale Schools of Public Health and Medicine. They also found that patients who drank alcohol were three times as likely to die following their diagnosis.  

Based on their findings, Goodwin and Mayne advise survivors of head and neck cancer — which includes cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx — to quit smoking cigarettes and drinking alcoholic beverages in order to increase their odds of longer survival.

Results of this study are published in the December issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. The issue has a special focus on tobacco. The research, funded by the National Cancer Institute, was conducted as a partnership between Sylvester and the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Mayne, Goodwin and colleagues evaluated the habits of 264 recent survivors of early stage head and neck cancer before and after their cancer diagnosis. Patient recruitment was conducted at 49 hospitals in Connecticut and Florida. After more than four years of follow-up, 62 patients died.

Patients who continued to smoke were approximately two times as likely to die during the follow-up, compared with those who did not smoke after diagnosis. Patients who continued to drink after diagnosis were approximately three times as likely to die during the follow-up, according to Mayne, who is also associate director of the Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“We expected to see an adverse effect of continued smoking; I was really not sure what we would find for continued drinking,” she said. “The data from our study indicated that continued drinking should be discouraged in head and neck cancer survivors.”

“It’s clear to us,” said Goodwin, “that patients need assistance with both tobacco and alcohol cessation and that element should be incorporated into their survivor care.”

Yale researchers are conducting studies to determine the most effective ways to help head and neck cancer survivors stop smoking. One preliminary study will compare medications to help survivors quit, and will specifically focus on the effectiveness of varenicline (Chantix) compared with the nicotine patch. Some evidence has shown that varenicline may also help reduce alcohol consumption in patients. Given these findings, the researchers will monitor alcohol use and address potential methods to help patients quit.

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Sylvester Researcher Appointed To Argentina’s Scientific Advisory Committee

(December 3, 2009) – Enrique A. Mesri, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Miller School and a member of the Viral Oncology Research Program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been appointed to Argentina’s Committee of Advisors for Scientific and Technological Cooperation in Foreign Countries. The prestigious honor recognizes Dr. Mesri’s leadership among prominent Argentine scientists living in the United States and his success at forging collaboration among the group’s members, organizations in Argentina and around the world, and the Miller School and Sylvester.

The two-year renewable ad honorem appointment, from the Argentina Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation (MINCyT), is bestowed upon Argentine scientists living abroad who have been recognized for their contributions to the international research community. Dr. Mesri will function as a scientific ambassador of Argentina to the United States and will work closely with the Consulate General of Argentina in Miami.

“This recognition crowns 10 years of work in international cooperation among numerous organizations and the many successful Argentine scientists living and working in the United States,” said Dr. Mesri. “The collaboration and exchange of scientific ideas have been good for both countries and particularly for the Miller School and Sylvester, evidenced by the exciting scientific cooperation project we launched with Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., in 2008.

“This cooperation included the creation of a joint biomedical institute in the areas of genomic medicine and molecular epidemiology applied to cancer, cardiology, AIDS and endemic infectious diseases. This led to productive trips to Argentina implemented through the invaluable collaboration of Eduardo de Marchena, M.D., and the International Medicine Institute; Bart Chernow, M.D., and UM Innovation; and Alejandra Collarte, director of international and corporate affairs for UM Information Technology. The University will benefit from our continuous interaction with the MINCyT and the Argentine consulate.”

The appointment, Dr. Mesri says, continues the Miller School’s tradition of cooperation in Latin American that was initiated 30 years ago by The William J. Harrington Medical Training Programs for Latin America and the Caribbean, created by William Harrington Sr., M.D. The program has trained Latin American physicians who later returned to their countries to become leaders in health care. Similarly, in developing scientific cooperation programs with Argentina, the goal is to build state-of-the-art research capacity in order to retain young scientists and attract promising Argentine scientists after their training abroad. In this way the collaborations contribute to the technological development of the country as well as to its public health.

As part of his official duties, Dr. Mesri will identify other programs at the University and across the country that have the potential for cooperation with researchers and others in Argentina. He will also help organize and update information on technology transfer and intellectual property to be disseminated through the Argentina Office of International Affairs.

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Cancer Survivors Star in Spectacular Sylvester Fundraiser

(November 18, 2009) – Nearly 600 people filled the Moore Building in Miami’s Design District on Wednesday night, November 11, to celebrate survivorship and raise more than $250,000 for research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.  The fundraiser, “Designed For a Cure” centered around a dozen Sylvester patients escorting their doctors and nurses down the runway.  As the evening wrapped up, every person was on their feet clapping and cheering the stories of survival that were highlighted during the evening.

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester, who was escorted by his patient, Trudi Pollack, described the evening as “a celebration of success.”  In addressing the crowd, which peered over railings three stories high, Goodwin noted that the 250 physicians and scientists at Sylvester work with technicians and nurses “tirelessly each and every day to further research and end the human burden of cancer.”
The inspiring event was chaired by Jennifer Stearns Buttrick, of Stearns, Weaver, Miller, Weissler, Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., who says she “learned in a personal way the importance of an academic medical center.”  Buttrick was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2006, just two days after giving birth to her third child.  She considers herself the “beneficiary of visionaries” who created a comprehensive cancer center in South Florida so patients don’t have to leave the area to receive the best medical care possible.  Buttrick was the perfect person to lead this event, having walked the runway herself, two years ago.

Among the guests who attended was State Representative David Rivera, (R) District 112, who Dr. Goodwin recognized as a “great friend of Sylvester.”  Chair of the Sylvester Board of Governors, Joan Scheiner thanked everyone for their continued support of Sylvester, despite a turbulent economy.  A cancer survivor herself, Scheiner beamed at the tremendous show of support at “Designed” and noted that it’s especially important for donors to continue to help scientists achieve their goals of “making miracles happen.”

“Designed For a Cure” was Sylvester’s signature fundraiser held this year, and similar to the 2007 “Party in the Park” event, where former patients were also featured as “models” for a unique fashion show.  This year, the historic Moore Building’s three-story open-air space was created as the stage for the event.  Attendees were greeted by a ground-floor reception and then moved to the second floor where tastings were provided by more than 30 prominent restaurants and caterers, such as 3030 Ocean, Blue Door at Delano, Chef David Schwadron Catering, Soyka, Sra. Martinez and Timo.  Lavish drinks were provided by Southern Wine & Spirits.

The backgrounds of the “model” survivors are as varied as their diagnoses -- from a CEO, to a filmmaker, a designer, a model and trainer, philanthropist and even a University of Miami Miller School physician.  The women were dressed by the Worth Collection, Ltd., while Perry Ellis fashions were worn by the men.  Throughout the evening, each of them displayed triumphant smiles.

Alan Livingstone, M.D., professor and chairman of surgery, said “this is what we do.  This is what makes it gratifying.”  Dr. Livingstone used the words “grace under pressure” to describe his patient, Cindy Davis Carr.  Carr was a longtime supporter of Sylvester, even attending the groundbreaking ceremony and serving as Honorary Chair for four Sylvester In the Garden Galas, before she became a patient herself.
The evening featured a silent auction with items donated by Tiffany & Company, Cartier, New World Symphony, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and Hermes.   There was also a touch of star power as the master of ceremonies and Miami resident, David Frankel, director of the hit movies Marley & Me and The Devil Wears Prada emceed the fashion show.

“Designed For a Cure” served as the venue to present the inaugural Jay Weiss Physician-Scientist Award, given to someone with a proven record of transformative leadership and discovery in cancer research.  The late Jay Weiss, a former chairman of the Sylvester Board of Governors, was committed to building a community of support for South Florida’s only academic-based cancer center and helping the county’s poorest residents access medical care.  The award was presented to Joyce Slingerland, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P.(C), director of the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester, who said she was very honored.  Dr. Goodwin described her as the ideal choice because of “her passion for research and compassion for her patients.”

The words ‘compassion,’ ‘grateful’, ‘dedication,’ and ‘celebration’ were heard among several conversations as patients related their personal stories and the hope they gained at Sylvester.  Carla Hill, a two-time breast cancer survivor and former Miami Dolphins cheerleader, said her treatment and the evening’s event were affirmation that “there is good in the world.”

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Lisa Worley
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UM Physician Uses Endoscopic Ultrasound to Provide Targeted Radiation Therapy

Use in Prostate Cancer Shows Promise for Other Applications

(October 6, 2009) – A two-year collaboration between gastroenterologists and radiation oncologists at UHealth -- University of Miami Health System has resulted in a new application of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) that benefits prostate cancer patients.  Afonso Ribeiro, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, led the study which examined the feasibility and safety of using EUS to implant markers in prostate cancer patients needing targeted radiation therapy.  The results have been published in the September issue of the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is a technique that provides detailed ultrasound imaging of organs adjacent to the gastrointestinal tract.  Physicians at UM’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center use it to diagnose and stage several gastrointestinal malignancies such as pancreatic, esophageal and rectal cancers.  Ribeiro, Julie Yang, M.D., gastroenterology fellow, and May Abdel-Wahab, M.D., associate professor of radiation oncology at Sylvester, have now shown how EUS can be used to offer more targeted radiation therapy to prostate cancer patients.

In cases of localized prostate cancer, external beam radiation is a standard therapy often used successfully in a dose-dependent fashion.  However, increasing the dose can lead to an increase in toxicity to healthy tissue if close attention is not paid to the delivery system and localization techniques.  The prostate has proven to be a challenging target because its position changes depending on the dynamics of its neighboring bladder and rectum.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) provides a precise dose of radiation which can be intensified around a defined target.  Physicians, however, must define or localize that moving target on the diseased prostate.  Transabdominal ultrasound has been used to target the tumor, but that method can be time consuming and can vary according to the operator’s proficiency.

Implanting radiopaque markers or fiducials, which serve as reference points to delineate organs, has provided a far more accurate target for IMRT.  In the past, urologists and radiation oncologists have placed these tumor “markers” in prostate and pancreatic cancer patients using either transrectal or transperineal ultrasound guidance.

In this study, Ribeiro and his team successfully used EUS to place two to three fiducial markers into each of 16 prostate patients who were under intravenous sedation, providing radiation oncologists with an exact target for IMRT or Cyberknife therapies.   The success of the implants indicates that gastroenterologists can play an important role by providing an alternative method for implanting fiducials through EUS.
Maria T. Abreu, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, says this is the “first description of using state-of-the-art endoscopic equipment to place these fiducials in a targeting position in the prostate.  It’s also much more comfortable for the patient.”

Not only do the fiducials present a more accurate target for dose escalated radiation therapy, they also give physicians a frame of reference, making it possible to “track” the site for any local recurrence.  Ribeiro points out that “this collaborative work highlights the importance of multidisciplinary cancer care that is only possible at a comprehensive cancer center.”

Future studies will take a closer look at the clinical outcome when using this technique for fiducial placement.  Researchers will also examine the cost effectiveness of using EUS when compared to alternative methods.

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Sylvester Researchers Awarded Millions for Breast Cancer Study in Black Women

(September 29, 2009) – A team of researchers from the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has been awarded a $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of stress management in black women with breast cancer.  The scientists want to develop innovative and effective ways to help underserved women as they navigate a difficult time in their lives.

Although the reasons for racial disparity in breast cancer death rates are not fully understood, several factors likely play a role, including the biology of breast cancer, the quality of breast cancer treatment, and socio-cultural factors.  Suzanne Lechner, Ph.D., research assistant professor of psychiatry and psychology, is leading the five-year UM study.  The study is dubbed Project CARE, and according to Lechner, is designed to help women Cope, Adapt, Renew, and Empower one another after breast cancer treatment.  Lechner hopes to uncover some of the social and psychological factors that affect survivorship among black breast cancer survivors. 

For several years, Miller School researchers have been examining stress management to better understand how group participation may affect women’s well-being.  Doctors are interested specifically in how stress management groups affect women psychologically, plus how these sessions affect the immune system and the neuroendocrine system.  Lechner says she and her colleagues designed Project CARE to “serve an unmet need of black women in our community and to further our understanding of the ways in which individuals adapt after having breast cancer.”

Erin Kobetz, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology and public health, and Michael Antoni, Ph.D., associate director of cancer prevention and control at Sylvester, are co-principal investigators on this study.  Previously, Lechner worked with Antoni as he led a study focused on cognitive behavioral stress management that was designed specifically for women who had just had surgery for breast cancer.   That research found that a group approach improved outcomes in women recently treated for breast cancer by lowering intrusive negative thoughts, anxiety and social disruption.  In addition, the interventions decreased common physical symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disruption, and affected the functioning of the immune system and stress hormones.

This new study, which is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute’s Office of Cancer Survivorship, is taking that previous research to the next level.  Few black women were represented in the earlier study and patients were drawn mostly from private practices.  Lechner says she and her colleagues wanted to broaden the scope of the study in order to better represent the women of South Florida.  Project CARE will focus on underserved black women, providing them with an intervention that is tailored to their unique needs and cultural sensibilities. 

Kobetz, who is also director of the Disparities and Community Outreach Core Resource at Sylvester, is especially excited about “the possibility of taking an effective intervention into the community, where it may have significant impact.”  She notes that underserved black breast cancer patients often have a poorer outcome due, in part, to fewer community-based programs that address their unique experiences.

This study will zero in on the end of treatment, an often-neglected but stressful time for women.  “You feel like all that you were doing up until the end of treatment protected you, but then you’re left to your own devices,” says Rhonda Smith, a breast cancer survivor and community partner on the project.  “Groups like Project CARE are an excellent way for women to take control of their own health and well-being.”   

Another member of the team, Nicole Ennis Whitehead, Ph.D., manager of the Biopsychosocial Oncology Shared Resource at Sylvester, says the hope is that this project “raises awareness in the local community about the unique issues facing black women with breast cancer.” 

Lechner says the entire research group is dedicated to providing a caring experience that has not been available before in the community, and emphasizes that the program will maintain strict rules of confidentiality among participants.

Project CARE is currently enrolling eligible patients for October and March group sessions.  For more information, call the Project CARE office at 305-243-8367.

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Sylvester Researcher Expands Breakthrough Immune System Findings

Publishes Study in Prestigious Journal Nature

(September 23, 2009) – A prominent researcher at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Miller School, has taken another major step in understanding the mechanisms of the immune system.  For the second year in a row, Glen N. Barber, Ph.D., professor of medicine and Eugenia J. Dodson Chair in Cancer Research, and Hiroki Ishikawa, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow, have published their findings in the prestigious journal Nature. (online edition September, print October)

In their previous study, Barber and Ishikawa identified a molecule, STING (STimulator of INterferon Genes), which activates the body’s innate immune system by triggering the production of interferon.  That study focused on fibroblast cells, the most common cells, in vitro. When a virus invades a cell, interferon production is triggered, which then signals to all other cells alerting that there is a virus infection. This activates the immune response by creating hundreds of antiviral genes which protect uninfected cells from infection.  Without interferon, the body has no early antiviral defense.

In this latest research, Barber and his team expanded their work to examine more specific cell types, including macrophages and dendritic cells which are responsible for activating anti-pathogen B and T cell responses. They also evaluated the importance of STING in an animal model. They found that STING is a “vital element,” says Barber.

This NIH-funded study by Barber and Ishikawa further solidifies the importance of STING’s role in activating the pathway to begin production of interferon.

STING, as Barber and Ishikawa discovered, initiates a sequence of events that unleashes interferon against viruses.  What scientists did not know is how the innate immune system is propelled to react to DNA-based microbes.  Armed with the knowledge that STING triggers interferon in basic cells, Barber and Ishikawa took a closer look at STING’s role in attacking DNA pathogens such as herpes simplex virus, and the bacteria Listeria, among others.  Mice lacking STING were found to be extremely sensitive to virus infection. “What we found,” said Barber, “is that STING is absolutely essential to the body’s defense against a variety of different DNA pathogen types.”

This becomes an especially critical finding in gauging the immune system’s reaction to plasmid DNA-based vaccines, such as those being used to develop new types of flu vaccines.  Working with animal models, the scientists found that STING was a critical factor in facilitating DNA-mediated immune responses.  Vaccines are meant to trigger the body to make antiviral or anti-bacterial antibodies and T cells. 

“We think the human innate immune system reacts the same way,” says Barber.  The theory is that without STING, a DNA-based vaccine wouldn’t have the effectiveness because the body would not create interferon and other cytokines which are essential for stimulating adaptive immune responses.

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester, describes the discovery of STING “of fundamental importance to our understanding of innate immunity.”  Goodwin says Barber’s continued work in this area “is likely to be of direct benefit to patients dealing with the 20 percent of human malignancies that are known to be caused by viruses.  I am very proud that Sylvester has supported this work along with the National Institute of Health and other funding agencies.”

The finding in this study is leading Barber to the next step in this critical research path.  After the initial discovery of STING and its role in triggering the production of interferon in response to DNA and RNA viruses, the team will turn to other DNA based pathogens.  Barber and Ishikawa intend to examine STING’s effect on parasites, such as malaria, and fungi.  They’ll also further evaluate the importance of this molecule in regulating T-cell response to DNA-based vaccines.  Better understanding of that relationship, explains Barber, “could lead to improved and safer vaccines to combat cancer and other serious illnesses.”

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UM Researchers Discover Moving to the U.S. Increases Cancer Risk for Hispanics

A team of researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has confirmed trends that different Hispanic population groups have higher incidence rates of certain cancers and worse cancer outcomes if they live in the United States than they do if they live in their homelands.  Overall, the Miller School team found the cancer risk increases 40 percent or more for Hispanics in the United States.

“Hispanics are not all the same with regard to their cancer experience,” said lead study author Paulo S. Pinheiro, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., researcher in the Department of Epidemiology at the Miller School.

“Our study indicates targeted interventions for cancer prevention and control should take into account the specificity of each Hispanic subgroup: Cubans, Puerto Ricans or Mexicans,” added Pinheiro, who received support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.

The study results are published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Pinheiro led a team of researchers that included Edward J. Trapido, Sc.D., professor of epidemiology and public health, Lora E. Fleming, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., professor of epidemiology and public health, Orlando Gomez-Marin, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and public health, and David J. Lee, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology and public health.  The group studied information collected by the Florida Cancer Data System, maintained at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at UM.  Recinda Sherman, M.P.H., senior research associate with FCDS, took part in the study, organizing data from more than 300,000 cancer cases among Florida residents diagnosed between 1999 and 2001.

Studies to date have classified all Hispanics as a single ethnic group, not considering the differences between population groups.  This was the first study in the United States to analyze cancer risks for specific sub-groups: Cubans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Central and South Americans.  Pinheiro and colleagues evaluated the kinds of cancers occurring in each Hispanic population group and compared their risk after moving to the United States.

The results indicated that these population groups showed different patterns of cancer once they moved to the United States.  Puerto Ricans had the highest cancer rates of all Hispanic subpopulations, while Mexicans had the lowest rates.  Cubans’ risk of cancer most closely resembles that of non-Hispanic whites. In fact, the study found that Cubans and Puerto Ricans seemed to acquire higher risk for diet-related cancers, similar to the U.S. non-Hispanic white population, relatively quickly.

Cuban males had higher incidence of tobacco-related cancers; Puerto Rican men had high incidence of liver cancer; and Mexican women had a higher incidence of cervical cancer.

For all cancers combined, risk for most cancers was higher (at least 40 percent) among Hispanics living in the United States compared with those who live in their countries of origin. Colorectal cancer risk among Cubans and Mexicans who moved to the United States was more than double that in Cuba and Mexico. The same was said for lung cancer among Mexican and Puerto Rican women in Florida compared to those living in Mexico or Puerto Rico.

“This suggests that changes in their environment and lifestyles make them more prone to develop cancer,” Pinheiro said. “It is interesting that the groups which have an easier integration into mainstream American society, giving them access to health care, are also the groups with higher cancer rates even after accounting for the increased detection of certain cancers in this country.”

Trapido says the findings probably reflect an environmental effect, but it’s clear that Hispanic populations are both genetically and socioculturally different from each other.  He adds that “studies such as this can lend clues to environmental differences between groups while holding genetic factors relatively constant within groups.”

Other researchers agree.  “Hispanics are really heterogeneous from cultural and socioeconomic perspectives and represent several population groups,” said Amelie G. Ramirez, Dr.P.H., director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research, and co-associate director of the Cancer Prevention and Population Studies research program at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

The Hispanic population in the United States is increasing and expected to triple by the year 2050, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Ramirez, who was not involved in this research, said it is important to conduct studies like this to better understand these differences and learn what predisposes different population groups to certain types of cancer, in order to improve health outcomes.

These results present important opportunities for United States and international collaborations in the prevention, treatment and research of cancer. While physicians may not have to change the care they provide, Ramirez said they should be more aware of the diversity and differences in cancer prevalence among this population.

Patients should become better informed about some of the positive aspects of their original lifestyles and should be strongly discouraged from adopting unfavorable lifestyles that may be more common in the United States, such as unhealthy diets, smoking and alcohol use, according to Pinheiro and Ramirez.

Pinheiro and his team believe additional studies are warranted to assess the variations in cancer risk according to socio-economic status and length of time spent in the United States within each Hispanic population group.  “The ideal next step,” said Pinheiro, “would be to evaluate habits that may predispose them to certain cancers.”  In addition, more research should focus on these unique populations in relation to other diseases.

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Study Finds Survival Rates from Gastrointestinal Tumors Are Improving Among African Americans

After Years of Inequality, Survival Rates Now Equivalent to Those of Caucasians

Physician-scientists at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center have published new research indicating that racial disparities in treating a rare gastrointestinal cancer have been greatly reduced.  Leonidas G. Koniaris, M.D., associate professor of surgery at the Miller School and surgical oncologist at Sylvester, and Michael Cheung, M.D., surgical resident with the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, examined data of African Americans with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a rare cancer that begins in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. 

Before 2000, African Americans were more likely to develop GIST and less likely to undergo surgical treatment for this type of cancer.  New research conducted by Koniaris and Cheung, published in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, reveals that African Americans now have survival rates equivalent to those of Caucasians.

Racial disparities in survival rates have been demonstrated for a number of cancers, typically due to unequal access to care. Through the National Institutes of Health and Healthy People 2010, a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative, the federal government has set forth goals to explore, account for and minimize these disparities.

“Over the last decade, racial gaps in the treatment of GIST appear to have closed,” said Cheung.  “Both perioperative and long-term survival have improved among African Americans.”

“Our study suggests that better diagnosis and increased use of surgery – which still provides the best chance for a cure – have contributed to improvements in care for African Americans,” said Koniaris.  “In addition, increased access to new targeted therapies through medication assistance programs may be helping to eliminate racial disparities in cancer treatment.”

Koniaris and Cheung performed a statistical analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database that identified 3,795 patients diagnosed with GIST and other intestinal mesenchymal tumors between 1992 and 2005. Of those patients, slightly more than 72 percent were Caucasians, nearly 16 percent African Americans, and 9 percent Hispanics. Survival was calculated from the time of initial diagnosis to the date of last contact or death.

The Miller School scientists found that both perioperative and long-term survival had improved among African Americans since 2000. In patients diagnosed before 2000, 30-day surgical mortality was higher in African Americans.  However, after 2000, 30-day surgical mortality was equivalent between African Americans and Caucasians.

Three-year disease specific survival was better in Caucasians than African Americans, before 2000.   There was no racial difference in tumor stage or grade, and African Americans underwent surgical procedures less frequently than Caucasians.  Koniaris and Cheung determined that African-American race and failure to undergo surgical treatment were independent predictors of poor prognosis. In patients diagnosed after 2000, three-year disease specific survival was nearly equivalent between Caucasians and African Americans, and African Americans underwent surgical procedures just as often as Caucasians.  There was no difference in survival by race in patients diagnosed after 2000.

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Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute Scientists Discover Mechanism That Promotes Cell Mobility

For some time, researchers have known that protein p27 is an important inhibitor of the cell division that spreads cancer.  Understanding the full mechanism and extent of that role has taken much longer.  Now, scientists at the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center have solved part of the puzzle, discovering that p27 can severely misbehave when in bad company. In fact, it can lose its restraining action on cell growth and bind to other molecules to promote cell motility, one of the first steps in the spread of cancer.  In other words, Dr. Jeckyl becomes Mr. Hyde.

Joyce M. Slingerland, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, led a team of researchers in collaboration with David Helfman, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy at Sylvester.  Their findings were published in the May 19 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal.

The growth inhibitor p27 is a key regulator of cell division and motility, and resides in the nucleus.  In that position, it regulates cell cycle progression.  However, when p27 localization is shifted out into the cell’s cytoplasm, it takes on a different role, promoting cell motility and tumor spread.   “Earlier work showed that p27 can play a role in cell motility,” says Slingerland, “but how this happened was really not clear.”

Like many proteins, p27 has several phosphorylation sites -- positions where phosphates can be added on.  Phosphorylation can change a protein’s shape and function and alter its ability to bind to other proteins.  In this study, Slingerland and her team took a close look at p27 phosphorylation at its T198 site.  They had already discovered that phosphorylation at T198 mislocalizes p27 to the cytoplasm.  This study showed that phosphorylation at T198 helps p27 to partner with the RhoA protein.

The protein RhoA (Ras homolog, member A) regulates a cell’s structure, much like scaffolding gives an object shape.  When RhoA action is interrupted, the cell changes its shape and alters its adhesion to its environment and to other cells, leaving it more motile.  Scientists knew that the protein p27 interacted with RhoA, inhibiting its adhesive quality.  “In this paper, we found that T198 phosphorylation is a trigger for p27 binding to RhoA,” says Slingerland.

PI3Kinase is activated in a majority of human cancers.  RSK1 is one of three pathways turned on by the PI3Kinase. This study discovered that RSK1 is one of the factors phosphorylating p27 at T198, leading p27 to bind to RhoA.  This interaction prevents RhoA’s natural cell adhesion, which subsequently increases cell motility.  In this work, Slingerland’s group showed that RSK1 phosphorylates p27 at its T198 amino acid site, which retains p27 in the cytoplasm and promotes its binding and inhibition of RhoA.  In turn, this alters RhoA’s effect on cell structure, making the cell more motile, which is a key step in the progression toward metastasis. 

In this research, Slingerland describes p27 as a “good molecule gone bad,” winding up in the wrong place, surrounded by molecules that subvert its normal effect to restrain cell growth and causing it to gain the ability to promote cell motility. This increase in motility “might be the first critical step in acquiring the potential to survive in an abnormal environment and move around and cause metastasis.”

Much of the research in Slingerland’s lab focuses on molecular pathways regulating the p27 protein.  In June 2008, she led a study which uncovered a new pathway that keeps p27 locked in the cytoplasm, shutting down its ability to inhibit cell division.  That research was published in the journal Molecular Cell.

“This work in PNAS is another building block,” said Slingerland, “in learning how p27 can affect a cell’s proliferation and motility.”  The next step is to find out whether this increased motility translates into a real ability of these cells to form metastasis, using mouse models of breast cancer.  Slingerland says, “We hope to determine exactly what role this increased motility plays in metastasis.”

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communication
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184/305-458-9654
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UM Breast Cancer Researchers Win Prestigious Department of Defense Grant to Expand Study

Breast cancer researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have been awarded a prestigious Department of Defense Synergistic Idea Award, one of just 12 such grants in the United States.  The $725,000 research grant over two years will allow Lisa Baumbach, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the Miller School, and Mark Pegram, M.D., professor of medicine and associate director for clinical and translational research at the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester, to expand their work examining the genetic differences found in African-American breast cancer patients.

This work is critical to understanding why African-American women suffer more devastating forms of breast cancer and have a higher death rate from the disease, and will lead to more effective prevention and treatment. 

Recent discoveries by breast cancer researchers indicate that there may be distinct genetic differences in breast tissue between African-American, Caucasian and Hispanic patients.  Baumbach and Pegram recently led a team that discovered hundreds of genetic differences among these ethnicities.  The new grant will allow them to take those findings a step further, with an international collaboration on women of African descent.

In the earlier studies, Baumbach and Pegram worked with other scientists from UM, including Stefan Glück, M.D., professor of medicine and assistant director of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center/Clinical Trials, Merce Jorda, M.D., Ph.D., professor of clinical pathology, Carmen Gomez, M.D., associate professor of pathology at Sylvester, and Frederick Moffat, M.D., professor of surgery at Sylvester.

Using a pool of eight Caucasians, 10 African-Americans and 10 Hispanic women, the Miller School researchers looked at possible ethnic differences in gene expression in breast cancer.  What they found was several hundred differences in the ways the genes were expressed in tumor tissue among the three ethnic groups.  This may account for an increased incidence of a particularly aggressive form of the disease in African-American women.

That study compared normal breast tissue with cancerous breast tissue in patients with triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of breast cancer.  The “triple-negative” form indicates that women are negative for the genes for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Her2/Neu, an epidermal growth factor receptor.  This triple threat suggests a poor prognosis because this form of breast cancer is unresponsive to the most effective receptor-targeted therapies available today.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among African-American women, and carries a 20 percent higher mortality rate than it does for Caucasian women.  Among scientists, it is widely acknowledged that African-American women, regardless of their age, are more likely to have triple-negative breast cancer.  In addition, it is likely to occur at an earlier age, and have a higher proliferative fraction.  All of this adds up to a worse prognosis.  “There is a clear need,” says Baumbach, “for us to better understand the genetic differences in women of African ancestry so we can translate that into more effective guidelines and therapies.”

The preliminary findings led the UM team to identify ethnic specific gene expression patterns in African-American women.  Using breast cancer tissue samples, they will now compare genome expression in African-Americans with naturalized African women, examining 50 women in each group.  In addition, Baumbach and Pegram will analyze chromosomal alterations associated with gene expression differences.

DNA array studies will tell the scientists whether a part of the human genome is amplified or deleted.  As they did in the original study, the scientists will use the Almac Breast Cancer DSA™ array research tool (developed by Almac Diagnostics Inc. of Research Triangle Park, N.C.) which is designed specifically to investigate gene expression in breast cancer. “A lot of genes in cancer are down-regulated,” explains Pegram, who says in some cases, the genes are even deleted.

If a gene is amplified and then over-expressed, scientists can potentially come up with a therapy to block that over-expression, just as they did in the case of HER-2.  Pegram took part in that key research in the 1990s, which led to the development of Herceptin.  Conversely, if a gene is under-expressed, scientists will then work to find methods to coax the gene to reactivate.

Pegram says breast cancer seems to be different in African-American women and scientists are working to find the biological basis.  “We hope to identify the genes or molecular alterations that are causing these differences among ethnic groups,” says Pegram.  Once that happens, “the goal is to identify a potential therapeutic target to personalize therapeutic approaches.”

Expanding the study for the Department of Defense grant has led to an international collaboration that includes Alan Ashworth, F.R.S., director of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Center in London, who played a key role in identifying one of the major breast cancer risk genes (BRCA2), and will be analyzing the chromosomal alterations.  Also joining the team is Rick Kittles, Ph.D., from the University of Chicago Medical School, who is internationally known for his work on genetic ancestry and genetic risk factors for prostate cancer in African-American men. He will conduct state-of-the art genetic studies to determine the African ancestry of the U.S. African-American patients in the study.   In addition, Catherine R. Connor, a South Florida breast cancer activist, will review the progress of the project, relaying that information to the local African-American community, with the hope of encouraging future research participation.

Peter Bird, M.B.B.S., head of surgery at Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, will be providing tissue samples of 50 women of African descent.  The other 50 samples will be African-American women whose formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue comes from Jackson Memorial Hospital, the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Miller School Department of Pathology.

Using FFPE samples has been difficult in the past because RNA taken from these samples is often degraded.  However, as they did in the initial study, Baumbach and Pegram will be using new technology which enables researchers to obtain high-quality data from these tissue samples.  The tissue studies are expected to begin by the end of June.

Baumbach calls the FFPE samples a “gold mine” of tissue resources that she hopes can expand their understanding of the disparity in breast cancer mortality.  “Determining the exact genetic differences in breast tissue samples of certain ethnicities,” says Baumbach, “could have worldwide ramifications in terms of reducing the global burden of breast cancer by developing more effective preventions and treatments.”

Florida State Senator Ted Deutch Helps Sylvester Make Major Strides in State Funding

The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami has a powerful new ally in the fight against cancer.  The work of State Senator Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) will help Sylvester pull in millions of dollars more through state-funded competitive cancer research grants for years to come.

Senator Deutch visited the Miller School campus to attend the Sylvester Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday, June 10, during which he was recognized for his commitment to fighting cancer.  Calling him a “hero in the community,” W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester, presented Senator Deutch with a glass inscription honoring him for his leadership and advocacy as a “true legislative champion.”

During this year’s legislative session, Senator Deutch sponsored legislation calling for an additional $1-per-pack surcharge on all cigarettes. The measure, titled “Protecting Florida’s Health Act,” passed the Senate unanimously, but the House and the Governor were a much tougher sell.  Over several nerve-wracking weeks, Senator Deutch worked tirelessly to get the needed votes in Tallahassee, even taking another bold step.   The South Florida legislator worked to have the money raised from the tobacco tax allocated to cancer research.  It seemed a logical step --  tobacco-related illnesses cost the state’s Medicaid system $1.3 billion, while only $430 million is collected from tobacco users.

Following a visit to Sylvester last fall, the Boca Raton lawmaker said he had a chance to witness the contribution the cancer center makes to the South Florida area, including his constituents, many of whom are treated at Sylvester’s Deerfield Beach facility.  Deutch describes Sylvester as an “institution that deserves to be widely recognized and praised for the work being done here.”

In April, as the legislative debate heated up, Senator Deutch took the lead at a news conference in Tallahassee aimed at highlighting the importance of passing the tobacco surcharge for cancer research.  Dr. Goodwin led the charge for Sylvester at that event, making an impassioned argument for the lives that could be saved with the allocation.  Perhaps the most compelling statement came from a Sylvester patient, Karen DeGray, who travelled to the state capital to tell her personal story of how research conducted at the Miller School saved her life.  Sylvester was the only cancer facility in the state to have such a strong presence at this forum.

The relentless dedication of Senator Deutch prevailed and the $1 increase in Florida’s tobacco tax passed the House in the waning hours of the legislative session, with Governor Charlie Crist signing the measure soon after weeks of wrangling.  As part of the package, $50 million of the tobacco funds will go toward cancer research at the William G. “Bill” Bankhead Jr. and David Coley Cancer Research Program and the James and Esther King Program.  Traditionally, those programs have received roughly a combined $19 million in funding each year, with Sylvester getting about one-third of that amount.  Because of Senator Deutch’s tireless efforts in Tallahassee, more than doubling the cancer research dollars to those programs is expected to send more funding toward Sylvester’s breakthrough research and clinical trials.

While the senator was praised for being a hero in the fight against cancer, he called the doctors on the front lines the true heroes.  Deutch told Sylvester’s Board of Governors, “I appreciate you letting me into the family to fight this together.”

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean, was also on hand to personally thank the senator.  “Passing this measure showed the nation that Florida is serious in the fight against cancer,” Dr. Goldschmidt said.  “We recognize your leadership in making this happen.”  The Dean also presented Deutch a copy of a letter signed by the deans from every medical school in the state of Florida.  The letter was sent to Governor Crist, praising and supporting Senator Deutch in his efforts to pass the tobacco bill.

The measure is now Florida law but the fight is clearly not over for Sylvester scientists and physicians, or Senator Deutch.  He plans to revisit the allocation of the tobacco surcharge next year, with hopes of funneling more money toward building a dedicated cancer research institute at Sylvester.  He explains that it will mean more research and eventually cures, but also an economic boost to the region with high-paying jobs.  “I want my constituents to know there is a world-class cancer facility here in South Florida, just a short drive away.”

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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Sylvester Researchers Find Disparities in Breast Cancer Outcomes for African-American Women

Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have found that dramatic disparities in breast cancer outcomes continue to exist for African-American women, regardless of the age at which they are diagnosed, extent of the cancer, type of treatment or socioeconomic status.  The study is published in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and represents the largest population-based analysis of breast cancer outcomes data to date, and includes more than 60,000 patients in the state of Florida.

Government programs to improve access to breast cancer screening and treatment have been in place for nearly two decades, but African-American women continue to suffer a high breast cancer mortality rate.  This disparity is even more striking because the incidence of breast cancer in this population is lower than in Caucasian women.

The research indicates that breast cancer outcomes for African-American women might be improved by lowering the recommended age of initial screening from 40 years to 33 years, the age at which the percentage of African-American women who develop breast cancer is similar to the percentage of Caucasian women in whom the disease develops under 40 years of age.

“Current screening guidelines are not sufficient in detecting breast cancer in African-American patients because the disease has already developed in over 10 percent of these women by age 40,” said Leonidas G. Koniaris, M.D., associate professor in the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, and surgical oncologist at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System.  “However, even with earlier diagnosis, our analysis uncovered serious socioeconomic barriers that prevent many African-American women with breast cancer from receiving the latest, most specific treatments.”

The study came about following a collaboration with Judith Hurley, M.D., associate professor of medicine and oncologist with the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester.  Koniaris and Hurley developed the idea for a study examining the effects of race and poverty on breast cancer outcomes.  Surgical residents at the Miller School, Michael Cheung, M.D., and Relin Yang, M.D., took part in the study, analyzing the collected data.

The analysis examined more than 63,000 patients with invasive breast cancer using the Florida Cancer Data System and data from the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration. More than half of those in the study, nearly 60 percent, lived at or below 10 percent of the federal poverty level.

African-American patients presented with breast cancer at a younger age and a more advanced stage.  Approximately 72 percent of African-American women were diagnosed before the age of 65, in comparison with 50 percent among Caucasian women.  Just over half of African-American women were diagnosed with disease that had not spread, while far more (68 percent) of Caucasian women presented with localized disease. In addition, metastatic disease was seen nearly twice as often in African-American women when compared with Caucasian women.  Overall, African-American women had a significantly lower overall five-year survival rate compared with Caucasian women.

When it came to treatments, more differences were found for African-American women.  These patients were less likely than Caucasian women to undergo surgical therapy. In addition, for those who did have surgery, survival rates for African-American women were still considerably lower than for Caucasian women. Similarly, African-American patients who received nonsurgical therapy, including chemotherapy, had a lower rate of survival compared with Caucasian patients who received similar treatments.

Koniaris and his team identified a significant decrease in the risk of death observed for African-American patients upon adjustment for stage of presentation, suggesting that disparities in breast cancer outcomes are, in part, a result of advanced stage at diagnosis.

Researchers also identified socioeconomic status as an independent predictor of poor breast cancer outcomes. Patients in the lowest socioeconomic status category were diagnosed with higher rates of metastatic disease than patients in the higher-income categories. Patients of low socioeconomic status were treated less frequently with surgical therapy. Five-year survival was statistically decreased as poverty level increased for all types of treatment, whether surgical or nonsurgical.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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Sylvester Hosts 10th Annual Cancer Research Competition and Lecture

The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine hosted the tenth annual Zubrod Memorial Lecture and Cancer Research Poster Session on Friday, May 8, 2009.  Bert O’Malley, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, was this year’s guest lecturer. 

O’Malley and his laboratory team are interested in determining the fundamental mechanisms for regulation of eukaryotic gene expression.  Their early work defined the “primary molecular endocrine pathway” by which steroid hormones act in target cells.  His laboratory substantiated “initiation of transcription” as the rate-limited step at which nuclear receptors regulate gene expression and defined steroid hormone receptors as transcription factors.

On Friday, O’Malley spoke to an audience of more than 150 people about “Nuclear Receptor Coactivators: ‘Master Genes’ and Targets of Disease.”  He said coactivators promised to be “one of the most important class of molecules in human disease.”  O’Malley, who has published more than 600 papers, described the activation of the steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC3) molecule, and the transcription factors that phosphorylate that molecule.   In explaining the importance of SRC3, O’Malley said it was a multi-tasker, a “master” growth-activator, which is often over-expressed in breast cancer.

This year, Sylvester’s Outstanding Cancer Research Award was given posthumously to William J. Harrington, Jr., M.D., who died unexpectedly in January.  Harrington, who was co-leader of the Viral Oncology Program, was considered a world-renowned authority on viral-induced cancers, focusing his research on treating viral-related tumors that had proven resistant to conventional chemotherapy.   He had recently received National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding to study the mechanism of azidothymidine (AZT) on patients in Brazil with the Epstein Barr virus.  Glen Barber, Ph.D., co-leader of the Viral Oncology Program, remembered his colleague as someone who established unique international collaborations.  Barber presented the award to Harrington’s brother, Thomas Harrington, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine, saying, “We can’t replace him, but we can continue his work.”

The annual lecture and poster competition are held in honor of Charles Gordon Zubrod , M.D., who worked at the University of Miami for 25 years, heading up what would become the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.  W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester, called the day of the annual lecture “arguably one of the most important days of the year” for the cancer center because of its importance in establishing tradition.

Charles Vogel, M.D., former Miller School faculty member, Diana Lopez, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology, and Kermit Carraway, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, and biochemistry and molecular biology, each spoke about their memories of Zubrod’s work.  His 14 years of work at the National Cancer Institute helped develop a chemotherapy research program and led to his renown as the “father of cancer chemotherapy” and a pioneer in clinical trials.  Zubrod was known as a gentle man, the consummate professional who was also inspiring and, as Carraway said, “the kind of man you wanted leading a young cancer center.”

The awards in the poster competition were handed out in clinical research and basic science research categories.  Kathleen Brookfield, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., teaching assistant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, won first place in the clinical research category for “Survival Disparities Among African-Americans with Invasive Bladder Cancer.”  In the basic science category, Hiroki Ishikawa, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow at Sylvester, took the top prize for “STING is an Endoplasmic Reticulum Adaptor that Facilitates Innate Immune Signaling.”  Each of the first place winners received $300.

Pap Corps Presents $3 Million to Fund Research at Sylvester

The 20,000 member Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research today announced its annual gift to fund cancer research at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.  The check for $3 million was presented to W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, part of the University of Miami Health System, and Sylvester Board of Governors Chair Joan Scheiner.

“It gives us great pleasure to present this gift to Sylvester,” said Tutsie Lipkin, president of the Pap Corps.  In speaking to the Pap Corps, she noted it had not been an easy year, but the Pap Corps had come through.  “Cancer shows no favorites, it takes no holidays, no vacation, no time off.  And neither did you.”  The Pap Corps is an all-volunteer fundraising group with members spread across the tri-county area that has supported cancer research at the University of Miami for 57 years.

Despite the economic downturn nationwide, the Pap Corps’ membership maintained its enthusiasm and drive over the past year.  “We are so grateful to the Pap Corps,” said Dr. Goodwin.  “Their dedication and diligence is a constant inspiration to me and everyone working at Sylvester – year after year. Their hard work allows Sylvester scientists to conduct important research and develop treatments that are already saving lives across South Florida.” 

The Pap Corps’ ongoing investment provides seed money for physicians and scientists to develop preliminary experimental data needed to successfully apply for  operating grants from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the American Cancer Society and other national funding outlets.

To maximize the gift this year, the Pap leadership decided to forego its annual luncheon for the check presentation.  The gift was presented at its monthly breakfast meeting with the presidents of all 50 units of the Corps in attendance.  The symbolic sacrifice was not lost on Dr. Goodwin who said this year’s gift means even more.  During the past seven years alone, the Pap Corps has given Sylvester more than $20 million to fund cancer research. 

“The work done by this group of volunteers is truly remarkable.  It’s always an inspiration to be with you,” remarked Dr. Goodwin. “One of the miracles of your gift is that it funds brainstorms.  Sylvester physicians now see more than 7,000 new cancer patients each year at our Sylvester cancer facilities and Jackson Memorial Hospital, and more than 600 are taking part in clinical trials here in South Florida.”  Sylvester recently opened a facility to serve patients in Kendall and is slated to hire several more researchers.  Dr. Goodwin added that the growth in the clinics and the Sylvester laboratories is “directly related to the daily dedication and vigilance of the Pap Corps members. Cancer doesn’t take a break during a bad economy, and thankfully, neither does the Pap Corps.”

Scheiner told the group that as a former Sylvester patient, she likes to believe she may well have been saved by Pap Corps-funded research.  “On behalf of all those you’ve saved and those waiting to be saved, I thank you.”  Scheiner works to “raise awareness of the endless possibilities at Sylvester” and says, “We are truly fortunate to have these volunteers working for us.”

The critical research funded by the Pap Corps has focused on metabolic pathways, tumor vaccines and early clinical trial development for some of the most advanced cases.  In addition, the Pap Corps’ donation helps recruit some of the world’s top researchers to advance the mission of Sylvester, South Florida’s only university-based cancer center.

Lipkin recognized the “indomitable spirit” of the volunteers.  “This extraordinary group of men and women never see the potential barriers in their mission.  They simply stay focused on the goal: fund research and find a cure.”

For more information about the Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research please call (954) 425-8100 or visit http://papcorps.org/.

Sylvester First in Miami to Offer “GPS for the Body®”

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth—University of Miami Health System, today announced it is the first cancer-care program in the region enabling clinicians to accurately manage delivery of radiation to prostate cancer tumors through a new technology called the Calypso® 4D Localization System™. The System enables precision-guided radiation therapy delivery to the prostate with continuous, objective, organ-motion detection and monitoring.  This cutting-edge technology, also referred to as GPS for the Body®, allows clinicians to accurately manage delivery of the prescribed radiation to the tumor.

More than 1.3 million cancer patients receive radiation treatment annually in the U.S.  The movement of organs, which naturally occurs as a result of normal body physiology—such as the bladder filling—may cause the prostate to move slightly, potentially compromising the precise delivery of radiation during treatment. The Calypso System enables physicians to detect the slightest tumor movement in real-time so extremely accurate radiation therapy can be delivered without damaging healthy surrounding organs and tissues, which can lead to common side effects such as impotence, incontinence and loss of bowel function. The Calypso System has also been cleared by the FDA for post-prostatectomy patients at risk or diagnosed with recurrent prostate cancer. Studies indicate up to 20% of prostatectomy patients are diagnosed with recurrent prostate cancer following surgery and require adjuvant radiation therapy.

“I am extremely excited to be able to offer my prostate cancer patients this new advanced and most accurate radiation technology,” said Dr. Alan Pollack, professor and chairman of radiation oncology at Sylvester. “The ability to monitor prostate motion in real time with incredible accuracy is allowing us to tailor treatments in ways never before possible. There is no question that this is one of the most important advances to date in the field and I expect it will factor prominently in the treatment of other tumors besides prostate cancer in the future.”

The key feature of the Calypso System is its Beacon® electromagnetic transponders. Three Beacon® transponders, each the size of a small grain of rice, are implanted in the patient’s prostate before radiation therapy is initiated. The Beacon® transponders communicate with the Calypso System to continuously locate the tumor target and monitor its location during each radiation treatment. Currently, there is no other technology available that offers an accurate, continuous, real-time method during the radiation treatments for precisely locating, monitoring and tracking the tumor at all times.

“The anticipated benefits of managing prostate organ motion during radiation therapy delivery are several, including increased clinical confidence that comes with knowing the tumor target is accurately aligned with the delivery of the radiation beam and reduced toxicity of treatment because tighter margins are possible as a consequence.” added Dr. Pollack. “We are seeing immediate benefits, with reduced side effects during treatment and afterwards.”

About Sylvester

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at UHealth—University of Miami Health System.  Sylvester handles 1,500 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,400 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,900 new cancer patients.  All Sylvester cancer specialists are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center.  In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in 200 clinical trials and receive more than $33 million annually in research grants.  Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties, and now offers appointments with 30 physicians from 14 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.  Sylvester recently opened a satellite facility in Kendall as well.

About Calypso® Medical

Calypso® Medical Technologies, Inc. ("Calypso") is a Seattle, WA-based privately held medical device company. The Company's proprietary tumor localization system utilizes miniaturized implanted devices (Beacon® electromagnetic transponders) to continuously, accurately, and objectively pinpoint the location of tumors for improved accuracy in radiation therapy. Calypso Medical addresses two major issues in modern radiation oncology: errors in treatment set-up and tumor motion during treatment. In addition, the Calypso® 4D Localization System's™ non-ionizing electromagnetic guidance has been found to improve work flow efficiency and treatment room utilization. The technology is designed for body-wide cancers commonly treated with radiation therapy, including prostate, breast, lung, head, neck and other radiation therapy target organs. The products are FDA 510(k) cleared for use in the prostate and prostatic bed.

Pap Corps Walkathon & Health Fair Draws Largest Crowd Ever for Cancer Research Fundraiser

The Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research drew a record number of people to its 9th Annual Walkathon & Health Affair on Saturday, March 28th.  At least 3,000 participants poured onto the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton for the Pap Corps’ signature event.

The Walkathon has traditionally raised more than $200,000, with all money going to fund vital cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, part of UHealth --- the University of Miami Health System.  Last year, 2,500 walkers raised close to $280,000, which has organizers hopeful that a new record will be set, once all the money is collected.

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester, welcomed the energetic crowd at 9:00 a.m., by thanking the Pap Corps, now 20,000 members strong, for its constant dedication to funding a cure.  “We cannot do what we do at Sylvester, each and every day, without your generous support.”

Walkers then embarked on a brisk 5K (3.1 miles) through FAU’s picturesque east campus.  It was the first year the event has been held at FAU, home of the Miller School’s Regional Campus at Boca Raton, following years at Sylvester’s Deerfield Beach location at Newport Center.  The more central and spacious location allowed more Pap Corps members, families and friends to take part in the walk, and the health fair screenings. 

Lite FM’s (101.5) Ellen Jaffee, a Pap Corps member herself, was emcee for the day.  Once the walk was finished, participants took part in the Health Fair, offered by Sylvester, with support from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, UHealth Imaging, UHealth Physicians of Boca Raton, and other physicians and staff from UHealth.  There was medical staff on hand providing blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, oxygen saturation, glaucoma, and skin cancer screenings.  Rita Seiff, chair of the Walkathon, said the campus “was a wonderful arena so that we could expand our numbers and allow more people to see what Sylvester doctors offer.”

The Pap Corps (named after Dr. George Papanicolaou, whose impressive legacy includes the introduction of the Pap smear), is the largest all-volunteer fund-raising organization in the state of Florida committed to finding a cure for cancer through research and education.  Since its inception, the Pap Corps has donated approximately $35 million to Sylvester, which is used strictly for research, says Tutsie Lipkin, president of the Pap Corps. “Since there are no professional fundraisers in the Pap Corps, 99% of every dollar raised funds research to find a cure for every type of cancer,” she says.  “We all believe that research is the only possible way to cure this devastating disease.  It is only through hard work, dedication, and the generosity of contributors that we have any hope of finding a cancer cure.”

In May 2008, the grassroots organization made its largest gift ever to the cancer center, presenting a $4.15 million check.  Dr. Goodwin accepted the gift at their annual donor luncheon.  That donation not only set a record, but surpassed the Pap Corps’ 2007 gift by $1 million!

Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research Hosts 9th Annual Walkathon & Health Fair – March 28

The Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research will hold its 9th Annual Walkathon & Health Fair on Saturday, March 28, on the campus of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

The Walkathon is the Pap Corps’ signature event of the year, and has traditionally raised in excess of $200,000.  All monies fund vital cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, part of UHealth—University of Miami Health System. 

Participants will start the day at 8:30 a.m., with a brisk 5K (3.1 miles) through FAU’s picturesque east campus.  After having outgrown Sylvester’s Deerfield Beach location at the Newport Center, FAU, home of the Miller School’s Regional Campus at Boca Raton, graciously agreed to host the Walkathon.  Not only is it more centrally located for many of the Pap Corps’ 20,000 members, it’s more accessible to the general public.  Last year 2,500 walkers—which included Pap Corps members, families, and friends, as well as other community supporters—raised close to $180,000, the most in eight years. 

The Walkathon draws walkers from each of 50 Pap Corps units, all of whom have a great time walking, talking, and meeting Sylvester physicians and staff “up close and personal.”  The entrance fee is $15 and includes a T-shirt commemorating the day, light refreshments, complimentary bottles of water, the health fair and screenings, and entertainment throughout the day.  Markers to honor a loved one may be placed on display at the Walkathon for $15 per marker.

Lite FM’s (101.5) Ellen Jaffee, a Pap Corps member herself, will serve as emcee for the day.  The free health fair, which begins at 9 a.m., is offered by Sylvester with support from Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, UHealth Imaging, UHealth Physicians of Boca Raton, and other physicians and staff from UHealth. 

Participants will have access to blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, oxygen saturation, glaucoma, and skin cancer screenings.  Several exhibits will be set up and staff will be available to answer questions and provide much-needed information about healthy living. 

The Pap Corps (named after Dr. George Papanicolaou, whose impressive legacy includes the introduction of the Pap smear), is the largest all-volunteer fund-raising organization in the state of Florida committed to finding a cure for cancer through research and education.  Since its inception, the Pap Corps has donated approximately $35 million to Sylvester, which is used strictly for research, says Tutsie Lipkin, president of the Pap Corps. “Since there are no professional fundraisers in the Pap Corps, approximately 99% of every dollar raised funds research to find a cure for every type of cancer,” she says.  “We all believe that research is the only possible way to cure this devastating disease.  It is only through hard work, dedication, and the generosity of contributors that we have any hope of finding a cancer cure.  Please join us on Saturday, March 28, and help us make this a successful event.”

In May 2008, the grassroots organization made its largest gift ever to the cancer center, presenting a $4.15 million check.  Sylvester Director W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., accepted the gift at their annual donor luncheon.  That donation not only set a record, but surpassed the Pap Corps’ 2007 gift by $1 million! 

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at UHealth—University of Miami Health System.  Sylvester handles nearly 1,500 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,400 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,900 new cancer patients.  All Sylvester cancer specialists are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center.  In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $33 million annually in research grants.  Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties, and now offers appointments with 30 –physicians from 14 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.  Sylvester recently opened a satellite facility in Kendall as well.  http://www.sylvester.org.

To register, make a donation, or for further information, call the Pap Corps at 954-425-8100 or visit their website at www.papcorps.org.

Sylvester Researcher Uncovers Potential Therapeutic Target for Prostate Cancer: Clinical Trial Alrea

A new discovery by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine points the way to critically important treatment possibilities for patients with advanced prostate cancer in whom chemotherapy and hormone therapy have failed.

Patients with advanced prostate cancer who do not respond to hormone therapy, or in whom it stops working altogether, are commonly treated with docetaxel. However, that therapy commonly loses its effectiveness six to eight months into treatment, and in a significant number of patients, never works at all.

Rakesh Singal, M.D., associate professor of medicine and member of the Prostate, Bladder and Kidney Cancers Site Disease Group at Sylvester, led the study and is conducting the only clinical trial surrounding the discovery. Dr. Singal has been studying methylation-mediated transcriptional regulation in prostate and other cancers. In many cancers, malignant cells are able to proliferate by shutting down the body’s natural defenses, which include apoptosis or cell death and DNA repair. Repression of genes involved in ‘apoptotic’ or ‘cell death’ pathway may result from ’DNA methylation’. DNA methylation refers to a modification of DNA without a change to the original DNA sequence, resulting in alteration in gene expression.

Over the last several years, scientists have determined that DNA methylation and its impact on gene regulation can play a major role in targeted therapy. Cancer cells commonly show major disruptions in DNA methylation patterns. While scientists don’t yet fully know how cancer cells control methylation, the mechanism can be reversed. Dr. Singal closely examined the role of DNA methylation in cancer in an article published in the November 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

For this current study, Dr. Singal worked with Kavitha Ramachandran, Ph.D., associate scientist at Sylvester, Isildinha M. Reis, Ph.D., research associate professor of biobehavioral oncology cancer control at Sylvester, and other laboratory associates, along with researchers from Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, Germany. The scientists set out to investigate the methylation-mediated repression of a specific gene, GADD45α, knowing that it plays a role in DNA repair, cell cycle control and apoptosis or cell death. Researchers had already identified GADD45α as a key player in docetaxel chemotherapy mediated apoptosis or cell death.

Dr. Singal and his research team found that methylation-mediated repression of the growth arrest and DNA damage inducible α gene (GADD45α) in prostate cancer inhibits the effect of the docetaxel treatment. They then reversed the methylation of GADD45α, by treating prostate cancer cell lines with drugs that inhibit the ‘methylation’ process. What they discovered was a reactivation of GADD45α in these cells. Consequently, the cells exhibited renewed sensitivity to docetaxel chemotherapy, indicating that GADD45α is a potential target for the treatment of prostate cancer. The study results, which Dr. Singal describes as "extremely novel," are published in the February 15 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Moreover, Dr. Singal sees this pathway as a gateway for much more. "This is going to be important not only for prostate cancer. It could be applicable for other cancer tumors." Dr. Singal believes lung, breast and colon cancer patients may benefit from this discovery.

The results from the preclinical study were so promising that Dr. Singal was able to initiate a first of its kind clinical trial, using a drug that reverses the methylation process. The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only site for the Phase I/II study of azacitidine, docetaxel and prednisone for patients with metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer who have progressed during or after treatment with docetaxel chemotherapy. Right now, a dozen patients are enrolled in this study and the results are "encouraging."

To find out more or enroll in Dr. Singal’s clinical trial, call 305-243-9544 or 1-866-574-5124 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (except holidays).

Sylvester Researcher Uncovers Potential Therapeutic Target for Prostate Cancer: Clinical Trial Already Underway

A new discovery by the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine points the way to critically important treatment possibilities for patients with advanced prostate cancer in whom chemotherapy and hormone therapy have failed.

Patients with advanced prostate cancer who do not respond to hormone therapy, or in whom it stops working altogether, are commonly treated with docetaxel. However, that therapy commonly loses its effectiveness six to eight months into treatment, and in a significant number of patients, never works at all.

Rakesh Singal, M.D., associate professor of medicine and member of the Prostate, Bladder and Kidney Cancers Site Disease Group at Sylvester, led the study and is conducting the only clinical trial surrounding the discovery. Dr. Singal has been studying methylation-mediated transcriptional regulation in prostate and other cancers. In many cancers, malignant cells are able to proliferate by shutting down the body’s natural defenses, which include apoptosis or cell death and DNA repair. Repression of genes involved in ‘apoptotic’ or ‘cell death’ pathway may result from ’DNA methylation’. DNA methylation refers to a modification of DNA without a change to the original DNA sequence, resulting in alteration in gene expression.

Over the last several years, scientists have determined that DNA methylation and its impact on gene regulation can play a major role in targeted therapy. Cancer cells commonly show major disruptions in DNA methylation patterns. While scientists don’t yet fully know how cancer cells control methylation, the mechanism can be reversed. Dr. Singal closely examined the role of DNA methylation in cancer in an article published in the November 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

For this current study, Dr. Singal worked with Kavitha Ramachandran, Ph.D., associate scientist at Sylvester, Isildinha M. Reis, Ph.D., research associate professor of biobehavioral oncology cancer control at Sylvester, and other laboratory associates, along with researchers from Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, Germany. The scientists set out to investigate the methylation-mediated repression of a specific gene, GADD45α, knowing that it plays a role in DNA repair, cell cycle control and apoptosis or cell death. Researchers had already identified GADD45α as a key player in docetaxel chemotherapy mediated apoptosis or cell death.

Dr. Singal and his research team found that methylation-mediated repression of the growth arrest and DNA damage inducible α gene (GADD45α) in prostate cancer inhibits the effect of the docetaxel treatment. They then reversed the methylation of GADD45α, by treating prostate cancer cell lines with drugs that inhibit the ‘methylation’ process. What they discovered was a reactivation of GADD45α in these cells. Consequently, the cells exhibited renewed sensitivity to docetaxel chemotherapy, indicating that GADD45α is a potential target for the treatment of prostate cancer. The study results, which Dr. Singal describes as "extremely novel," are published in the February 15 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Moreover, Dr. Singal sees this pathway as a gateway for much more. "This is going to be important not only for prostate cancer. It could be applicable for other cancer tumors." Dr. Singal believes lung, breast and colon cancer patients may benefit from this discovery.

The results from the preclinical study were so promising that Dr. Singal was able to initiate a first of its kind clinical trial, using a drug that reverses the methylation process. The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only site for the Phase I/II study of azacitidine, docetaxel and prednisone for patients with metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer who have progressed during or after treatment with docetaxel chemotherapy. Right now, a dozen patients are enrolled in this study and the results are "encouraging."

To find out more or enroll in Dr. Singal’s clinical trial, call 305-243-9544 or 1-866-574-5124 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (except holidays).

UM Loses World-Renowned Researcher in Viral Lymphomas William J. Harrington Jr., M.D. 1954 - 2009

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and its Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center are saddened to report the untimely passing of a renowned researcher, physician, colleague and friend. William J. Harrington, Jr., M.D., professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology-Oncology at the Miller School, died from a cerebral hemorrhage on January 29 at the age of 54.

“It is impossible to express how much he will be missed by everyone at Sylvester and throughout the medical school and university,” said W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester.

Harrington, co-leader of the Viral Oncology Program at Sylvester, was considered a leading authority on viral-induced cancers, establishing one of the nation’s most distinctive programs. His research centered on ways to treat viral-related tumors that had proven resistant to conventional chemotherapy. His team found that interferon played a role in viral-mediated lymphomas, leading to a novel approach to attacking such tumors. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related Burkitt, and human T lymphotropic virus-type I (HTLV-I)- associated adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) are just some of the viral-mediated cancers that have been resistant to conventional chemotherapy yet have responded to antiviral therapy.

Goodwin says Harrington’s work as a UM faculty member of nearly two decades and his work in South America “set the standard for successful collaborative research.” He remembers his colleague as a “true champion for health care delivery to the underserved.”

A close colleague and friend, Glen Barber, Ph.D, professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology-Oncology and co-leader of the Viral Oncology Program with Harrington, said he “frequently obtained fantastic results that were not deemed possible.”

Harrington built relationships in South America that were unique, and bridged borders for research. He had been collaborating with investigators in Brazil to develop new therapies against Epstein Barr-related lymphoma, and was an internationally recognized expert for his clinical work with patients with HIV who developed viral lymphomas. Barber says Harrington “was revered in South America,” working to facilitate their research so patients there would have access to improved treatments. Harrington had recently received National Cancer Institute funding to study the mechanism of azidothymidine (AZT) on Epstein Barr Virus patients at the National Cancer Institute in Brazil.

“His death has sent a ripple throughout the scientific and clinical communities,” says Barber. The acclaimed scientist was also “an adventurer and free spirit” who loved the outdoors, exploring and hiking all over the world, often without a map.
Juan C. Ramos, M.D., assistant professor of clinical medicine, considered Harrington his mentor, and worked with him for the past eight years. “It is because of Bill’s influence that I work in this field and have been successful so far,” said Ramos, who first began working in Harrington’s clinic and laboratory during his residency.

Ramos also credits his mentor for his award of a highly competitive grant to continue work in Harrington’s original project on HTLV1-related lymphomas. He says the visionary work that is Harrington’s legacy and passion will continue. “That’s my commitment. There’s nothing else that would drive me.”

Harrington’s work and dedication to his patients are what stand out for Mark Goodman, M.D., associate professor of medicine. He explains that Harrington’s patients were often poor and had no insurance, but he would see them any time of the day or night. Goodman says his colleague had a “real respect for the profession of medicine and for humanity.”

Harrington’s love for the University of Miami was described by many who knew him. Ramos says he cared deeply about the cancer center, the university and its academic status around the nation. Barber says he was really proud of the university and the Canes. “UM ran in his veins.”

Harrington’s link to UM began at a young age. His father, William J. Harrington Sr., M.D., former chair of medicine, founded the William J. Harrington Medical Training Programs in Latin America, which train top-tier medical graduates from Latin America and the Caribbean. Harrington had been encouraged to travel to Brazil just out of school, according to his brother, Thomas Harrington, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the Miller School of Medicine. The 18 months he spent in that country left a strong impression on him. Harrington picked up his father’s legacy, and had become co-director of the Medical Training Programs.

“He lived to ensure that his father’s legacy continued, but he worked to build his own legacy,” says Ramos. He, Barber and other colleagues plan to continue that work. They remember his passion, his unwavering dedication to his patients, the university and the work to be done. Ramos says, “He never stopped, he never really stopped. He was always Bill.”

Bill Harrington is survived by his wife, Tania, whom he met in Brazil; mother, Mary; sons Matthew and Gabriel, with Tania; son William of Miami and daughter Julianna de Melo of Orlando, from a previous marriage; granddaughter Maria Clara; brothers Tom and Tim; and sister Ann Healy of Georgia. His organs were donated to others.

Sylvester Hosts Annual Landon-AACR Prize Lectures in Cancer Research—Two New Awards Given

The annual Landon-American Association for Cancer Research Prizes took a big step forward this year in recognizing key cancer research by adding two new awards. The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine hosted the Seventh Annual Landon-AACR Prize Lectures on Friday, January 23, during which four scientists were recognized for their research.

The Kirk A. Landon-AACR Prize for Basic Cancer Research and the Dorothy P. Landon-AACR Prize for Translational Cancer Research are considered premier recognition in cancer research. This year, the Landon Foundation-AACR wanted to acknowledge other fronts in the battle against cancer, and presented the Landon Foundation-AACR INNOVATOR Award for International Collaboration in Cancer Research and the Landon Foundation-AACR INNOVATOR Award for Cancer Prevention Research.

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester who welcomed the crowd, described the prestigious prizes as a “goal to motivate and reward great scientific achievement.” Kirk and Dorothy Landon, who established the awards with the AACR, wanted the prize lectures given at Sylvester to showcase and influence significant research at the cancer center. Goodwin said the awards are evidence that the Landons’ “footprints are all over Sylvester.”

Arnold J. Levine, Ph.D., professor at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-UMDNJ, was awarded the 2008 Kirk A. Landon-AACR Prize for Basic Cancer Research. Levine is largely responsible for establishing p53 as a tumor suppressor, and unraveling the regulatory mechanisms that modulate its function. His work has progressed to show that p53 mutations not only affect the tumor suppressor activity, but may actually possess oncogenic activities.

Speaking about his work at the lectures, Levine predicted even more discoveries surrounding p53, saying he thinks it “will play a role in the central nervous system.” The scientist has received a multitude of awards and honors during his career and said he was “humbled to be among” the group of Landon winners.

The 2008 Dorothy P. Landon-AACR Prize for Translational Cancer Research was given to John Mendelsohn, M.D., president of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, for his work leading to the development of a new class of agents in cancer treatment. Mendelsohn, who called winning the Landon Award a “tremendous honor,” first suggested nearly thirty years ago that inhibiting critical growth promoting signals of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) would stop cancer cell proliferation.

Over the years, he and his team developed the monoclonal antibody now known as Erbitux™. Used in combination with chemotherapy or radiation, it has been shown to be an effective therapy in colon and other cancers. Mendelsohn told the audience of present and future scientists that he believes combination therapy is the wave of the future, but admits they’ve “got a lot to learn.”

Carlo Maley, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, is the first recipient of the Landon Foundation-AACR INNOVATOR Award for Cancer Prevention Research. This new award is meant to encourage young investigators exploring cancer prevention as the first line of defense against the disease. Maley explained to the gathering that his research focuses on the process by which normal tissue becomes cancerous. Studying models of Barrett’s esophagus, a human pre-malignant neoplasm that can lead to esophageal cancer, Maley is working to develop a method of identifying which tumor cells will likely progress to cancer. The goal, he says, is then to discover which tumor will be sensitive to preventive therapies. He points out that “if we can slow down cancer’s progression, in some cases we can eradicate it.”

The first Landon Foundation-AACR INNOVATOR Award for International Collaboration went to Michele Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Pathology at the University of Hawaii. Carbone and his team of international researchers discovered a rare mesothelioma epidemic in three remote villages in Turkey. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer where malignant cells form in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Carbone, who is the director of the Thoracic Oncology Program at the Cancer Research Center at the University of Hawaii, discovered that exposure to the mineral erionite, found in the rock used to build homes, was the cause. The primary question then became investigating why everyone did not become sick. Through years of research, Carbone and his team determined that the victims had a genetic predisposition to mesothelioma. Findings from his research are now being applied to other geographic areas in the hopes of identifying an effective treatment.

The Landon-AACR Prizes are the largest prizes offered to cancer researchers from a society of their peers. Each recipient receives a cash award of $100,000.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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UM Nobel Laureate Collaborates on International Study of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Activity

A team of international researchers, including Nobel laureate Andrew V. Schally, Ph.D., M.D.h.c., D.Sc.h.c., distinguished professor of pathology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and distinguished medical research scientist in the Department of Veterans Affairs, has uncovered a surprising new activity of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), which could redirect future studies. Schally worked with Jozsef L. Varga, Ph.D., research associate professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology Oncology and researcher at the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The findings are the result of a collaboration with researchers at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain, led by Felipe F. Casanueva, M.D., Ph.D., and are published in the December 15 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Growth hormone is normally released by the pituitary to help the body’s skeletal system and muscle mass develop. Its function is at its highest during adolescence when children experience a high rate of growth. In past studies, Schally, a professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology Oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, has shown that growth hormone also plays a role in fueling the growth of several cancer lines.

Because of growth hormone’s normal impact on the body and its potential to trigger the proliferation of cancer cells, scientists have long been interested in determining exactly what factors regulate its release in the body. Decades ago, researchers discovered that growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), which stimulates the secretion of growth hormone, and somatostatin, which inhibits its release, were two factors. In 2001, scientists discovered another peptide which stimulates secretion: ghrelin. That has led endocrinologists to examine how these three factors interact.

For GHRH and ghrelin, the two known stimulators of growth hormone, to exert their action normally, they must bind to a receptor, which lies in the pituitary. Scientists believed that each factor would only bind to its own corresponding receptor. Surprisingly, this international team of researchers found that GHRH acts on the ghrelin receptor in addition to its own receptor. “This finding,” says Schally, “demonstrates another element in the regulation of growth hormone that we must now pursue.”

Researchers now plan to focus on how growth hormone-releasing hormone acts on the ghrelin receptor. “We must learn how these factors interact, if we are to find a way to control them,” says Schally, who has dedicated much of his research over the last 15 years to synthesizing GHRH antagonists which bind to the GHRH receptor and block the growth hormone activity. These antagonists have also been shown to bind to GHRH receptors within cancer cells, thereby blocking the effects of local growth hormone-releasing hormone which would have otherwise fueled the tumor.

This study brings together a number of elements for future direction. Scientists have already determined that some cancer cells have receptors for GHRH and ghrelin. Schally and his laboratory have previously found that GHRH antagonists block the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor. Knowing that GHRH acts on the ghrelin receptor, researchers will now take a closer look at whether GHRH antagonists will block ghrelin receptors within cancer cells accordingly. “This will take us another step closer to finding a therapy for cancer,” says the Nobel laureate.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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UM Brings Top Dermatologist to Lead Melanoma Clinic

James M. Grichnik, M.D., Ph.D. has joined the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery. Grichnik, who earned his medical degree from Harvard University, will focus his attention on expanding the melanoma program at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

An expert in early detection, Grichnik says one of the program’s goals is to develop the Melanoma Surveillance and Detection Clinic, a world class facility that will utilize imaging technologies such as dermoscopy, confocal microscopy, and total body photography to allow for melanoma detection at early, more curable, stages. He comes to UM following 17 years at Duke University, where he focused much of his research on cell biology and the role of stem cells in the development of melanoma.

“I am especially interested in the tumor biology of melanoma,” says Grichnik. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer that scientists generally believe begins in the pigment cells of the skin called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, which gives skin its natural pigment or color. Benign clusters of melanocytes are called moles (or nevi), malignant clusters of melanocytes are melanoma.

Grichnik, however, believes that melanomas and moles originate from melanocytic stem cells in the skin and not from differentiated melanocytes. These melanocytic stem cells normally function to make more pigment cells. He believes if these cells harbor a benign mutation they form a benign mole but if they harbor malignant mutations they form melanoma. “Within the melanoma tumors a subset of cells with stem-cell-like features persist,” he explains and “until we develop therapies that also eliminate this population we will not be able to fully eradicate the tumor.” Grichnik’s research efforts are focused on pathways expressed in the melanoma stem cells that may serve both to specifically identify malignant tumors and as targets for therapy.

Patients are at an increased risk for melanoma if they have a personal or family history of melanoma, a high number of moles, or atypical moles. Those with fair skin, red or blond hair, and lighter eyes also are at an increased risk for melanoma. The most important part of melanoma care is early detection and surgical removal, but that approach does not prevent a systemic recurrence once the melanomas are more advanced and tumor cells have already entered the circulation. Some of Grichnik’s goals are to implement practices that improve survival rates through early detection while at the same time avoiding unnecessary biopsies and procedures. “Once we better understand melanoma biology, we will be able to develop better more curative therapies.”

The Melanoma Surveillance and Detection Clinic will have ongoing clinical trials, and use a number of methods to detect early melanomas and other skin cancers as well as studying normal skin biology. “We are building a structure to facilitate basic research and an increasing capacity to deliver world class melanoma clinical care,” says Grichnik.

For more information on the Melanoma Program, call 305-243-6045. To make an appointment, call 305-243-7074 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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Luminaire’s PaperLove Art Auction Raises $240,000 to Benefit Sylvester

Miami, FL (December 12, 2008) -- With titles such as “Paper Vase,” “Kiss,” “Just a Moment,” and “Recycle Me,” the creations of dozens of artists were displayed for Luminaire PaperLove on Thursday evening, December 4. While the online bidding is still being tallied, the live art auction, created by Luminaire founders Nargis and Nasir Kassamali, raised more than $240,000 for cancer research at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Among the estimated 400 of South Florida’s art elite who attended the cocktail reception was Ivana Trump. Art lovers mingled with designers, artists and architects who brought their creativity together for this philanthropic art event. For PaperLove, artists were invited to create a one-of-a-kind work of art using paper as the primary medium. More than 50 artists translated their vision into a creation to meet that challenge. Each work of art was displayed at Luminaire Lab in the Miami Design District.

Nargis and Nasir Kassamali hosted PaperLove with the same spirit of giving they injected when hosting Luminaire PuppyLove two years ago. Touched by cancer themselves, the artistic couple say they “wanted to give something back to South Florida and help in the fight against cancer.” In 2006, that urge to give back is what led them to host PuppyLove, giving each artist a blank canvas puppy to decorate.

Mira Jovic, originally from Yugoslavia but now an artist in Mexico, was eager to participate in the event, but found the work a struggle. Her piece, “Just a Moment,” was meant to symbolize her emotions at losing her own mother to cancer. Jovic met the Kassamalis several years ago in Mexico and says they are “real people with a real purpose.”

Colombian artist Federico Uribe participated in PuppyLove and didn’t hesitate to be part of this year’s event. He designed “Cityscape,” cutting different sized books to create a city skyline “made up of stories: horror, misery, ambition … happiness, tenderness.” Uribe had a separate exhibit going on during Art Basel, but said he had to make time to help his friends.
Art collectors were able to bid on most of the items online December 1-8, but eight pieces were held out for Thursday’s live auction, hosted by Christie’s. Guests had a chance to see each of the works up close, at the cocktail hour, before being escorted across the street where dinner and the auction took place.

As the more than 200 guests were seated for dinner, Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School, thanked the crowd for attending. In a nod to Nargis Kassamali’s five-time bout with breast cancer, Goldschmidt said the couple’s “fight against cancer is inspiring.”

That sentiment was echoed by W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester, who noted the similarities between science and art. Just as art inspires, “physicians and scientists are working together to bring new hope to patients.” Guests broke into hearty applause after watching a video featuring three Sylvester scientists describing their work on breakthrough anti-cancer discoveries.

One guest, fashion stylist Jorge Ramon, was there with two colleagues who all applauded the effort to use art to help in the fight against cancer. He had his eye on a couple of items in the auction and said, “It’s a way to spend money and give it toward something worthwhile.”

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

UM Nobel Laureate Researcher Discovers Antioxidant Activity of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone

Finding Could Lead to Novel Treatment of Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases

Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have discovered the antioxidant activity of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonists in cancers. This discovery could lead to novel therapies against various cancers as well as neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. The results of the study, by Nobel laureate Andrew V. Schally, Ph.D., M.D.h.c., D.Sc.h.c., distinguished medical research scientist in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and distinguished professor of pathology at the Miller School and, and Nektarios Barabutis, M.Sc., Ph.D., research associate professor of pathology at the Miller School and Miami VA Medical Center, are published in the December 8 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dr. Schally, who is also professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology-Oncology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been a world leader in the study of hormone-related cancers. Last year, he and his colleagues showed that a splice variant (SV1) of a hormone receptor stimulated breast cancer cells in the laboratory. SV1 is a hormone growth factor receptor which responds to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH). GHRH normally binds to receptors in the pituitary gland, stimulating the release of growth hormone, which induces normal tissue growth.

However, GHRH also acts as a growth factor in various tumors. Dr. Schally and Dr. Barabutis previously demonstrated that GHRH is a growth factor for prostate, lung, breast and other cancers. GHRH antagonists, which Dr. Schally has been developing for 15 years, block the action of GHRH, and thereby strongly inhibit the growth of cancer.

“The influence of GHRH antagonists on oxidative stress” says Dr. Schally, “has not been investigated before and it is critical that we learn their effect on the development and progression of cancer.” In this study, he worked with Dr. Barabutis to test the antioxidant activity of GHRH antagonists on the LNCaP human prostate cancer cell line.

Oxidants, which are harmful, are generated from our own bodies and some external sources through our lives. As we get older, oxidants build up because the body’s defense system isn’t able to protect as well. Oxidative stress, or the accumulation of oxidants in the body, contributes to the process of aging and the development of cancer.

Dr. Schally and Dr. Barabutis tested antagonistic analogues of GHRH, synthesized by Dr. Schally’s team, Martha Zarandi, Ph.D., D.Sc., visiting assistant professor of pathology, Jozsef L. Varga, Ph.D., research associate professor of medicine, and Ren-Zhi Cai, Ph.D., visiting associate professor of pathology. Dr. Schally and Dr. Barabutis discovered that GHRH antagonists inhibited the growth of LNCaP prostate cancer cells by reducing the amount of free radicals in the cells. This is the first demonstration that GHRH antagonists possess antioxidant activity. “This discovery further elucidates the mechanism of action of these compounds that we are developing into a new therapy for cancer” says Dr. Schally, who is a world leader in targeting hormone-related cancers.

Besides providing novel approaches to cancer treatment, this discovery could have other potential therapeutic applications. Increased oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its major complications including retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy as well as in development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Huntington’s disease. “We think these compounds could be used not only as anti-cancer drugs but also to treat other diseases related to increased oxidative stress” says Dr. Schally.

Next, Dr. Schally and Dr. Barabutis plan to conduct various tests in-vivo on brain tissue of rats and human neural cell lines, to determine if GHRH antagonists have the same antioxidative effects on neural tissues. They will also examine the effects of GHRH antagonists on neuronal cultures in an endeavor to develop a new therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. This project is already leading to extensive national/international collaboration.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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Design Legend Luminaire Launches “PaperLove” Art Auction to Benefit Sylvester

For the second year, contemporary home design leader Luminaire is combining art and passion to support Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. As they did in 2006, Nasir and Nargis Kassamali, the founders of Luminaire, have invited artists from across the globe to create unique works centered around a specific theme. More than 50 artists, named below, have created works of art made out of paper for this year’s event titled “PaperLove.” The finished pieces will be sold during a silent auction and at a live charity auction led by Christie’s Auction House during Art Basel, Thursday, December 4th, at the Luminaire Lab in the Miami Design District.

This one-of-a-kind art auction will kick off on Monday, December 1st both online at www.Luminaire.com/paperlove/, and at the Luminaire Lab. Guests can view each of the unique works of art, created in paper, and bid on their favorite items. Of the 52 creations, a handful will be chosen by the special jury panel to be part of the live auction and VIP dinner held Thursday, December 4th. That evening, guests paying $200 will be treated to a cocktail reception and special dinner and have a chance to take part in the live auction. Final bidding will close on Sunday, December 7th.

In 2006, Nargis and Nasir originally from East Africa, chose a decidedly-unique medium to capture the attention of the art and philanthropic worlds. Three-dimensional plastic puppies were created, which artists were invited to use as their canvas. “Luminaire PuppyLove” was born. This year, using paper as the main medium, “PaperLove” is expected to take the possibilities of visual design to the next level for participating designers, artists and architects. Just like the first venture, this year’s world-class event will also donate 100% of the proceeds raised from both the online and silent auctions to benefit cancer research at Sylvester.

“Luminaire PuppyLove” raised more than $400,000 for the university-based cancer center. This year, says Nargis, they expect to bring in even more with PaperLove. “We have incredible energy and new talent from around the world,” she says. “And what better gift can you buy this year, than something that is beautiful and unique, and may ultimately help save a life.”

The works of art will be on display at beginning Monday, December 1st at Luminaire Lab, 3901 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida in the heart of the Miami Design District. Nargis and Nasir Kassamali, along with some of the artists and physician-researchers from Sylvester, are available for interviews about this worthwhile project. For more information about the event, please go to http://www.luminaire.com./.

PaperLove Participants:

RON ARAD
NEIL BARRETT
ROBERTO BEHAR & ROSARIO MARQUARDT
YVES BÉHAR
DROR BENSHETRIT
JEFFREY BERNETT
TORD BOONTJE
RONAN & ERWAN BOUROULLEC
CONSTANTIN & LAURENE BOYM
ROBERT CHAMBERS
ANTONIO CITTERIO
DAI FUJIWARA +
ISSEY MIYAKE CREATIVE ROOM
NAOTO FUKASAWA
ERNST GAMPERL
LYNNE GELFMAN
ALEXANDER GELMAN
RENE GONZALEZ
KONSTANTIN GRCIC
ZAHA HADID
TAKENOBU IGARASHI
MIRA JOKIC
JONATHAN KLINE
KENGO KUMA
CLAUDIO LA VIOLA
PAOLA LENTI
AMANDA LEVETE
PIERO LISSONI
PAOLO MARCOLONGO
JEAN-MARIE MASSAUD
INGO MAURER
CORTO MOLTEDO
ENRIQUE NORTEN
MICHELE OKA DONER
ILLONA & CHAD OPPENHEIM
JOSÉ PARLÁGAETANO PESCE
RITVA PUOTILA
ARNE QUINZE
HILA RAWET
AXEL RUSSMEYER
CLAUDIO SILVESTRIN
KIFF SLEMMONS
PIET & WIDUKIND STOCKMANS
WOLFGANG TOLK
SHIGERU UCHIDA
FEDERICO URIBE
PATRICIA URQUIOLA
MASSIMO VIGNELLI, BEATRIZ CIFUENTES
& YOSHIKIWATERHOUSE
ELKE WALTER
MARCEL WANDERS
GÜNTER WERMEKES
TOKUJIN YOSHIOKA

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at UHealth -- the University of Miami Health System. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion has recently been completed. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with nearly 30 physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-584 / 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sylvester Radiology/Breast Imaging Department Named a Center of Excellence

The Radiology/Breast Imaging Department at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has good reason to be proud. It was recently designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The designation was awarded for both stereotactic and breast ultrasound.

“This is a great accomplishment and I’m very proud of our team,” said Margaret Roelans, B.A., R.T.(M), R.D.M.S., Breast Imaging Supervisor, Radiology/Breast Imaging Department.

The Center of Excellence designation is awarded to breast imaging centers that achieve excellence by seeking and earning accreditation in all of the ACR’s voluntary breast-imaging accreditation programs and modules, in addition to the mandatory Mammography Accreditation Program.

As part of the accreditation process, the ACR evaluates the qualifications of personnel, equipment performance, quality control measures, accuracy and clarity of clinical images. Only one other hospital in the region has been awarded this designation of excellence.

IL GIARDINO DI VENEZIA, 2008 In The Garden Gala Raises More Than $1.5 Million For Sylvester

(Miami, Florida, November 2008) The ballroom of the Miami Beach Convention Center was transformed into IL Giardino di Venezia, a magnificent garden of Venice where the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine hosted its bi-annual In the Garden Gala, Saturday, November 1, 2008.

This year’s In the Garden Gala, chaired by the dynamic leadership of Lily and David Serviansky, raised more than $1.5 million for cancer research at Sylvester. Through the help of the generous support of Honorary Grand Gala Chairs, Penny and Roe Stamps, and Honorary Gala Chairs, Calder Race Course, The Havenick Family and the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation, the evening proved to be a huge success for Sylvester. A highlight of the gala was the presentation of the Caroline W. Halpern Award to Joan and J. David Scheiner for their outstanding philanthropic leadership at Sylvester.

Nearly 800 of South Florida’s most generous philanthropists and community leaders, attended the black-tie affair which featured an elegant dinner, live entertainment by the Ruby Baker Orchestra, and a fantastic luxury silent and live auction, chaired by JoAnn Hildebrandt. The silent auction featured more than 150 luxurious items, including the especially popular “Lifesaver Wish List” items available for purchase for guests to fund research equipment and clinical trials for the cancer center. During the cocktail reception guests were serenaded by the operatic ballads of Cantor Steven Haas. Royal Caribbean’s Richard Fain emceed the live auction, which included an incredible NBC Universal New York package; four VIP tickets to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade; a private cooking class and an exquisite dinner for four with The Food Network’s own, Chef Ingrid Hoffman; two prime tickets to the 2008 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

Corporate host Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour sponsored an exciting “Sakstini Extravaganza,” where guests purchased a $250 Limoncello Martini and had the opportunity to draw from an exclusive collection of gifts. Other corporate sponsors included: Akerman Senterfitt, Bilzin Sumberg Baeuna Price & Axelrod, LLP, Bloomingdale’s, Bluestein & Wayne, P.A., Buchanan Ingersol & Rooney, PC, FMSBonds, Inc., Fowler White Burnett, P.A., Gerstle Rosen & Associates, P.A., Holland & Knight, Landstar Devleopment, LEO A. DALY, INC, Macy’s Florida, Morrison Brown Argiz & Farra, LLP, Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour, Perry Ellis International, Rachlin LLP, Smith Barney Citigroup, South Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., and Wachovia Wealth Management of Palm Beach.

In The Garden Gala raises funds to support research at Sylvester, which opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. A major expansion has recently been completed. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with nearly 30 physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Contact:

Sonia Gibson and Jennifer Heegaard
Sonia Gibson & Associates
305.777.0217
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)      .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
M: 305.803.5505                  M: 305.458.5003

Sylvester Unveils its Priceless & Luxury Auction for the 2008 In The Garden Gala

(Miami, Florida, October 2008) Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine announces its priceless auction and the return of the popular “Lifesaver Wishes” for their signature benefit, the biennial In the Garden Gala.

The 2008 In the Garden Gala, themed IL GIARDINO DI VENEZIA, will be the kickoff of Miami’s social season held at the Grand Ballroom of the Miami Beach Convention Center. The gala, scheduled for Saturday, November 1, is the preeminent fundraising event for Sylvester, South Florida’s only university-based cancer center.

The 2008 auction, chaired by JoAnn Hildebrandt, will be grander than ever and will include priceless experiences, luxurious trips, jewelry, services, and merchandise from some of the world’s most exclusive retailers, resorts, restaurants, hotels, cruise lines, and jewelers. Among the priceless items up for bidding at the live auction will be:

0. An incredible NBC Universal New York package including VIP tickets for a Today Show Concert, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and The Martha Stewart Show,* 
0. Four VIP tickets to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in the viewing stands,
0. A private cooking class and an exquisite dinner for Four with The Food Network’s own, Chef Ingrid Hoffman including an autographed cookbook,*
0. Two prime tickets to the 2008 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on November 15 at the newly renovated Fontainebleau Resort, as well as entrances into the exclusive after-party.*

In addition, the 2008 In The Garden Gala auction will again feature Sylvester Lifesaver Wishes. These “Lifesaver Wishes” will facilitate research conducted at Sylvester—research that most often leads to therapies that change the course of cancer. Guests will have the opportunity to underwrite essential research equipment and tools that are necessary to carry out leading-edge work in our laboratories. By underwriting a Lifesaver Wish donors have a direct impact on the science and research that is conducted at Sylvester; that science is then translated to the patient’s bedside. A Lifesaver Wish provides an opportunity to make a gift that will be used time and time again in the fight against cancer. With the generous support of numerous guests, nearly $25,000 was raised at the 2006 gala.

Saks Fifth Avenue - Bal Harbour will sponsor an exciting “Sakstini Extravaganza,” where 50 guests can purchase a $250 Limoncello Martini and have the opportunity to draw from an exclusive collection of gifts donated exclusively by Saks Bal Harbour. Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour has secured couture gowns that will be auctioned worth over $25,000.

Additional luxury auction items include numerous destinations and preferred accommodations. Items such as a four-night deluxe accommodation for two with a $600 per person spa allowance at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, AZ, a spectacular seven-day vacation at one of Interval International’s Orlando area vacation ownership resorts, a one-night stay in a Dynasty Suite plus spa certificates at the Mandarin Oriental Miami, and Walt Disney World passes.*

The auction also incorporates great gift ideas, including golf foursomes at Grand Oaks Golf Club, Woodlands Country Club and The Country Club at Boca Raton. For those who love cooking, a cooking class and lunch for six from David Schwadron Catering and a cooking class for 10 from Aliza’s Cooking School. Poker anyone? Poker lessons for ten at The Magic City Poker Room at Flagler Dog Track. A $3,000 certificate for non-surgical services at the Medici Spa and Institute in Aventura, FL. Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, D.D.S. P.A., Richard M. Galitz, M.D. and Francine Williams, a certified Pilates instructor, have also donated services to be auctioned.

Guests with a taste for fine dining will enjoy valuable gift certificates from Bourbon Steak, Manny’s Steak, Morton’s the Steakhouse, Prime One Twelve, Randazzo’s Little Italy, Soyka and The Palm. Additionally, an array of beauty products and services, designer fashion merchandise and jewelry from top brands such as, Francesco Biasia, Bobby Brown, Tory Burch, Christian Dior, Chanel, Clearly Creative, Clinique, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren, Judith Leiber, Adriana Castro, Stella McCartney, Judith Ripka, Spa Finder, and David Yurman are a sampling of the pampered packages available for bidding to benefit Sylvester.

The In the Garden Gala, IL GIARDINO DE VENEZIA, is expected to raise more than $1.5 million for cancer research at Sylvester. Individual tickets are priced from $500. To learn more about underwriting opportunities, sponsorships, or to purchase tables and tickets, please call Sylvester at 305-243-9088.

*Black out dates and other restrictions may apply.

“In the Garden Gala” raises funds to support research at Sylvester, which opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis and treatment at UHealth -- the University of Miami Health System. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion has recently been completed. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Contact:

Sonia Gibson and Jennifer Heegaard
Sonia Gibson & Associates
305.777.0217
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  
M: 305.458.5003
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  
M: 305.803.5505

Sylvester Researchers Discover African Americans & Poor Have Worse Prognosis for Head & Neck Cancer

A team of Sylvester researchers has led a study which finds considerable disparities in survival for African Americans and poor patients with head and neck cancer. The study, led by Leonidas G. Koniaris, M.D., associate professor of surgery, cell biology and anatomy at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, indicates that earlier diagnosis and greater access to treatment could improve outcomes for these cancers among African Americans and the poor. The study is published online and in the November 15, 2008 issue of Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

A number of studies have examined disparities in cancer survival among different groups to help identify interventions to improve patient outcomes. To investigate factors that impact survival from head and neck cancer, Koniaris teamed up with several colleagues, including W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester, Dido Franceschi, M.D., associate professor and leader of the Stomach and Esophageal Cancer Site Disease Group at Sylvester, Frederick L. Moffat, M.D., professor of surgical oncology, Alan S. Livingstone, M.D., professor and chair of surgery, Margaret M. Byrne, Ph.D., research assistant professor of epidemiology and public health, and four surgical residents at the Miller School of Medicine.

The team of scientists reviewed all head and neck cancer cases in Florida between 1998 and 2002. By mining information from the Florida Cancer Data System and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration dataset, they were able to accumulate data on diagnoses, comorbid conditions, and procedures performed during every hospitalization or outpatient visit among 20,915 head and neck cancer patients during that time.

The review found poorer outcomes were associated with race, poverty, age, gender, tumor site and stage, treatment type and a history of smoking and alcohol consumption.

Regarding race, the average survival time among Hispanics was 47 months, compared with 40 months among Caucasians and 21 months among African Americans. African American patients were diagnosed at a younger age and presented with more advanced disease compared with Caucasians. For all tumor stages, African American patients had a significantly shorter average survival time than Caucasians, regardless of poverty level. Treatments also differed between these two races: Caucasians were more likely than African Americans to have undergone surgery (45 percent vs. 32 percent), while African Americans were more likely than Caucasians to receive chemotherapy (26 percent vs. 19 percent) and radiation (66 percent vs. 56 percent). However, even among patients who received surgery, African Americans had a shorter survival time than Caucasians.

When assessing socioeconomic status, the investigators found that patients living in communities with poverty levels exceeding 15 percent were diagnosed with head and neck cancer at a significantly younger age, more frequently diagnosed with advanced disease, and had lower average survival across all age groups. Average survival time was significantly shorter in patients from the areas with the highest poverty rates irrespective of what type of therapy was received.

Koniaris and the other researchers conclude that racial disparities continue to exist in head and neck cancer survival. Socioeconomic inequities are also evident in head and neck cancer survival, even when the poor receive treatment for their disease. “Earlier diagnosis, particularly in those from low socio-economic status groups and amongst African American patients, is needed to improve outcomes,” says Koniaris.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Saks Fifth Avenue, Bal Harbour Kicks-Off Charity Shopping Weekend To Benefit Sylvester

(Miami Beach, FL – September 29, 2008) Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine will team up with Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour and Ocean Drive magazine for Key to the Cure -- a national shopping weekend to benefit women’s cancer research, October 15 through October 19, 2008. This year’s kick-off party will be held at Saks Fifth Avenue Bal Harbour on Wednesday, October 15 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Entry donation is $40.00 and a percentage of sales from the shopping weekend will go directly to Sylvester.

Philanthropist Irma Braman is Honorary Chair with Co-Chairs Kim Wood, Jeff Peck, and Alan Randolph.

In 2002, Irma and Norman Braman contributed $5 million to create the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The Institute is devoted to advancing research in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Mr. Braman is the former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles and owns eight auto dealerships in Miami, Palm Beach, and Denver. This is the fifth year that Mrs. Braman has chaired Saks Key to the Cure.

“Our hope is that someday breast cancer will be treated more effectively so that every patient will be given increased quality of life,” says Irma Braman. “That would be a real breakthrough and a source of great personal satisfaction for us.”

Saks Fifth Avenue invites you to shop till you drop for a great cause with a percentage of sales benefiting Sylvester. National sponsors for this year’s event include Mercedes Benz of Miami, Ocean Drive Magazine, A Joy Wallace Catering Production and Design Team, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Smart Water, and Buchanan Ingersol and Rooney PC.

Guests will enjoy complimentary cocktails by Grey Goose vodka and Little Black Dress wine, fabulous tastings from South Florida’s top restaurants and caterers. On board this year is A Joy Wallace Catering and Production Team, 1 Bleu at The Regent Bal Harbour, China Grill, Tuscan Steak, Blue Door at Delano, Mena Catering, Chef Allen’s, Touch Catering, Il Mulino at the Acqualina, Kobe Club, Abokado, 2 Taste Catering, Aerobar Miami, Andu, Aroma Espresso, Brosia, Catering By Chef Jackie, Ciao, Domo Japones, Food Gang, Indigo Restaurant at the Intercontinental Hotel, Pasha’s RA Sushi Bar Restaurant, Shelia Lundgren Sweets, Stella’s Sweet Shoppe, The Cool Yogurt Place, The Setai, South Beach, Tatianas, Todo Dulce Everything Sweet, and We Take the Cake. Three floors of live entertainment include the talents of celebrity DJ Diva Elaine Lancaster, DJ Mark Levanthal, DJ Irie and The Goldcoast Society Band.

Please send entry donation checks made out to: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Mail to the attention of Jeanne Kushner, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Office of Development, 1550 NW 10th Avenue, Suite 200, Miami, FL 33136 or for more information, please call 305-243-9088.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion has recently been completed. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with nearly 30 physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events. http://www.sylvester.org.

Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s preeminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, and home furnishings, and its first-rate fashion expertise and the exemplary client service of its associates. Today, Saks operates 54 full-line stores in 25 states, 2 stores in the Middle East in Dubai and Riyadh, 49 Off 5th Outlet Stores and http://www.saks.com, the company’s online store.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Worley 305-243-5184 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Felicia Lopez-Walker 305-243-5181 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Sylvester Researcher Uncovers New Pathway Regulating Cancer Inhibitor

Miami, FL — In the battle against breast cancer, a top researcher at the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has uncovered a new pathway for p27 which regulates cell growth. The finding, published in the June 20th issue of Molecular Cell, provides a new rationale for targeting two different growth pathways to more effectively stop cancer growth.

Joyce M. Slingerland, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at Sylvester, led the research which closely examined the cell-signaling protein, mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), and its effects on p27. Her team included Feng Hong, M.D., Ph.D., post doctoral associate, and Michelle D. Larrea, Ph.D., research associate, plus two scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School. “This study gives scientists a new rationale,” says Slingerland, “for combining anti-cancer drugs that specifically target this pathway.”

The molecule p27 is a natural growth inhibitor that acts in the cell nucleus, regulating the timing of cell division. It is a ‘brakes molecule.’ “Cancer cells have a way of disturbing the normal function of p27,” says Slingerland. One way is to degrade this brake molecule too quickly, keeping it from working. In a paper published last year, (Cell, January 2007) Slingerland and her team showed how the Src oncogene tagged p27 to signal the protein degradation machinery.

Another way to interfere with p27’s function is to keep it locked in the wrong place in the cell. Many cancers show aberrant activation of the PI3Kinase and mTOR growth pathway signaling systems. Slingerland’s group found that activation of these pathways causes p27 to stay in the cytoplasm, away from its normal site of action, the nucleus. Keeping p27 in the cytoplasm blocks the molecule’s normal growth inhibiting function and also promotes cell motility. “When a cell acquires greater motility,” says Slingerland, “it can become more invasive and might metastasize.”

In a majority of cancers, the PI3Kinase pathway is activated, setting off a chain of events. PI3K then leads to the phosphorylation of Akt, which in turn phosphorylates p27, keeping it in the cytoplasm. Part of that growth signaling path includes mTOR, a protein kinase that regulates cell growth. In this study, Slingerland’s team learned that mTOR binds to SGK, which can phosphorylate p27 in the same way as Akt.

Thus, mTOR/SGK1 activation contributes to keeping p27 in the cytoplasm, away from its normal site of action. Scientists have known for many years that mTOR was a key regulator of new protein synthesis. Slingerland’s group uncovered a new way in which it regulates the cell cycle. “We identified a new pathway downstream of mTOR that contributes to inactivating the p27 molecule,” she says.

Slingerland describes P27 as a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ molecule. “In its Jekyll form, p27 is a growth inhibitor. In its Hyde form, p27 is out there in the cytoplasm causing cells to become more motile and promoting metastasis.” The Sylvester scientist and physician says “what we found here is a new way, via SGK and mTOR, which causes p27 to go out into the cytoplasm.”

A handful of drug companies are developing mTOR inhibitors, such as RAD-001 (Novartis), and CCI-779 (Wyeth) and efforts to develop drugs that target PI3K and Akt are also underway. This breakthrough discovery indicates that anti-cancer strategies that target both Akt and mTOR or SGK will more effectively impair cancer growth than drugs that target each kinase alone.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Announces New Venue For In The Garden Gala

(Miami, Florida, September 2008) The kick-off event of South Florida’s fall social season – In The Garden Gala that benefits the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center – is set for Saturday, November 1 at a new, fabulous location, the Grand Ballroom at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

The new venue for Sylvester’s bi-annual signature event, In the Garden Gala/IL GIARDINO DI VENEZIA, was announced on Wednesday, September 17th. Elsie Howard, a Sylvester Board of Governor and past recipient of the Caroline W. Halpern Award, announced the November 1st Gala will now take place at the Grand Ballroom of the Miami Beach Convention Center, as the Fontainebleau informed the committee that it would not be operational in time for the Gala. The South Florida community came together to provide options for alternate venues, and the City of Miami Beach Convention Center was selected due to the grandeur of its ballroom and its commitment to the community. For Barton G, party planner extraordinaire, the Ballroom at the Convention Center provides the perfect canvas on which he can render his creativity to create the luscious gardens of Venice. Lily Serviansky, Gala chair was thrilled with Barton’s new renderings for the new venue, and reminds everyone to “re-set their GPS”, “while the location has changed, the cause remains the same—supporting cancer research at South Florida’s only university-based cancer center.

Held every other year, the gala is the signature fundraising event for Sylvester. The In The Garden Gala, attracts nearly 1,000 philanthropic, community, and business leaders from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties and raises more than $1.5 million for cancer research.

A highlight of the gala is the presentation of the Caroline W. Halpern Award. This award is given to an individual or family with a proven record of exceptional generosity through volunteerism in support of Sylvester. The award is named in memory of Caroline W. Halpern, a dedicated supporter of Sylvester, long before her battle with lung cancer. The 2008 Caroline Halpern W. Award will be presented Joan and J. David Sheiner. David is President and Chief Operating Officer of Macy’s Florida and has served on the boards of a wide range of community organizations. Joan, a cancer survivor, chairs Sylvester’s Board of Governors. They have worked tirelessly on behalf of Sylvester. Previous recipients of the award have included Renee and Jay Weiss. Elsie Sterling Howard, and Denny and Paul Feinsilver.

This year’s gala is being chaired by the dynamic leadership of Lily and David Serviansky. Predecessors Fredi and Bob Consolo, Peggy and Michael Silver, Gail Gidney and Elsie Sterling Howard, gala organizers since it’s inception in 1992, will join them for this spectacular evening. They, along with Honorary Grand Gala Chairs, Penny and Roe Stamps, and Honorary Gala Chairs, Calder Race Course, the Havenick Family of The Flagler Dog Track and the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation, promise an elegant Italian garden evening for Sylvester friends and supporters. Also, in attendance will be many of the members of the Young Philanthropists for Sylvester (YPS), an organization founded to continue the legacy of giving as their philanthropic parents, families, and corporations have.

A highlight of the evening, a one-of-a-kind $45,000 Kieselstein-Cord necklace, a unique work of art created exclusively for this year’s IL GIARDINO DI VENEZIA by the jewelry world’s premier artists, International Honorary Chairman, Barry Kieselstein-Cord, to be raffled during the evening. Saks Fifth Avenue - Bal Harbour is sponsoring an exciting “Sakstini Extravaganza,” where 50 guests may purchase a $250 Limoncello Martini and have the opportunity to draw from an exclusive collection of gifts.

The 2008 In The Garden Gala auction will once again feature Sylvester “Wish List” items. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase a variety of research equipment, hospital supplies, and necessary items needed at the cancer center. At the 2006 gala, with the generous support of numerous guests, nearly $25,000 was raised for “Wish List” items.

This year the silent auction, chaired by Joanne Hildebrandt, will be bigger than ever and will include priceless experiences, luxurious trips, jewelry, services, and merchandise from some of the world’s most exclusive retailers, resorts, restaurants, hotels, cruise lines and jewelers. Among the exciting items to bid on will be four VIP tickets to the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Individual tickets are priced from $500. To learn more about underwriting opportunities, sponsorships, or to purchase table and tickets, please call 305-243-9088. 

In The Garden Gala raises funds to support research at Sylvester, which opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. A major expansion has recently been completed. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with nearly 30 physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Contact:

Sonia Gibson and Jennifer Heegaard
Sonia Gibson & Associates
305.777.0217
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M: 305.803.5505               M: 305.458.5003

Rachlin Becomes Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Grand Founder $100,000 Gift

Miami, FL — W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., Sylvester Director, announced today that Rachlin LLP, one of Florida’s largest independent accounting and advisory firms, has become a Grand Founder of Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Miller School of Medicine. Through its foundation, Rachlin will contribute $20,000 each year over the next five years to support the center’s ongoing research initiatives and mission-related activities.

“Sylvester has brought hope and healing to countless individuals in this community and beyond,” said Lawrence H. Blum, Rachlin’s managing partner. “Now, more than ever, as tremendous strides are being made at Sylvester in the fight against cancer, we stand committed to support this institution’s mission to save lives and reduce the human burden of cancer.”

Rachlin has been a long-time supporter of Sylvester. The cancer center is one of the firm’s designated charitable organizations for its planned giving program. In addition, over the years Rachlin has provided pro bono services to the center and sponsored and/or participated in a variety of fundraising events.

“Rachlin is a wonderful partner in the fight against cancer and we are excited about this investment in our cancer center,” said Goodwin. “Rachlin’s commitment will help us move one step closer to our goal of finding a cure for cancer.”

For more than 50 years, Rachlin LLP has offered traditional audit and tax services and a wide range of specialized business advisory services. The firm also offers two nontraditional services: financial staffing, and marketing and design. Rachlin provides these services to public and private-sector clients, including publicly traded companies, closely held businesses, governmental entities, local municipalities and not-for-profit organizations. Rachlin, the only South Florida-based accounting firm with both a foundation and a planned giving program, has more than 200 employees in four locations: Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Orlando.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center opened in 1992 and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion of the Deerfield Beach facility has recently been completed. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with nearly 30 physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 site disease groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Contacts:

Felicia Lopez-Walker
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
305-243-5181 
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Suzanne Leslie
Rachlin Foundation
305-373-7939 x-6640
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UM Miller School of Medicine Professor Elected to Board of Directors

Aaron H. Wolfson, UM/Sylvester Radiation Oncologist, UM/Jackson Cancer Committee Chair, and professor and vice chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Gynecologic Oncology Group. The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), which receives support from the National Institutes of Health, promotes excellence and quality in clinical and basic scientific research in the field of gynecologic malignancies.

“I’m pretty shocked. It’s pretty humbling,” Dr. Wolfson remarked about the honor. “It shows a commitment to the time I’ve put into the GOG and women’s cancer and another way for me to contribute to treating these types of cancers on a national level.”

Dr. Wolfson has indeed put in many years working to find treatments for cervical cancer and he has a long history with the GOG. He has been attending GOG meetings on his own since 1991, when he first arrived in Miami. One year later, Dr. Wolfson was put on the Radiation Oncology Committee, where he still serves. As part of that group, he works to advance quality control, monitoring women who receive radiation.

For seven years, Dr. Wolfson was also part of the Corpus Site Group with the GOG, specifically focusing on cancer of the uterus. Four years ago, he was placed on the GOG’s Membership Committee. His election to the Board of Directors, where he will be one of six to 14 members, is rare, Wolfson said. “I’m humbled because they don’t usually honor radiation oncologists.” Dr. Wolfson was nominated and then approved by most of the 50 full members.

Dr. Wolfson, co-leader of the Gynecologic Cancer Site Disease Group at UM/Sylvester, has been a pioneer in treating cervical cancer. Along with Xiaodong Wu, Ph.D., chief physicist and associate professor of radiation oncology at the Miller School of Medicine, Dr. Wolfson developed a patented medical device for the delivery of low-dose-rate brachytherapy to selected gynecologic cancer patients. This invention has recently been licensed by UM’s Office of Technology Transfer to Bio-Nucleonics Inc. and is now trademarked as the Gynocyte. The device allows physicians to deliver targeted radiation therapy, known as a radiation brachytherapy implant, to these cancer patients with more precision, better response and less discomfort. That device is expected to go into worldwide production and distribution in the next four to six months.

As part of Dr. Wolfson’s election to the Board, he will serve on the Committee on Human Research. The appointment is a four-year term that begins with the first meeting in January 2008.

Dr. Wolfson says his appointment “affirms the commitment to research as well as the evaluation and treatment of women with gynecological cancer” at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “This shows we are national players in this area. Hopefully the word will get out and we will see more patients.”

UM/Sylvester is a “major player in gynecological cancer” and the research that’s going on. Dr. Wolfson has a Phase I clinical study in advanced cancers of the uterus opened at UM/Sylvester right now, along with seeing patients both on the Miami campus and at the Deerfield Beach branch.

Because Dr. Wolfson has dedicated himself to a rare cancer, he’s had to work especially hard to get funding, but he says he has done it because it is his “passion.” This is the “icing on the cake for putting in all this time. I get to further lead the national direction for treating women’s cancer.”

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,600 surgical procedures, and treats 3,400 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 250 clinical trials and receive more than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. This 10,000 square-foot facility at I-95 and S.W. 10th Street offers appointments with physicians from 13 Site Disease Groups, chemotherapy visits, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Medical Communications
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / mobile 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sylvester Researcher Discovers Key Molecule That Triggers Immune Response

Study Published in Nature Could Lead to Treatment of Viral Cancers

Scientists have long been working to uncover the mystery of what sparks the body’s immune system.   Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine have discovered a key component in that puzzle: a new molecule that recognizes a virus infection and initiates the signal to generate an immune system response.  Glen N. Barber, Ph.D., professor of medicine and Eugenia J. Dodson Chair in Cancer Research, and Hiroki Ishikawa, Ph.D., a post-doctoral fellow, have published their findings in the September issue of the prestigious journal Nature.

Barber and Ishikawa have identified a molecule, STING (STimulator of INterferon Genes), which activates the body’s innate immune system by triggering the production of interferon.  In turn, interferon generates antiviral genes, producing an immune response that kills the virus.  “STING plays a very fundamentally important role in the recognition of virus infection,” explains Barber, who was the principal investigator of the two-year study.

Interferon lies dormant in a cell until it recognizes a virus infection.  At that time, it sends a signal to all other cells alerting that there is a virus infection, initiating the immune response to create hundreds of antiviral genes which attack and kill the virus.  “Following a virus infection,” says Barber, “we respond by making interferon.  If you don’t have interferon, you have no antiviral defense.”

Scientists have known that interferon helped stimulate the adaptive immune response, involving T and B cells, but it wasn’t clear how interferon was made.  This research from Barber and Ishikawa – funded by the National Institutes of Health -- identifies the key molecule that initiates the sequence of events necessary to fight an infection.  STING, which lies in the endoplasmic reticulum, activates interferon when it senses a virus.

This discovery turns out to have dual implications for scientists.  There are two types of viruses -- DNA viruses and RNA viruses.  The scientists not only found that the STING molecule recognizes DNA viruses, but they also discovered it was critical in shutting down certain RNA viruses, known as negative strand viruses.  “This makes it twice as important,” says Barber.  “This molecule facilitates the production of interferon and innate immune response in reaction to DNA viruses and certain RNA viruses.”

Four years ago, Barber led another study that was published in Nature which identified a pathway that is activated in response to a viral infection at the very earliest stage.    When a virus infects a cell, it begins a process that generates large amounts of double-stranded RNA.  Those RNA structures produced by viruses require molecules called FADD and RIP to turn on the interferon process.

Barber and Ishikawa are now exploring how this latest discovery will help fight cancer.  With very few exceptions, DNA viruses are the major causes of viral-associated cancers such as many forms of lymphoma, cervical cancer, and the Epstein-Barr virus which creates interferon-resistant tumors.  Scientists believe there are many more cancerous tumors that could be viral.  Barber is now examining whether viruses associated with cancer work to suppress the STING molecule as a way of evading the immune system.  Based on what he has seen so far, “it makes sense.”  From there, scientists must examine what factor in the cancer virus is working to suppress STING.

William J. Harrington Jr., M.D., professor of medicine and co-leader of the Viral Oncology Research Program at Sylvester, calls Barber’s work “a major discovery that provides important information about the mechanisms whereby DNA cancer viruses such as HPV and EBV evade the immune system.”

Barber sees other applications as well.  STING was also activated when it encountered bacteria, indicating that line of attack could be effective in fighting bacterial infections.  “There’s all sorts of very, very exciting things going on,” says Barber.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Expands in Deerfield Beach

Deerfield Beach, FL -- August 21, 2008 – It’s official! The expansion of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Deerfield Beach is now complete, offering a wide array of new services to patients. The official unveiling took place at an evening reception and open house on August 21st, with about 150 people in attendance. Community business leaders joined with local physicians, members of the Deerfield Beach Chamber of Commerce and UHealth leadership.

“Look how far we’ve come,” exclaimed W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of Sylvester, as he welcomed the crowd. Goodwin explained how adding exam rooms, chemotherapy chairs and UHealth imaging services would help treat the growing number of patients in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

In all, the expansion added eight exam rooms and nine chemotherapy chairs, creating a total of 17 and 14 respectively. UHealth, the University of Miami Health System, also opened a full suite of leading-edge imaging services that is available to treat both cancer and non-cancer patients. The new services include advanced 64-slice CT (computed tomography), C-arm (pain management), digital mammography, digital radiography and fluoroscopy, PET/CT, SPECT/CT, state-of-the-art MRI, and ultrasound. Goodwin described it as the “latest technology in a wonderful environment.”

Jayne S. Malfitano, daughter of Harcourt Sylvester, Jr., and vice chair of the Sylvester Board of Governors, acknowledged the daily work of the physicians and staff who see patients each day. “I am so proud to represent the Sylvester Foundation and continue my father’s legacy,” said Malfitano, who also thanked the Pap Corps for its phenomenal support.

Pap Corps president, Tutsie Lipkin pledged to continue the grassroots effort of the group that is now 19,000 members strong. This year alone, the Pap Corps made a record-setting donation to Sylvester of $4.15 million. Still, Lipkin reminded the crowd that there is so much more to do.

People who attended were given a tour of the expanded facility. In addition to the added services, patients are able to get appointments with 30 physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and educational and outreach events.

Deerfield Beach Mayor Albert R. Capellini declared August 21st as USylvester Day, saying the facility and its services are a “great addition to the community.” He wrapped up the event with a pledge that drew rousing applause from everyone. “We’ll support you any way we can as long as you promise to conquer cancer.”

If you missed the event on August 21, two more open houses are scheduled at the Sylvester Deerfield Beach facility. On September 25, 2008 members of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce will be welcomed. And on October 22, 2008, open house will be held for the Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce. Both events kick off at 5 p.m.

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion has recently been completed. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with nearly 30 physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Aligns with Stand Up 2 Cancer-National Effort to Fight Cancer

The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is joining the national network event, Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), to help raise funds for cancer research, benefitting patients in South Florida and throughout the nation. SU2C is uniting CBS, ABC and NBC in an unprecedented television event on September 5th, 2008. That evening, all three major networks will simulcast one hour of prime time television featuring more than 50 of the biggest names in TV, film, sports and music, all gathered to help raise funds to fight cancer.

As part of the focused effort to support SU2C, Sylvester will be calling to action its alliance of thousands of committed volunteers and donors to spread the word about SU2C by asking them to host viewing parties across South Florida. On September 5th, volunteers and donors will watch the special broadcast and engage neighbors and friends to make a show of support to SU2C and Sylvester. By mobilizing this already established and mighty coalition of supporters behind this effort, Sylvester will harness the energy of SU2C to introduce many more people to the world of cancer philanthropy, while also helping to channel that energy and donations toward the most critical need, cancer research. By uniting to support the region’s only university-based cancer center, everyone involved in this special evening can stand with Sylvester as we all Stand Up To Cancer!

The more than 200 physicians and scientists that make up Sylvester are also ready to jump into this national effort. On the front lines in the war on cancer, they are prepared to spread the word about the latest treatments and research that are breaking new ground and offering new hope to patients everywhere. Researchers here at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed an approved treatment for advanced cervical cancer, are conducting clinical trials using a breakthrough lung cancer vaccine, and are making noteworthy strides in viral immunology. From developing vaccines and viruses in labs here on campus, to utilizing the most advanced and aggressive targeted therapies already available, Sylvester is always advancing in the war on cancer. Right now, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants.

The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center strives to be an internationally recognized leader in multidisciplinary cancer research, education and patient care. Opening in 1992, Sylvester has become the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and is the only academic medical center for a region of nearly 6 million people. On an annual basis, Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats 3,800 new cancer patients.

For more information about Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), go to http://www.standup2cancer.org/.  To get more details about hosting a viewing party that supports SU2C and the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, log onto http://sylvester.org/how_to/SU2C_invite.asp.

About Sylvester Comp. Cancer Center

The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 

UM/Sylvester Physician-Researchers Find Many Community Hospitals May Be Under Treating Breast Cancer

Community hospitals may under treat patients with advanced breast cancer known as infiltrating ductal carcinoma, according to a study led by two researchers at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Leonidas G. Koniaris, M.D., associate professor of surgical oncology, and Judith Hurley, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine and member of the Breast Cancer Site Disease Group published their findings in the August issue of the Annals of Surgery.

The study looked at all hospitals in Florida, identifying more than 28,000 cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma over six years. In analyzing those cases, Koniaris, Hurley and four other researchers found that community hospitals were less likely to provide patients with important life-extending therapies such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy compared to teaching hospitals.

These differences in treatment resulted in significant differences in survival for patients with more advanced breast cancers. “In advanced cases, those other therapies become critical in maximizing the cure for that patient,” says Koniaris.

This study found that many community hospitals are failing to give all the available treatments that teaching hospitals provide. The disparity in outcome is particularly evident in cases of advanced cancer. Both breast-conserving surgery and multimodality therapy were most frequently administered at teaching hospitals. Hurley points out that physicians “see higher risk patients in a university hospital, more young women, more poor women and harder to treat tumors. We are used to bringing the entire arsenal to bear on our patients’ care.”

Koniaris hopes the study leads to change. “Community hospitals that are treating women with breast cancer need to implement ways to make sure patients don’t fall through cracks in the system,” he said. “They should be provided the options to benefit from all available treatments.” 

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Director, Media Relations
Office of Medical Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Seed-One Ventures Invests in UM Start-up Company to Develop Broad-Based Therapies for Cancer

The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Seed-One Ventures announce the formation of Heat Biologics Inc. to develop two related platform technologies which introduce a novel lung cancer vaccine and asthma therapy, with potential applications in the treatment of a number of other inflammatory diseases.  The two treatments were developed by Eckhard Podack, M.D., Ph.D., Sylvester Distinguished Professor of Medicine and chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

Seed-One Ventures forms new companies based on cutting-edge technologies and breakthrough medical therapies.

This collaboration is the work of UM Innovation, the University of Miami’s home of technology advancement which develops university-generated treatments or devices, and works with businesses to take that technology into the marketplace.  Under the umbrella of UM Innovation, the Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research produced the lung cancer vaccine, which is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials, and subsequently matched both groundbreaking treatments with Seed-One Ventures.

“Seed-One Ventures evaluates hundreds of technologies every year, and the treatments developed by Dr. Podack are among the best we’ve seen,” said Jeffrey Wolf, managing partner, Seed-One Ventures.  “His approach represents a paradigm shift, a non-traditional view of certain prevailing ideas about immunology. The decision to form Heat Biologics around Dr. Podack’s breakthrough work was an easy one.”

Bart Chernow, MD, vice provost for technology advancement at the Miller School, indicated how pleased he was that Mr. Wolf and his colleagues at Heat Biologics would be helping in the research and development of this important therapeutic approach.  “The formation of this spin off company will hopefully enable Dr. Podack’s discovery to reach its full potential, and if it is found to be safe and efficacious, it will help many people suffering from lung cancer.”

Dr. Podack’s novel lung cancer vaccine, gp-96, was developed to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for 85 percent of all lung cancers.  For NSCLC patients, surgery and chemotherapy are often the only options, so this treatment will fill a substantial need.

While conventional vaccines are used to prevent infectious diseases, Dr. Podack’s treatment is meant to stimulate the immune system to fight the disease once it is diagnosed.  The body’s immune system does not recognize NSCLC as dangerous, so it does not attack those cells.  To trigger the immune system, Dr. Podack began working with gp-96, a heat shock protein.  Normally, this heat shock protein remains in the cell and is protected from the immune system.  Dr. Podack genetically engineered a NSCLC cell to secrete this protein, which “induces tumor-antigen specific cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells,” he explains.

This is where the second of the two complementary technologies comes into play.  Vaccines against cancer have been limited in effectiveness by regulatory T cells, which block the immune response system.  Dr. Podack has developed tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) 25 agonists and antagonists, which can be used to benefit patients in two ways.  TNFR25 agonists have the ability to block the production of regulatory T cells, allowing the immune system to work uninhibited.  By applying this therapy in conjunction with the gp-96 vaccine, the anti-tumor treatment can be much more effective.  Dr. Podack notes that it is five to ten times more effective in mice.  He sees a lot of hope with this new therapy.  “The gp96-vaccine in combination with TNFR25 agonists offers the best hope to conquer cancer and other intractable diseases.”

TNFR25 antagonists offer hope to those with asthma and other inflammatory diseases.  As the opposite of TNFR25 agonists, this antibody works as an anti-inflammatory agent, easing the symptoms of asthma and several other auto-immune diseases.

Heat Biologics and the University of Miami are currently enrolling patients in a Phase I clinical trial of gp-96, under the direction of Luis E. Raez, M.D., associate professor of medicine and co-leader of the Lung Cancer Site Disease Group at UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.  A Phase I trial is meant to determine the safety of a treatment.  Dr. Podack believes this vaccine could get a fast track for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because there are so few effective treatments for NSCLC.  A fast-track designation would mean a six-month review following a Phase III trial involving hundreds of patients.

Heat Biologics is one of several cutting-edge healthcare technology and biotechnology companies founded in Florida by Seed-One in recent years, making it one of the region’s more active seed-stage venture firms. Seed-One builds its portfolio companies from the ground up and actively manages each. Mr. Wolf will serve as CEO of Heat Biologics and oversee the development and commercialization of the company’s platform technologies.

#     #     #

July 25, 2008

About UM Innovation

UM Innovation is the home of technology advancement at the University of Miami and serves to nurture and integrate UM’s vibrant and comprehensive research initiatives. UM Innovation incorporates the Office of Technology Transfer, the Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research and the new Life Science Park and serves as a bridge between faculty scientists seeking to commercially transfer their research efforts and corporate entities interested in accessing and advancing innovative technologies.

About Seed-One Ventures

Seed-One Ventures, LLC, is focused on forming new companies from the ground up based upon breakthrough technologies with significant commercial applications. Seed-One actively manages each new venture it creates.   Seed-One’s target areas for new venture creation include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, information systems, and hardware and software technologies.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Worley
Office of Medical Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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Seed-One Ventures
Liz Roop
NPC Creative Services
813-960-5092 ext. 757
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UM/Sylvester Provides Free Skin Cancer Screenings at Marlins Sun Safety Day

Miami, FL – July 23, 2008 – Today, the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the City of Miami, and the Florida Marlin’s celebrated Sun Safety Day at the new Grapeland Water Park.

UM/Sylvester offered free skin cancer screenings to adults while Billy the Marlin and the Marlins Mermaids passed out free sunscreen, towels, and hats. Elizabeth Alvarez Connelly, M.D., assistant professor of the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery and co-director, the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, led several dermatology residents in facilitating and conducting more than 80 skin cancer screenings while also providing educational presentations with the Florida Marlins. The Marlins Manatees joined in on the fun by challenging kids to a friendly cannonball competition.

The City of Miami’s Mayor Manny Diaz, along with commissioners Angel Sanchez and Angel Gonzalez saluted the Florida Marlin’s efforts in raising awareness about skin cancer to the community.

During the Sun Safety Day event, parents and children were given tips on how to protect themselves from the sizzling sun and early detection methods.

Please visit www.sylvester.org and view the photo gallery for this event.

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties.  A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms.  Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Announces the 2008 In The Garden Gala,

(Miami, Florida, July 2008) - The kick-off event of South Florida’s fall social season – In The Garden Gala that benefits the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center – is set for Saturday, November 1 in the Grand Ballroom at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Held every other year, the gala is the signature fundraising event for Sylvester, South Florida’s only university-based cancer center.

The 2008 In The Garden Gala, themed IL GIARDINO DI VENEZIA, attracts nearly 1,000 philanthropic, community, and business leaders from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties and raises more than $1 million for cancer research.

A highlight of the gala is the presentation of the Caroline W. Halpern Award. This award is given to an individual or family with a proven record of exceptional generosity through volunteerism in support of Sylvester. The award is named in memory of Caroline W. Halpern, a dedicated supporter of Sylvester, long before her battle with lung cancer. The 2008 Caroline Halpern W. Award will be presented to community leaders Joan and J. David Scheiner. David is President and Chief Operating Officer of Macy’s Florida and has served on the boards of a wide range of community organizations. Joan, a cancer survivor, chairs Sylvester’s Board of Governors. They have worked tirelessly on behalf of Sylvester. Previous recipients of the award have included Renee and Jay Weiss. Elsie Sterling Howard, and Denny and Paul Feinsilver.

This year’s gala is being chaired by the dynamic leadership of Lily and David Serviansky. Predecessors Fredi and Bob Consolo, Peggy and Michael Silver, Gail Gidney and Elsie Sterling Howard, gala organizers since it’s inception in 1992, will join them for this spectacular evening. They, along with Honorary Grand Gala Chairs, Penny and Roe Stamps, and Honorary Gala Chairs, Calder Race Course, the Havenick Family of The Flagler Dog Track and the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation, promise an elegant Italian garden evening for Sylvester friends and supporters. Also, in attendance will be many of the members of the Young Philanthropists for Sylvester (YPS), an organization founded to continue the legacy of giving as their philanthropic parents, families, and corporations have.

Barton G, party planner extraordinaire, is transporting this year’s guests to IL GIARDINO DI VENEZIA (the Gardens of Venice), to enjoy an elegant gourmet dinner as they dance to the music of The Ruby Baker orchestra.

A highlight of the evening, a one-of-a-kind $45,000 Kieselstein-Cord necklace, a unique work of art created exclusively for this year’s IL DIARDINO DI VENZIA by the jewelry world’s premier artists, International Honorary Chairman, Barry Kieselstein-Cord, to be raffled during the evening. Saks Fifth Avenue - Bal Harbour is sponsoring an exciting “Sakstini Extravaganza,” where 50 guests may purchase a $250 Limoncello Martini and have the opportunity to draw from an exclusive collection of gifts.

The 2008 In The Garden Gala auction will once again feature Sylvester “Wish List” items. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase a variety of research equipment, hospital supplies, and necessary items needed at the cancer center. At the 2006 gala, with the generous support of numerous guests, nearly $25,000 was raised for “Wish List” items.

This year the silent auction, chaired by Joanne Hildebrandt, will be bigger than ever and will include priceless experiences, luxurious trips, jewelry, services, and merchandise from some of the world’s most exclusive retailers, resorts, restaurants, hotels, cruise lines and jewelers. Among the exciting items to bid on will be four VIP tickets to the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and two VIP tickets to the upcoming Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to be held this fall at The Fontainebleau Resort.

Individual tickets are priced from $500. To learn more about underwriting opportunities, sponsorships, or to purchase table and tickets, please call 305-243-9088.

In The Garden Gala raises funds to support research at Sylvester, which opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. A major expansion has recently been completed. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with nearly 30 physicians from 12 of Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Contact:

Sonia Gibson and Jennifer Heegaard
Sonia Gibson & Associates
305.777.0217
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M: 305.803.5505

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M: 305.458.5003

UM Hires Top Physician-Scientist to Lead Stem Cell Transplant Program

Miami, FL – July 3, 2008 -- The University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine has hired a top-tier, innovative physician and researcher from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center to lead the adult stem cell transplant program at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Krishna Komanduri, M.D., will be the director of the UM/Sylvester Stem Cell Transplantation Program and associate director of translational research at the Miami Transplant Institute at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

At M.D. Anderson’s Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Dr. Komanduri was a physician-scientist who cared for stem cell transplant recipients and performed research in human T cell immunology. His research focus is in immune reconstitution after stem cell transplantation and human T-cell immunity to pathogenic viruses and fungi, and in characterizing how subsets of T cells may mediate post-transplant complications. Dr. Komanduri’s lab was among the first to apply novel techniques in functional immune assessment by flow cytometry to study virus-specific T-cells and those capable of recognizing foreign tissues.

“My plan,” says Dr. Komanduri “is to build a leading clinical program in stem cell transplantation.” He then intends to set his sights on creating a transplant research program that “advances the state of the art of stem cell transplantation, making the program among the best in the nation.”

The stem cell transplant program is “truly at the intersection of research and treatment,” says W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of UM/Sylvester. “There is no better example of our UM/Sylvester motto --- that research cures cancer.” Dr. Goodwin emphasizes that “Dr. Komanduri is an exceptional physician scientist and exactly the right person to lead this program in the future.”

For patients with high-risk or relapsed multiple myeloma, lymphoma and many subsets of leukemia, stem cell transplantation, performed by infusing donor grafts containing both stem cells and T cells following the administration of chemotherapy to the recipient with cancer, remains the standard of care. While stem cell transplantation offers the best chance of cure for these patients, scientific challenges remain. Stem cell grafts obtained from either the peripheral blood or marrow contains T cells, which normally play a key role in protecting healthy individuals and cancer patients from infections. T cells contained in donor stem cell products may also attack residual cancer cells, performing a critical function in maintaining remissions in stem cell transplant recipients.

However, the benefits may stop there for some patients. Those same T-cells that have helped rebuild the stem cell transplant patient’s immunity and attack the residual cancer may also turn on healthy tissue in the recipient. That phenomenon, called graft vs. host disease, is a primary area of interest for Dr. Komanduri.

Work in his laboratory is aimed at trying to understand how various components of the immune system work together. The goal is to coax the T cells into maintaining their beneficial immunologic functions, without attacking the host. By engineering stem cell grafts to contain an optimal combination of blood-forming stem cells and subsets of T cells with desired properties, stem cell transplantation would become safer and more effective, and be available to a wider range of patients, including those who currently lack sufficiently matched donors to allow them to be safely transplanted. Ian K. McNiece, Ph.D., director of experimental and clinical therapies in the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the Miller School, says he is “very excited about the potential of working with Dr. Komanduri to build our bone marrow transplant program into a world renowned program.” His arrival will open up new opportunities for cellular therapies at UM, adds Dr. McNiece, and “offer cutting edge treatment to our patients.”

Joseph Rosenblatt, M.D., associate director of clinical and translational research at UM/Sylvester, says Dr. Komanduri was the cancer center’s first choice for the position, following a national search. “He has been a pioneer,” says Dr. Rosenblatt in describing Dr. Komanduri’s work with T-cell reconstitution. Dr. Rosenblatt says Dr. Komanduri is “a nationally recognized academic and clinical leader, an individual of distinction who will be able to develop a nationally prominent program which will integrate novel science with expanded clinical indications.”

Dr. Komanduri’s hope is that the work done to better understand the relationship between T cells and the host will then also help physicians better manage organ transplant rejection. Andreas G. Tzakis, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Miami Transplant Institute, says increased research has led to a convergence of applications between bone marrow and solid organ transplantation. He believes the addition of Dr. Komanduri will not only “elevate the Stem Cell Transplantation Program to one of the best in the world,” but also create protocols that will “allow our patients to reduce their reliance on immunosuppressive drugs following solid transplants, such as heart, lung, liver or pancreas transplantation.”

Robert B. Levy, M.D., professor of microbiology and immunology and medicine at the Miller School, believes Dr. Komanduri brings enormous clinical experience together with research skills in immunology and transplantation that will benefit faculty, students and patients. “Dr. Komanduri is poised to move the University of Miami into the rapidly progressing and exciting arena of allogenic hematopoietic cell transplants at a critical stage in the history of cell transplantation,” says Dr. Levy. He adds that this work will “provide a platform for the development of newly emerging gene and cellular strategies which may be applied for the treatment of a broad array of diseases.”

Innovative UM Physician Garners Politician’s Praise, Anonymous $1.5 Million Donation

June 23, 2008 – Miami, FL -- Six months after undergoing an innovative cancer treatment Florida State Senator Steven A. Geller (D-Cooper City) returned to the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center last Friday for a checkup and to sing the praises of his surgeon. Raymond J. Leveillee, M.D., chief of the Division of Endourology, Laparoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Miller School, and a member of the Prostate, Bladder and Kidney Site Disease Group at UM/Sylvester, performed a unique procedure to remove the cancerous tumor embedded deep in the Democratic leader’s left kidney.

After the checkup, Geller and Leveillee met with newspaper and television journalists to discuss the surgery, which not only eradicated the politician’s tumor but enabled him to avoid chemotherapy and radiation. The two men also revealed that an anonymous philanthropist has made a $1.5 million donation that will enable Leveillee to continue to conduct his surgical research.

“It’s miraculous,” Geller said of Leveillee’s minimally invasive operation, which was performed on an out-patient basis. “With this procedure, I was in and out on a Wednesday and back at work the following Monday!”

Leveillee is one of a handful of U.S. physicians with the expertise to burn away Geller’s malignancy, using a technique known as radio frequency ablation (RFA). RFA involves the insertion of a needle carrying electrical current to burn away cancerous masses. Temperature monitors are used to prevent damage to adjoining, healthy tissue. Dr. Leveillee describes the technique as “a marriage of technology with surgical skills, using the CT scan as an extension of my hands.”

A more conventional procedure would have hospitalized Senator Geller for a week and called for at least a month of recuperation and rehabilitation. A CT scan of Geller’s kidney taken last Friday indicated he remains cancer-free.

The lawmaker shared his experience in the hopes of reminding other South Floridians that the treatments and research at UM/Sylvester make it one of the nation’s premier cancer facilities. “People diagnosed with cancer don’t have to leave to get treatment. This procedure is right here.”

Leveillee said he’ll use the $1.5 million gift to finance additional RFA research. The donation was made prior to Geller’s surgery, and came “from a philanthropic family” whose relative benefited from the same surgical procedure. “They knew I needed start-up funds so I could set up a lab here,” Leveillee said.

State Senator to Detail His Cancer, His Surgeon Receives $1.5 Million Anonymous Gift

In December, Florida Senate Democratic Leader Steven A. Geller (D-Cooper City) underwent a cutting-edge treatment to remove a cancerous tumor embedded deep in his left kidney.

The growth was excised by Raymond J. Leveillee, M.D., chief of the Division of Endourology, Laparoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and member of the Prostate, Bladder and Kidney Site Disease Group at UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, using an innovative procedure.

Dr. Leveillee is one of a handful of U.S. physicians possessing the expertise to burn away the malignancy, using a technique known as radio frequency ablation (RFA). RFA involves the insertion of a needle carrying electrical current to burn away cancerous masses. Temperature monitors are used to prevent damage to adjoining, healthy tissue. Dr. Leveillee describes the technique as “a marriage of technology with surgical skills, using the cat scan as an extension of my hands.”

This minimally-invasive procedure enabled Sen. Geller to have out-patient surgery and return to work in a matter of days, as opposed to a more conventional procedure that would have hospitalized Sen. Geller for a week and called for at least a month of recuperation and rehabilitation. Because of the thorough removal, Sen. Geller has not needed any radiation or chemotherapy.

Sen. Geller, who discovered his tumor last summer during a CT scan for kidney stones, had a regular, six-month follow-up CT scan Friday, June 20, at UM/Sylvester to ensure that he’s still cancer-free. The Senate Democratic Leader is sharing his experience in the hopes of reminding other South Floridians that the most innovative cancer treatments are available here at UM/Sylvester.

Dr. Leveillee’s expertise in using RFA has drawn the attention of an anonymous donor. Sen. Geller disclosed a $1.5 million anonymous gift has been made to Dr. Leveillee by the grateful relatives of another cancer patient successfully treated by the innovative endourologist. Dr. Leveillee plans to use the gift to continue and perfect the application of RFA, to enhance the benefit to more patients.

Media Contact:

Blair Walker
305-243-9929 / 786-402-0073
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Dr. Alan Pollack Takes Helm as New Chairman of Radiation Oncology

Alan Pollack, M.D., Ph.D., has taken the helm as the new chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He will oversee clinical and research teams at UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and serve as chief of service at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Pollack comes to UM from Philadelphia’s Fox Chase Cancer Center, where he was a leading physician/scientist.

Since 2001, Dr. Pollack, a Miller School of Medicine alum, has been the Gerald E. Hanks, M.D. Endowed Chair and chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Fox Chase. He is an internationally renowned expert in prostate and other cancers.

Under Dr. Pollack’s leadership, the Fox Chase radiation oncology program has made significant strides in industry, NIH and donor funding and in performing major clinical trials. A passionate and prolific researcher, Dr. Pollack boosted research programs in his department and was successful at recruiting some of the best researchers and physicians to Fox Chase.

“We are fortunate to have recruited such a distinguished clinician, scientist, and leader,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School. “Dr. Pollack’s return to Miami and the Miller School is one more step in our efforts to provide our patients with the best doctors in the nation and give our medical students access to the innovators in research and health care.”

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., director of UM/Sylvester, joined the Dean in applauding the hiring of Dr. Pollack. “Dr. Pollack brings an unwavering commitment to finding the most effective weapons in the fight against cancer,” Dr. Goodwin said. “He is exactly the right person to lead the transformation of our already excellent radiation oncology team into the finest in the nation, and help take UM/Sylvester to the next level.”

Though his career took him to different parts of the country, Dr. Pollack has had a long association with the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital. He attended the medical school and received his Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology in 1979, and his M.D. in 1987. He completed his internship at Jackson Memorial Hospital, followed by a residency and an assistant professor position at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas.

“The Department of Radiation Oncology has a great foundation of clinicians and physicists,” Dr. Pollack said. “The goal is to build on that and expand the department and bring in the latest technology so we can push the edge and bring the highest level of expertise to cancer patients served by the University of Miami Health System.”

Additionally, Dr. Pollack said he “was struck with the tremendous potential for growth and the resources available to facilitate the use of new technology” at the Miller School.

Dr. Pollack has written and lectured extensively and presented numerous cancer-related scientific papers in the United States and abroad. He officially started at UM on June 9th.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
Medical Communications
305-243-5184 / 305-458-9654
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UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach Hosts Free Lectures with UM/Sylvester Physicians

Deerfield Beach, FL – The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at Deerfield Beach will host, Conversations About Cancer, a community education series focusing on varies cancer and health-related topics. During these classes, UM/Sylvester physicians are presenting information about the latest cancer research findings and answering topic-related questions from attendees. Lectures will be held at the Best Western Deerfield Beach Hotel, located at 1050 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, Florida. A light lunch will be provided.

Saturday, June 14, 2008, 12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – ”Brain Tumor Talks- Medication and Side Effects” by Deborah Heros, M.D., physician leader, Neurological Cancer Site Disease Group at UM/Sylvester, Miller School of Medicine.

Saturday, June 21, 2008, 12 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.- “Fighting Digestive Cancers” by Bach Ardalan, M.D., co-leader, Stomach and Esophageal Site Disease Group at UM/Sylvester, professor of medicine, Miller School of Medicine and Karen Stephenson, A.R.N.P.-B.C., O.C.N., M.B.A., Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Miller School of Medicine.

This program is part of the Conversations About Cancer series, a variety of cancer and health-related educational presentations offered to the community free of charge, at UM/Sylvester.

Reservations are required by calling 1-800-545-2292 by 4 p.m. the day before the event.

Directions to UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach Conversations About Cancer:
Classes are held at the Best Western Deerfield Beach Hotel, located at 1050 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, Florida. Just south of the Broward/Palm Beach County Line. From I-95, exit at S.W. 10th Street (exit #41). Proceed west onto S.W. 10th Street. From S.W. 10th Street, turn south onto Newport Center Drive. Turn left at the first intersection, which is East Newport Center Drive. Turn left at 1050 East Newport Center Drive (first driveway on the left).

UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach is a satellite facility located near the Broward-Palm Beach county line. The facility opened its doors in January 2003 and offers a broad range of cancer-related services, including consultations, second opinions, follow-up visits, and access to clinical trials. It also hosts educational activities and events, and cancer screenings. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with nearly 30 physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 site disease groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and educational and outreach events. In addition, doctors specializing in benign gynecology, hematology, pain medicine, and rheumatology also practice at the satellite facility. The facility also offers Mohs surgical service.

Contact:

Tilicia Johnson,
Coordinator, Community Relations
954-571-0107 (office phone)
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Women’s Cancer Association of UM Announces Annual Donations to Fund Research

Miami FL – May 30, 2008 -- The Women’s Cancer Association of the University of Miami has donated $322,500 to fund six different research projects at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The single highest award, the Madelon Ravlin Memorial Award for $100,000, went to Sean P. Scully, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at UM/Sylvester and Nandor A. Garamszegi, Ph.D., instructor of orthopaedics, to fund their study The Role of Tissue Degradation in Invasion and Metastasis of Osteosarcoma. The donation was made May 8th at the 50th Annual Installation and Grant Distribution Luncheon held this year at the Coral Reef Yacht Club.

“I wish to express how honored we are to be recipients of this year’s award,” said Dr. Scully. The money for Dr. Scully’s research came from fundraising efforts by students at Miami Country Day School, in support of student Harrison Greenberg. Harry, as he’s known, learned he had osteosarcoma, cancer of the bone, when he was 17, last year. As a star lacrosse player and competitive swimmer, Harry made the difficult choice to have his left leg amputated, leaving him with a prosthesis. His teammates dedicated the school’s annual Walk-for-the-Cure event to Harry and raised more than $112,000. Dr. Scully describes him as a “young man of unwavering human spirit.”

Steven E. Lipshultz, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics, was given the Archie & Bill Clot Memorial Award of $50,000 for the study of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia. Another $50,000, the John D. Nolan Award, was given to Julio Barredo, M.D., Toppel Family Professor of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and director of children’s cancer programs at UM/Sylvester, and Guy Leclerc, Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatric hematology, for a study on childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In addition, $50,000 was awarded to Kavitha Ramachandran, Ph.D., post doctoral associate, and Rakesh Singal, M.D., associate professor of medicine, Miller School of Medicine and member of the Prostate, Bladder, and Kidney Cancer Site Disease Group, for their work with DNA in pancreatic cancer. Teresa Zimmers, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Department of Surgery also was awarded $50,000 for her work with a novel agent to inhibit tumor growth. G. Patricia Cantwell, M.D., division chief of pediatric critical care medicine, Department of Pediatrics, was given $22,500 for the WCA Pediatric Bereavement Fund, which helps pediatric cancer patients and their families.

Since its inception in 1959, the Women’s Cancer Association has donated more than $10,000,000 to cancer research at the University of Miami. The WCA remains committed to supporting physicians and scientists who treat both pediatric and adult cancer patients. 

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

UM/Sylvester Elects Rick Morgan as New Friends For Sylvester Chair

Miami FL – May 29, 2008 – Rick Morgan — co-head of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Miami and Aventura offices and member of the firm's Board of Directors — was elected chair of Friends for Sylvester (FFS) at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. As chair, Morgan is charged with leading the Friends for Sylvester Board and nearly 350 members.

Morgan succeeds Jon Alexiou who served as chair of FFS for the last two years. Alexiou is retired as president of Miami-Dade College’s Wolfson campus.

“It’s an honor for me to be part of a group that has the desire to help in any way that we can, and that has incredible amounts of energy, passion and excitement when it comes to the cancer center and raising money to support this important research,” said Morgan.

“My goal as chair is to bring the vision of the cancer center to the community. I believe in making life easier for those suffering with this insidious disease, and Friends for Sylvester can help through a commitment to supporting and growing the facility. I am proud to work with so many gifted, committed professionals and volunteers,” he said.

Joan Scheiner, UM/Sylvester Board of Governors Chair, said, “Rick has a wonderful history of involvement with UM/Sylvester and continues to work tirelessly as an advocate and ambassador for our cancer center. I have no doubt that he'll do a tremendous job in this new role.”

Morgan and his wife Patti became Friends for Sylvester in December 2000. As FFS chair, he will sit on the UM/Sylvester Board of Governors. He served as co-chair of the 2005 inaugural Party in the Park and chair of the 2007 Party in the Park. The bi-annual event featured eleven patients modeling designer fashions as they graced the runway with their world-renowned doctors who escorted them through their treatment. The event raised more than $100,000 for cancer research.

At Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Morgan focuses his practice on a broad spectrum of complex litigation matters involving banking, construction-defect matters, restrictive covenants, fraud and unfair practice actions, and a variety of contract matters. He has litigated a variety of commercial contractual disputes including non-compete agreements, developer disputes and real property disputes.

Morgan also acts as counsel to a number of not-for-profit corporations for which he regularly provides corporate and business counsel as well as representation in connection with any litigation matters. His affiliations include Litigation, Business Law Sections of the American Bar Association, Dade County Bar Association, and the Florida Bar Association.

He earned his J.D., with honors, from St. Thomas University and B.A. degree, with honors, from Pace University. Morgan also attended graduate school at Georgetown University in the School of Foreign Service.

About Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC has more than 550 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing throughout the United States, with multiple offices in Florida, California, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, as well as offices in Delaware, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The firm encourages and supports participation by individual professionals in various community and charitable activities across the nation. Buchanan also provides pro bono legal services on an organized and regular basis.

About Friends for Sylvester

Friends for Sylvester is a group of active, involved community leaders committed to the ongoing search for a cancer cure. Consistent with UM/Sylvester’s mission, Friends for Sylvester strives to sustain the quality of life of those afflicted with cancer. Friends for Sylvester members act as ambassadors for UM/Sylvester and each pledge $10,000 to be paid over a maximum of ten years. Friends for Sylvester began in 1998 and since then has raised more than $3 million for cancer research.

About UM/Sylvester

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Renowned UM Physician Awarded Presidential Citation

Mark S. Soloway, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and physician leader of the Prostate, Bladder, and Kidney Cancers Site Disease Group at UM/Sylvester, has been awarded the Presidential Citation by the American Urological Association. The award was given at the AUA’s annual meeting, held this year in Orlando.

The award is given to individuals who have significantly promoted the treatment of urological diseases over a specified period of time. Each year, the current president of the AUA chooses one or more people who have fit this criterion. This year, the current president of the AUA, Paul F. Schellhammer, M.D., chose Dr. Soloway for his lifelong commitment to education in urologic oncology through case presentation analysis and stimulating moderation of panel discussions. Dr. Schellhammer also noted Dr. Soloway’s work in disseminating best practices to urologists worldwide. Four other physicians from around the nation were also honored for their work.

About 20 years ago, Dr. Soloway established a case-based teaching method at conferences which he describes as “100% interactive.” Dr. Soloway, who has published more than 400 articles in his career, is one of the few presenters who moves directly into the audience to encourage discussions and questions about real patient cases. In 2006, he chaired the international guidelines consensus on bladder cancer co-sponsored by the World Health Organization and the International Society of Urology.

“It’s is a great honor to be recognized by the premier urological association,” says Dr. Soloway. He has presented cases in this interactive method around the globe, speaking in China, Brazil and Japan. This year, Dr. Soloway will be talking about treating urological diseases in Costa Rica, Panama, Israel, Prague, Chile and Argentina. 

About UM/Sylvester:

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
(305) 243-5184
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Sagemont Lower School Holds Skate-a-thon to Raise Money for Cancer Research at UM/Sylvester

Event Held in Memory of Jonathan Laskin

Davie FL - May 13, 2008 - More than three dozen students at Sagemont Lower School in Weston are not old enough to be left alone, but are learning a grown-up lesson in giving back. They held a skate-a-thon fundraiser at Kaboom’s Skating Arcade in Davie on Saturday, May 10th, raising more than $1,800 in donations for the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The event was held in memory of Jonathan Laskin, a cancer patient who died in 2002. Jonathan was just 17 when he lost his battle with ostcogenic sarcoma. After his death, his mother, JoAnn Laskin, established the Jonathan Laskin Fund to support the research efforts of his oncologist, Pasquale Benedetto, M.D., at UM/Sylvester. Laskin has had plenty of help through the years. She is the principal of the Sagemont Lower School and students and the nearby community always pitch in.

This year, two students came up with the idea of roller skating, and wound up raising the most money of any of the events. “It’s really wonderful keeping Jonathan’s legacy alive,” said Laskin. “We are also creating children who will be philanthropic as they grow up.”

Media Contact:

Lisa Worley
University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
(305) 243-5184
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Papanicolaou Corps For Cancer Research Donates Largest Gift Ever!

Miami FL – May 12, 2008 – The 19,000 member Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research today announced its largest, record-breaking gift of $4.15 million to fund cancer research at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, surpassing last year’s donation by $1 million. “We are so pleased to be able to present this gift to UM/Sylvester, especially given the current economy,” said Barbara Pessel, president of the Pap Corps, an all-volunteer fundraising group with members across the tri-county area that has supported cancer research at the University of Miami for 56 years.

Although the economy is slowing down, the Pap Corps membership’s energy and enthusiasm for supporting cancer research has not diminished. The group’s grassroots fundraising efforts are impacting millions – from the scientists and physicians whose work is fueled by their generosity to the South Floridians and others who benefit from the resulting cancer breakthroughs.

Pessel stepped down as president at the annual donor luncheon at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. During her two-year presidency, Pessel’s leadership helped guide the Pap Corps to increase and then reach its six-year, $14 million pledge ahead of schedule. Today’s check not only set a record on its own, but far surpassed the Pap Corps’ original $14 million pledge, making the total six-year gift a generous $18.1 million.

The incoming president is Tutsie Lipkin, who has been the Pap Corps executive vice president and served the Boca West Unit for ten years as executive vice president, fund raising vice president, recording secretary, and liaison to the Pap Corps. “My mission is to continue the phenomenal work that this grassroots organization has been doing for close to 60 years,” she said.

The leadership of the Pap Corps presented a check to UM/Sylvester Director W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., and Board of Governors Chair Joan Scheiner during the luncheon also attended by Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., F.A.C.C., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.

“There are no words to fully express—and convey our appreciation for—the work that you do for UM/Sylvester,” said Goodwin. “Since 2002, National Cancer Institute funding at UM/Sylvester has grown from $9 million to $14.4 million annually. UM/Sylvester now sees 4,000 new cancer patients yearly, and 1,000 are taking part in clinical trials right here in South Florida.” Goodwin added “More than 200 physicians and scientists deliver world-class cancer care and translate research findings from the laboratory to the patient’s bedside. Each day our faculty, staff, and patients feel the impact of Pap Corps’ dollars at work. We are grateful for your devotion and dedication—and your partnership in our shared mission.”

“The Pap Corps’ energy never ceases to amaze me,” added Scheiner. “A gift of this size from a totally volunteer organization is truly remarkable. We and the entire South Florida community are so fortunate and grateful for their continued support of cancer research.”

The ongoing commitment of the Pap Corps has funded critical cancer research that focuses on tumor growth and progression, tumor metabolic pathways, and early clinical trial development. In addition, the Pap Corps’ funding helps recruit some of the world’s top scientists to support the mission of South Florida’s only university-based cancer center.

The members of the Pap Corps are especially proud of the growth in their membership and philanthropy in today’s economic climate. “When I started in this position there were just over 17,000 members; today we have 19,000 members,” said Pessel. “The Pap Corps is made up of an extraordinary group of men and women; their dedication and commitment to this organization is our most powerful tool for success.”

For more information about the Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research please call (954) 425-8100 or visit http://www.papcorps.org.

About UM/Sylvester:
UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contact:

Felicia Lopez-Walker
Marketing & Communications – UM/Sylvester
(305) 243-5181
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

UM/Sylvester Executive Named Chair of National Cancer Development Organization

Miami, FL – May 7, 2008 -- Marilyn Stern Emas, M.Ed., executive director of development at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been named chair of the National Association of NCI-Supported Cancer Centers Development Officers (NACCDO). The organization works in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute’s Public Affairs and Marketing Network (PAN) for the purpose of sharing information and resources among the development, public affairs and marketing programs of cancer centers; enhancing the public understanding of the nation’s cancer-research efforts.

Emas was formally introduced as the chair at NACCDO’s annual conference May 3-6, held this year at the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center in Iowa City. Emas has been on the national steering committee of NACCDO for the last two years, and has chaired the cancer centers benchmarking survey. “NACCDO is the most focused and important organization for academic cancer center development professionals and to be able to lead it and work alongside other cancer center officers is an honor. I don’t think there’s another organization like it,” says Emas. “This is a testament to UM/Sylvester’s reputation and accomplishments among the nation’s top academic cancer center.”

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of the cancer center, says he is very proud of Emas and the team she’s built. Dr. Goodwin describes the work of the development team as “absolutely critical to the cancer center’s mission.” “This national recognition of Marilyn’s leadership and drive shows the work being done at Sylvester is acknowledged by our peers across the nation.”

UM/Sylvester Hosts Annual Cancer Research Competition Featuring MIT Professor Dr. Tyler Jacks

The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center hosted the ninth annual Zubrod Memorial Lecture and Cancer Research Poster Competition on Thursday, May 1. This year’s lecture was presented by Tyler Jacks, Ph.D., the David H. Koch Professor of Biology and the director of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

An investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Dr. Jacks presented “Modeling Cancer in the Mouse” as this year’s guest lecturer. He has pioneered the use of gene targeting technology in the mouse to study cancer-associated genes. Over the last 30 years, Dr. Jacks explained, the focus of cancer research has been in genes and the mouse provides the best possible model for that study for a few reasons. Scientists can manipulate its genome very easily, introduce mutations and control the activity of those mutations. He acknowledged that mice are certainly different from humans but the hope is they will provide useful tools in understanding basic cancer biology and therapy.

“The challenge in studying cancer in humans is no two humans are the same and this same genetic influence that determines how we turn out also influences how tumors turn out.” Mice can be genetically identical, helping scientists maintain consistency when monitoring laboratory results. Dr. Jacks detailed some of the work done in his lab with mice, including the activation of the K-ras oncogene to monitor the role of p53, a protein, in eliminating damaged or pre-cancerous cells.

Dr. Jacks, who is also a Daniel K. Ludwig Scholar in Cancer Research, also talked about using the mouse model to study microRNAs, Working with mice models, researchers have found a specific microRNA acts as a tumor suppressor. Dr. Jacks believes working with microRNAs will open up many new targets, even as a therapy. “One day, I’m quite optimistic, that may work. I think small RNA biology represents a phenomenal new tool against cancer.”

Joyce M. Slingerland, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C), Ph.D., was recognized with this year’s Outstanding Cancer Research Award, which is given to a member of the UM/Sylvester faculty who has initiated groundbreaking research. Dr. Slingerland, who is the director of the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at UM/Sylvester, has focused her research career on how breast cancer cells escape growth control by antiestrogens and inhibitory cytokines. Recently, her lab initiated new clinical trials of molecular targeted therapies to reverse antiestrogen resistance. Last year, she received the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award, which honors physician-scientists with $1.5 million in funding over five years.

In accepting her award for Outstanding Cancer Research, Dr. Slingerland acknowledged the dedication of those who work in her lab and the leadership of Dr. Goodwin, saying “it takes a village to do science well these days.” She also thanked her family, colleagues, and her patients, who she described as “the ones who inspire us and keep us real.” Dr. Slingerland went on tell the audience, “we have the privilege of living in a time when what we do now is going to translate into understanding basic molecular pathways to really curing this disease.”

W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of UM/Sylvester, addressed the more than one hundred people at the presentations, saying it was a day to “celebrate our history and think about our future.” UM/Sylvester’s history is intertwined with Nathaniel I. Berlin, M.D., Ph.D., who died in March at the age of 87. Dr. Berlin was a renowned cancer researcher at the National Institutes of Health before he began the cancer center at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

In 1987, he joined the University of Miami where he became director of what is now the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. With Dr. Berlin’s son, Marc and daughter, Debbie on hand, Dr. Goodwin recounted the broad base of work of the scientist and physician. Dr. Berlin focused on research, early detection and helped establish guidelines for cancer screening that are still in use today. Dr. Goodwin presented the Berlin family with a plaque, saying “Dr. Berlin leaves a hole, but also a tremendous legacy here and at Northwestern University.”

Sean P. Scully, M.D., Ph.D., director of UM/Sylvester’s Office of Education and Training, presented the poster awards in clinical and basic science categories. This year, first prize in the clinical division went to Christopher Gomez, M.D., a 3rd year resident, for his study of hyaluronic acid and hyal1 as independent prognostic indicators for prostate cancer progression. In basic science, first prize was awarded to Yuqi Jing, M.D., a post doctoral fellow for the study titled “A Novel Fully Retargeted Oncolytic Measles Strain via the Urokinase Receptor Against Breast Cancer.”

The annual Zubrod Poster Presentation is a competition in honor of Charles Gordon Zubrod, who spent 25 years at the University of Miami and was a director of what is now UM/Sylvester. Dr. Zubrod created the first of the national cooperative clinical trial groups and developed the National Cancer Institute’s chemotherapy research program, leading him to be called the “father of cancer chemotherapy.”

Each year, at least one of Dr. Zubrod’s five children attends the annual poster presentation. This year, Justin Zubrod visited from Chicago and described what this honor signifies. “It means an awful lot to our family. It gets us together and brings back a lot of fond memories.” The younger Zubrod said it was exciting to see how the award has expanded over the last nine years, and understood those changes were his father’s passion. “This is why he worked in government and academia – just a great funnel of students, researchers and young people coming in. That’s where all the action is.”

About UM / Sylvester
UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contact:

Felicia Lopez-Walker
UM/Sylvester Marketing & Communications
305-243-5181
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

UM/Sylvester Scientist Identifies Proteins Linked to Inflammation and Cancer

Miami, FL – April 30, 2008 -- Edward W. Harhaj, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, co-authored a study that identified a complex set of proteins essential in limiting inflammation that is targeted by a viral protein, which in turn, causes a type of cancer. The study has been published in the journal Nature Immunology.

Dr. Harhaj’s lab has been studying the mechanisms of oncogenesis of the human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I). Specifically, his research has focused on “Tax”, which is an important viral regulatory protein. Tax activates a cellular transcription factor called NF-kB. That activation is tightly controlled and is normally activated transiently in response to inflammatory cytokines, regulatory proteins, produced during an infection with pathogens. However, many cancers, including HTLV-I transformed cells, exhibit persistent NF-kB activation. The reason for that is unclear.

Initially, Dr. Harhaj began looking at the normal function of a cellular Tax interacting protein known as TAX1BP1. He determined that TAX1BP1 was essential in restricting NF-kB activation in response to inflammatory cytokines. Cells that did not have TAX1BP1 demonstrated persistent NF-kB activation.

In this most recent study, Dr. Harhaj and his team expanded those findings by identifying the exact areas of TAX1BP1 that are necessary for its ability to inhibit NF-kB. The scientists found that two small motifs within TAX1BP1 known as ‘PPXY’ were important for its function. TAX1BP1 recruits a specific enzyme via the ‘PPXY’ motifs, in this case, the E3 ligase named ‘Itch’. That enzyme then connects with A20, another enzyme that is a critical regulator of inflammation. The scientists determined that A20 requires the enzymatic action of ‘Itch’, and cannot function without it.

The research showed that cells not containing Itch were unable to stop NF-kB signaling, similar to cells lacking TAX1BP1. The scientists determined that this complex of proteins consisting of TAX1BP1, Itch and A20 are essential in limiting inflammatory signaling pathways and inflammation. The original Tax oncoprotein of human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) somehow targets this trio for inactivation by disrupting the interaction among TAX1BP1, ‘Itch’ and A20. The disruption likely contributes to persistent NF-kB signaling, possibly leading to the development of cancer.

The next phase of Dr. Harhaj’s research will take a closer look at the reasons why A20 requires the ‘Itch’ enzyme and how Tax disrupts this interaction. In addition, it is known that different cancers, including breast cancer, have high levels of A20, and A20 and plays a critical role in the survival of these cells. Future studies will examine the expression of A20, TAX1BP1 and ‘Itch’ in various cancers and determine how these proteins provide a survival advantage for those malignant cells.

UM/Sylvester Scientist Identifies Proteins Linked to Inflammation and Cancer

University of Miami Health System to Host Women’s Health Day

The week of May 11-17 has been designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health as a time when families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve physical and mental health and prevent disease.

In this context, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine is hosting Women’s Health Day on Saturday, May 17 from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the University of Miami Hospital, Seminar Center. The free event will feature a series of interactive sessions led by University of Miami medical school faculty experts. Each session includes a question and answer segment, allowing women to have a dialogue with physicians.

Featured topics include:

• Heart Healthy at Every Age – presented by Dr. Pascal J. Goldschmidt, Senior vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean, University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.
• Preconception Counseling: Preparing for Pregnancy
• Contraceptives: Which is right for you?
• Infertility: What are your options?
• Managing Menopause
• Cancer Prevention & Early Detection
• Skin Care & Plastic Surgery

The event will also feature an informational/interactive session on the da Vinci surgical robot and hospital tours. There will be free onsite parking, continental breakfast, gifts, and door prizes. Admission is free, but participants must register to attend. Space is limited! For more information, call 305-243-1609.
A full schedule of events and online registration will be available beginning April 15 at: www.ob-gyn.med.miami.edu.

Contact:

Jackie Taylor
Tel. 305-585-5131
Cell Phone: 305-586-1023
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

UM/Sylvester Presented Community with the Gift of Well Being

Cancer Center Hosted Inaugural Well Being/Being Well Conference April 22, 2008
Featured Keynote Speakers:
Deepak Chopra, Renowned Mind and Body Authority
Donna Shalala, UM President and Health Care Expert

Miami, FL – April 22, 2008 – UM/Sylvester’s inaugural Well Being/Being Well conference assembled more than 650 participants to become more proactive in their own health care. The event was part of UM/Sylvester’ continuous commitment to provide the community with the resources and tools to lead a healthier life.

Today’s conference brought together some of the best and brightest minds in academic medicine. University of Miami faculty dedicated to advancing scientific discoveries from the laboratory to the clinic and to the community. Nutritionists, nurses, and health educators imparted advice and expertise. Survivors shared perspective and wisdom.

Elsie Sterling Howard, event chair and UM/Sylvester Board of Governors member, thanked the 50 community, business, and philanthropic leaders that came together to plan the conference. More than 20 corporations and individuals endorsed the forum by sponsoring the mission of the event. “The conference was an opportunity to share a wealth of information from more than 32 UM/Sylvester physician-scientist experts. It also showcased the need for integrating mind and body for patients, potential patients, and members of the community, including children, parents, and young adults,” said Howard.

The event celebrated health and wellness and featured keynote presentations by mind-body expert Deepak Chopra as well as University of Miami President and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala

“We invited Dr. Chopra because of his integrative medicine thrust, which UM/Sylvester also believes in, said Joan Scheiner, chair, UM/Sylvester Board of Governors and a cancer survivor herself. “This event was UM/Sylvester’s gift to the community. The conference brought resources to the community on living and coping with cancer, as well as how to prevent it.”

Participants selected among a myriad of topics that included: Surviving Cancer – The Positive Side, which looked at living life to the fullest, even with a cancer diagnosis, and how to develop strong support systems; Creating Your Personal Life Plan, demonstrated how to create a life plan using integrated medical approaches; and How to Feel Better: Mind Over Matter talked about the science behind the mind body connection.

The conference also provided a unique opportunity and in-depth look at maintaining a healthy lifestyle and dispelling myths about cancer and other ailments. UM/Sylvester Director, W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., presented a session titled “Can Cancer Be Prevented?”, which focused on how lifestyle changes can make a difference.

Attendees had direct access to all the resources UM/Sylvester has to offer, including the latest statistics, information on breakthrough research, and updates on how to fight the disease. Each person was given a binder featuring a family health record where they could trace back diseases in their family, details on each session, including room for personal notations. In that way, this one-day conference becomes a reference tool for attendees to refer to as they take a healthier approach to their own lives from this day forward.

About Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind and body, Deepak Chopra, M.D., continues to transform people’s understanding of the meaning of health. Through his creation of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California in 1995, Dr. Chopra established a formal vehicle for the expansion of his healing approach using the integration of the best of western medicine with natural healing traditions of the East. He has authored over forty-two books and a series of media programs for healing the mind, body and spirit, which have been translated into thirty-five languages and have sold over twenty million copies worldwide.

About UM / Sylvester

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Worley
UM Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Felicia Lopez-Walker
UM/Sylvester Marketing & Communications
305-243-5181
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Miller School Launches UHealth – the University of Miami Health System, a New Name for Quality,

With celebratory events at the Miller School of Medicine and the University of Miami Hospital, UM officially launched the University of Miami Health System, also known as UHealth, the new name covering South Florida’s only comprehensive network of university-based medical entities and a national brand that signifies the best in modern health care.

Today’s launch event at the University of Miami Hospital, and Tuesday’s at the Miller School, were held to officially introduce the UHealth brand to physicians and staff of the entire Health System. The 560-bed, all private-rooms hospital, acquired by the University in December, is the cornerstone of UHealth, the umbrella that also covers two other university hospitals, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute; three major affiliated institutions, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Holtz Children’s Hospital and Miami VA Medical Center; as well as more than two dozen outpatient facilities.

“UHealth represents a new era in medical care for the citizens of South Florida, integrating an academic health delivery system that combines world-class clinical research, outstanding physicians and hospital services under one roof,” said William O’Neill, M.D., executive dean for clinical affairs who took time out to greet attendees at Monday’s event. “This is a major boost for health care in the community.”

Michele Chulick, associate vice president and director of hospital operations, who was on hand for today’s event, says UHealth is “the launch of an incredible opportunity.”

“It’s really a consolidation of superior health care services from outstanding providers in South Florida,” said Chulick. “We’re bringing all the incredible services University of Miami physicians can offer under one brand.”

At both events, hundreds of Miller School and UMH physicians, staff and medical students streamed through the “Welcome to UHealth Centers,” a tent pitched on the Schoninger Research Quadrangle at the medical school, and the hospital’s seminar center. The events featured food and gifts -- T-shirts adorned with the UHealth logo for all employees.

The UHealth logo – emblazoned on the T-shirts, printed on posters and brochures, and shown on screen in a promotional video that premiered at the initial event – is composed of the ubiquitous orange and green “U” that has long represented the high standards of the University of Miami. The tagline, “There is only one U,” also appears on printed material and in the UHealth video, which features Miller School Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., and several physicians and staff of the Health System.

Employees said they were elated about the launch of UHealth and the path it has prescribed for the Miller School to play an even greater role in the region’s health care.

“UHealth is a terrific innovation and it’s in keeping with the mission of the University of Miami to always be forward-thinking and on the cutting edge of new ways to extend excellent heath care to more people,” said researcher Deborah Jones, Ph.D., who attended the launch event with several of her Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences colleagues. “This is designed to allow more people to access health care from the University. This is a big, important step for UM.”

Janet George, a food services division employee at UMH, was all smiles as she posed for photos with colleagues in the seminar center. George is one of “the faces of UHealth,” staff and physicians who, along with Dean Goldschmidt, appear on UHealth promotional materials.

“I consider this a privilege,” George said. “The plan for UHealth is outstanding and I am glad to be part of it.”

Well Being/Being Well Sponsors Set Standard of Community Excellence

Macy’s
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra LLP
BNY Mellon
MetroBank
Deutsche Bank
The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald

FIRST SPONSORS OF UM/SYLVESTER’S
WELL BEING/BEING WELL INAUGURAL CONFERENCE MAKE A HEALTHY COMMITMENT

Miami, Fla. -- (March 22, 2008) – The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center announced today Macy’s, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLP, BNY Mellon, MetroBank, Deutsche Bank, and The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald have taken a lead in supporting its upcoming Well Being/Being Well conference; setting a standard of commitment in giving the community access to information about maintaining lifelong good health. Featuring renowned mind and body expert Deepak Chopra and Donna Shalala, University of Miami President, as keynote speakers, the Well Being/Being Well conference will be held on April 22, 2008 at the Hotel InterContinental Miami.

Recognized as a leader in cancer information and research, UM/Sylvester treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients every year and has served as the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service for over 30 years, providing the most reliable cancer information available to the public. Dedicated to delivering life-changing science from the laboratory to the clinic, and from the clinic directly to the community, the cancer center has put together this one-of-a-kind event that takes an innovative, educational approach to help individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The one-day conference will feature 14 breakout sessions and 32 presenters to discuss topics such as genetics, cancer prevention, clinical trials, coping with cancer, as well as pathways to plotting your own course of treatment, the power of mind over matter, and survival, among others. Attendees will have direct access to all the resources UM/Sylvester has to offer, including latest statistics, information on breakthrough research, and updates on how to fight the disease.

For Rick Morgan, co-head of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Miami office and longtime board member of UM/Sylvester’s Friends for Sylvester said that the firm decided to sponsor the event because of its importance to the community. “Giving back to the local community is a fundamental mission of our firm, and being able to support an event that tangibly provides a service like this is a proud moment for all of us."

For Macy’s it is extremely important to support events that provide individuals with access to much-needed information on how to achieve and sustain their wellbeing,” said J. David Scheiner, Macy’s Florida President and Chief Operating Officer. “Just like UM/Sylvester, we’re committed to empowering our community and it is through events such as the Well Being/Being Well conference that we hope to have a continuous positive impact in the lives of our customers.”

Jennifer Stearns Buttrick, of counsel at Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A. added: “We are dedicated to supporting initiatives that can serve as the catalyst for positive change in our community. By sponsoring events like the Well Being/Being Well conference we ensure that the avenues to much-needed information about health and well-being are accessible to individuals who seek an improved, healthier life.”

“By creating and hosting this unique event, UM/Sylvester aims to arm the community with an ‘arsenal’ of information about living with and surviving cancer; as well as inspire individuals to take the right steps towards achieving a healthier, more productive life,” said Elsie Howard, Event Chair, UM/Sylvester.

The Well Being/ Being Well conference is open to the public and is expecting more than 800 attendees. There are a limited number of slots for sponsors. Any company with an interest in gaining exposure to a unique South Florida target audience should consider this exciting conference, while space is available. Registration is open and tickets are available for $100 per person. For more information, please contact UM/Sylvester at (305) 243-9949 or visit www.sylvester.org/wellbeing

Other sponsors who have signed on include:

Parigi Group Ltd.
Lewis B. Freeman Forensic Accounting and Real Estate Group
Elemis Spa at Loews Miami Beach Hotel and the Village of Merrick Park
Sheseido
IBC, Innovative Benefits Consulting
Barbara White Foundation
Leo A Daly
Chanin and Adam Carlin
Sandra and Tom Levinson
The Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation
A grateful patient

Well Being/Being Well Committee:

Joan Scheiner Chair, UM/Sylvester Board of Governors
Elsie Sterling Howard, Chair

Rhonda Barnett
Mark Brooks
Liz Brown
Jennifer Stearns Buttrick
Lisa Carreno
Fredi Consolo
Amy Dean
Jennifer Elegant
Nelly Farra
Denny Feinsilver
Nancy Frehling
Sonia Gibson
Gail Gidney
Ruth Hamilton
Jennifer Heegaard
JoAnn Hildebrandt
Sandra & Tom Levinson
Schatzi Kassal
Susan Luck, R.N.
Jayne Malfitano
Grisette Marcos
Barbara Pessel
Gina Phillips
Marilyn Reitman
Alan Rosenthal
Lynn Schnitzer
Roni Seiderman
Lily Serviansky
Pete Sibley
Peggy Silver
Deborah Slack
Jil Sneider
Rachael Spear
Vivian Urbieta
Alex Villoch
Diane Walker, M.D.
Norma Kipnis Wilson
Sereda White
Barbara Woolverton
Allan Zwerner

About Deepak Chopra:

Acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind and body, Deepak Chopra, M.D., continues to transform people's understanding of the meaning of health. Through his creation of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California in 1995, Dr. Chopra established a formal vehicle for the expansion of his healing approach using the integration of the best of western medicine with natural healing traditions of the East. He has authored over forty-two books and a series of media programs for healing the mind, body and spirit, which have been translated into thirty-five languages and have sold over twenty million copies worldwide.

About UM/Sylvester:

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Worley
UM/Sylvester Media Relations
305-243-5184

Felicia Lopez-Walker
UM/Sylvester Marketing & Communications
305-243-5181

Well Being/Being Well Inaugural Conference Opens Registration

Featuring: Deepak Chopra, renowned mind and body expert
Donna E. Shalala, University of Miami President and national health care expert
Event will be held Tuesday, April 22 at the Miami InterContinental Hotel

Miami, Fla. -- (March 4, 2008) -- The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center announced today that it opened online registration for the Well Being/Being Well conference; setting a standard of commitment in giving the community access to information about maintaining lifelong good health. Featuring renowned mind and body expert Deepak Chopra and Donna Shalala, President of University of Miami, as keynote speakers, the Well Being/Being Well conference will be held on April 22, 2008 at the Hotel InterContinental Miami.

Globally recognized as a leader in cancer information and research, UM/Sylvester treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients every year and has been home to the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service (CIS) for over 30 years. The CIS is a leader in providing the latest, most accurate cancer information available to the public. Dedicated to delivering life-changing science from the laboratory to the clinic, and from the clinic directly to the community, UM/Sylvester has put together this one-of-a-kind event that takes an innovative, educational approach to help individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The one-day conference will feature several breakout sessions on specific topics, including: genetics, cancer prevention, clinical trials, coping with cancer, as well as pathways to plotting your own course of treatment, the power of mind over matter, and survival, among others. Attendees will have direct access to all the resources UM/Sylvester has to offer, including latest statistics, information on breakthrough research, and recent updates on how to fight the disease.

“By creating and hosting this unique event, UM/Sylvester aims to arm the community with an ‘arsenal’ of information about living with and surviving cancer; as well as inspire individuals to take the right steps towards achieving a healthier, more productive life,” said Elsie Howard, Event Chair, UM/Sylvester.

The Well Being/ Being Well conference is open to the public, and is actively exploring engagement with sponsors. Any company with an interest in gaining exposure to a unique South Florida target audience should consider this exciting conference. Registration is open and tickets are available for $100 per person. For more information, please contact UM/Sylvester at (305) 243-9949 or www.sylvester.org/wellbeing/.

About Deepak Chopra:

Acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind and body, Deepak Chopra, continues to transform people's understanding of the meaning of health. Through his creation of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California in 1995, Dr. Chopra established a formal vehicle for the expansion of his healing approach using the integration of the best of western medicine with natural healing traditions of the East. He has authored over forty-two books and a series of media programs for healing the mind, body and spirit, which have been translated into thirty-five languages and have sold over twenty million copies worldwide.

About Donna Shalala:

Donna E. Shalala became Professor of Political Science and President of the University of Miami in 2001. She has more than 25 years of experience as an accomplished scholar, teacher, and administrator. In 1993 President Clinton appointed her U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services where she served for eight years. As HHS Secretary, she directed the welfare reform process, made health insurance available to an estimated 3.3 million children through the approval of all State Children’s Health Insurance Programs. President Shalala has more than three dozen honorary degrees and a host of other honors.

About UM/Sylvester:

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media Contacts:

Lisa Worley
UM/Sylvester Media Relations
305-243-5184

Felicia Lopez-Walker
UM/Sylvester Marketing & Communications
305-243-5181

Recognized Leader in Oncology Administration Joining UM and Sylvester

Marc Halman, M.S.W., is joining the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine as the director of business development for the Department of Medicine and director of cancer network development for University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. His responsibilities will include working closely with all of the divisions of medicine, while also expanding UM’s expertise to more South Florida patients.

Halman, a recognized leader in oncology administration, is leaving the University of Michigan Medical School after 32 years. Serving in dual capacities is nothing new for him. Most recently, Halman has been the chief department administrator in the Department of Radiation Oncology as well as the administrative director of the University of Michigan’s Cancer Center Network. Halman is credited with building a program that enables cancer patients statewide to receive university-based care in their home community.

Halman is described as “one of the most respected oncology administrators in the nation,” by W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., director of UM/Sylvester. Dr. Goodwin says Halman will help Sylvester , “link with groups of physicians in the region to continue to elevate the level of cancer care in South Florida.”
Coming to the University of Miami begins an exciting new chapter for Halman, who says “the opportunities here are terrific. The Miller School and Sylvester are in the middle of major growth and I’m excited to be part of that to help insure that patients get the highest quality care possible.”

“Marc is a great addition to our leadership group,” said Marc E. Lippman, M.D., chairman of the Department of Medicine. “His amazing experience in building networks and professional relationships together with his appreciation of our core academic missions will add greatly to the economic and academic aspects of our medical school.”
Halman has been active nationally serving on committees and boards of the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the Society for Chairs of Radiation Oncology Programs (SCAROP).

“South Florida’s diverse community provides a great challenge and enormous potential,” said Halman. “It’s important for universities to work with community providers to get university-based clinical trials to patients all over, meaning all of South Florida.”

Working outside normal boundaries is nothing new to Halman. He has worked extensively with hospitals in Israel developing training programs for radiation oncologists. He has also been a consultant to more than 50 academic medical centers in this country and abroad primarily focusing on cancer program development.
“Being able to harness the resources and reputation of the University of Miami and the Sylvester Cancer Center at once was an opportunity I could not pass up,” said Halman. He starts his new position in March 2008.

Halman’s wife, Jill Halman, Ph.D., is joining UM/Sylvester as an epidemiologist, where she will develop the evidence-based medicine program.

Pap Corps Hosts Eighth Annual Walkathon/Health Fair – March 29

Deerfield Beach, FL (February 19, 2008) – The Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research will hold its eighth annual Walkathon and Health Fair on Saturday, March 29, 2008, at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, 1192 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, beginning at 8:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m.

The organization hopes that this event will help meet and exceed its pledge to raise $14 million over a six-year period ending in June 2008. All monies raised fund vital cancer research at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Participants will enjoy a brisk walk through Newport Center, where UM/Sylvester is located, attend a health fair, and support cancer research – all in one day. Approximately 3,000 walkers…Pap Corps members, friends, and supporters from Jupiter to Miami are expected to participate.

The entrance fee is $15 and includes light refreshments, water, and a T-shirt. The event is open to members and non-members of the Pap Corps. Sponsors include Bank Atlantic, Dory Slossberg Foundation, Dunkin Donuts, Protex International, Pyra Promotions, Restaurant de Italia, Ruthann and David Beckerman, Salon de Soleil, The Seiff Family, UM/Sylvester, Vista Food Exchange, White Hall Nursing Homes of Boca Raton, and 101.5 Lite FM.

The free health fair is sponsored by UM/Sylvester and begins at 9 a.m. Health screenings will include blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, oxygen saturation, prostate, and skin cancer screenings. There will also be health informational booths on cancer prevention and related topics, and the diagnostic imaging services that are now available at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach.

The Pap Corps is the largest all-volunteer fund-raising organization in the state of Florida, committed to finding a cure for cancer through research and education. Pap Corps’ membership is more than 17,000 and has increased dramatically over the past several years.

Since its inception, the Pap Corps has donated more than $30 million to UM/Sylvester, which is used strictly for research, says Barbara Pessel, president of the Pap Corps. “Since there are no professional fund-raisers in the Pap Corps, approximately 99% of every dollar raised goes towards reaching the goal…..finding a cure for every type of cancer,” she says. “We all believe that research is the only possible way to cure this horrendous disease. It is only through hard work, dedication, and the generosity of contributors that we have any hope of finding a cancer cure, so please join us on Saturday, March 29, and help us make this a successful event.”

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats more than 3,700 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 200 clinical trials and receive more than $36 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events. http://www.sylvester.org.

To register, to make a donation, or for further information, call the Pap Corps at 954-425-8100.

For additional information:

Carthy Thomas
Manager, Community Relations
University of Miami Sylvester
Comprehensive Cancer Center
305-243-4071
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Nordstrom Aventura Mall Opening Gala Raises $212,500 For Three Miami-Area Charities

SEATTLE (February 13, 2008) — Seattle-based Nordstrom, Inc., one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, kicked off the opening of its third Miami-area store at Aventura Mall with an evening gala on Wednesday, February 13. The event, entirely underwritten by Nordstrom, helped raise $212,500 for the signature projects of the Junior League of Miami, The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis/The Miami Project at the University of Miami and the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Nordstrom at Aventura Mall opens at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 15.

A crowd of over 1,700 guests were the first to preview the new Nordstrom store while enjoying lavish hors d’oeuvres, buffets, bars and live entertainment throughout the two-level store. The highlight of the gala was two full-scale, theatrical runway fashion shows staged in a specially constructed hangar-size tent adjacent to the store.

Co-chairs for the evening were Pennie and Gary Abramson, Marc A. Buoniconti, Nick Buoniconti, Barth A. Green, M.D., and Erin Knight.

The Charities

The Junior League of Miami, founded in 1926, is an organization of more than 1,000 women sharing a common vision to empower Miami’s women, children, and families to conquer tomorrow’s challenges and to build a community. Funds raised through the event will help support the mission of the Junior League of Miami to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

In 1985, Barth A. Green, M.D. and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti helped found The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after Nick’s son, Marc, sustained a spinal cord injury during a college football game. Today, The Miami Project is the world’s largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center based at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury, the Buoniconti family established The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis in 1992, a non-profit organization devoted to assisting The Miami Project achieve its goals. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis is embarking on the most exciting study in its 22-year history. Funds raised from the gala will be used to initiate its first-ever transplantation clinical trials in humans. The study has potential to affect millions worldwide living with paralysis and suffering from spinal cord injuries.

Since its inception as a dedicated, comprehensive cancer center in 1992, the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has led the fight against cancer. As South Florida’s only university-based cancer center, UM/Sylvester is an integral part of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and works diligently to reduce the human burden from cancer in research, education, prevention, and delivery of the highest quality patient care. Funds raised will be used to conduct ground-breaking research, resulting in better outcomes for the community. Their goal is to reach a day when cancer is no longer a life-threatening illness.

The Fashion

With spring right around the corner, Nordstrom presented the best designer looks for women and men from American and European spring 2008 collections. The show included Burberry Prorsum, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier, Michael Kors, Missoni, Moschino, Roberto Cavalli, Stella McCartney, St. John and Versace. The show featured 40 models from Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and Chicago. It was staged on a custom-built, multi-level set that featured two video screens, elaborate theatrical lighting, a revolving turntable and a 64-foot catwalk.

The Fun

Live salsa music by Miguel Cruz and Tropical Dreams entertained guests throughout the evening. Each guest received specially designed note cards by world-renowned fashion illustrator Ruben Toledo as a gift for attending.

The Food

With a tantalizing mix of food and fashion, nobody left the party unsatisfied. Guests were tempted with mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres, buffets and full bars from A Joy Wallace Catering throughout the store. Highlights from the extensive menu included: Thai beef and Asian pear roulade; flaky, buttery potato and leek tarts; pistachio-covered grape truffles; a ceviche bar featuring white fish, shrimp, vegetarian and calamari shooters; and blackened shrimp with a avocado and corn crown. Passed desserts, including chocolate-dipped key lime pie popsicles, mascarpone berry napoleons and a candy bar cupcakes station, added a sweet finish to the evening.

Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, with 156 stores located in 28 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 101 Full-Line Stores, 50 Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffrey boutiques, one freestanding shoe store and two clearance stores. Nordstrom also serves customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com and through its catalogs. Nordstrom, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN. 

UM/Sylvester Oncogenomics Core Facility is Awarded Novel Gene Analysis System

The University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has been chosen as one of the final sites for the placement of the Early Access nCounter Analysis System, a genetic analysis system created by NanoString Technologies. This is the last step before the company launches the commercial system, at the ABRF2008 (Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities) meeting in Salt Lake City, held February 8-12th. The device will be used in the Oncogenomics Core Facility, led by Toumy Guettouche, Ph.D., associate scientist, who calls this “cutting edge technology.” Being awarded this system puts UM/Sylvester in elite company as there are only four of these devices in use around the country. Besides UM/Sylvester, the Early Access nCounter Analysis System has been awarded to Baylor University, University of Washington, and the California Institute of Technology.

The nCounter Analysis System uses a novel digital technology that enables direct measurement of gene expression and offers high levels of sensitivity and precision. The technology uses molecular barcodes and single molecule imaging to detect and count hundreds of unique transcripts in a single reaction. The system is comprised of a fully automated sample prep station, a digital analyzer, molecular barcodes and all other reagents needed to perform the analysis. It is meant to give scientists the ability to obtain more data in less time, using less starting material, all without compromising quality.

“The nCounter Analysis System will be a valuable addition to our facility,” said Dr Guettouche. “The high level of multiplex analysis together with a unique approach in transcript quantification should allow us to complete our gene expression validation projects in a fraction of the time it would take with alternative approaches.”

NanoString Technologies is a life sciences equipment company headquartered in Seattle.

Media Contacts:

Toumy Guettouche, Ph.D.
Associate Scientist
Oncogenomics Core Facility
University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Office: 305-243-8410
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Lisa Worley
Director, Media Relations
Office of Communications
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Office: 305-243-5184
Cell: 305-458-9654
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

UM/Sylvester Offers Community the Gift of Well Being

Cancer Center to Host Well Being/Being Well Conference in April 2008

Featuring Keynote Speakers:
Deepak Chopra, Renowned Mind and Body Authority
Donna E. Shalala, UM President and Health Care Expert

Miami, Fla. – Dec. 17, 2007 -- In the spirit of the holiday season, the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center announces today a gift to the community: the Well Being/Being Well conference, an integrated, educational approach to helping individuals achieve a healthy lifestyle. The conference will feature best-selling author and pioneer in the field of mind and body, Deepak Chopra, and UM President and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna E. Shalala, as keynote speakers. The event is part of UM/Sylvester’s continuous commitment to offer the community a broad range of information about living with and surviving cancer as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The Well Being/Being Well inaugural conference will be held at the Miami InterContinental Hotel on April 22, 2008.

The one-day conference will feature several breakout sessions to discuss a wide variety of topics ranging from genetics, cancer prevention, clinical trials, coping with and surviving cancer, to pathways to plotting your own course of treatment and the power of mind over matter, among others. The event will also have special sessions focused on men’s and women’s issues, as well as helping caregivers better understand the patient’s needs. Attendees will also have the opportunity to hear real-life examples of the importance of the mind-body connection in achieving and sustaining good health.

“Offering events like these is part of our mission to provide our community with the most comprehensive information about health and cancer research,” said Joan Scheiner, Chair of the Board of Governors, UM / Sylvester.

Elsie Howard, Conference Event Chair for UM / Sylvester added: “With the support of leaders such as President Shalala and Deepak Chopra, along with the many renowned physicians and experts attending the conference, we hope we can inspire individuals to take the right steps towards achieving lifelong good health.”

Acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind and body, Deepak Chopra, M.D., continues to transform people’s understanding of the meaning of health. Through his creation of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing in California in 1995, Dr. Chopra established a formal vehicle for the expansion of his healing approach using the integration of the best of western medicine with natural healing traditions of the East. He has authored over forty-two books and a series of media programs for healing the mind, body and spirit, which have been translated into thirty-five languages and have sold over twenty million copies worldwide.

The conference will provide a unique opportunity and in-depth look at maintaining a healthy lifestyle and dispelling myths about cancer and other ailments. Attendees will have direct access to all the resources UM/Sylvester has to offer, including latest statistics, information on breakthrough research, and updates on how to fight the disease.

The Well Being/ Being Well conference is open to the public. Anyone with an interest in learning more about cancer and maintaining a healthy living is invited to attend. Registration will open in the spring of 2008 and tickets will be available for $100 per person. For more information, please contact UM/Sylvester at (305) 243-9088.

About UM / Sylvester

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,700 surgical procedures, and treats 3,400 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 250 clinical trials and receive more than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events. http://www.sylvester.org.

Media Contacts:

Felicia Lopez-Walker
UM/Sylvester Marketing & Communications
305-243-5181
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Lisa Worley
UM Miller School of Medicine
305-243-5184
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Gov. Crist Delivers $80 million to Miami Institute for Human Genomics

The University of Miami’s mission to become an internationally renowned scientific research powerhouse received a big boost today when Florida Governor Charlie Crist formally announced the awarding of an $80 million grant to the Miami Institute for Human Genomics during a news conference on the medical campus.

The Institute at the Miller School is home to the world’s top geneticists who conduct leading-edge work in identifying genetic variants that underlie common human diseases.

"We’re always mindful of how important projects like these are," Governor Crist said. "Not only will it improve the quality of lives, it will save lives. Let me repeat that, it will save lives. It will also help our economy, a tremendous byproduct of what we’re talking about here today."

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, who was instrumental in helping UM obtain the grant, joined the governor at the announcement.

"This is part of the creation of a vibrant and diverse economy that holds all the promise of this new century, all the promise of a knowledge-based economy," said Rubio.

Speaking at the news conference, University President Donna Shalala described the funding as "an extraordinary grant from the state that I believe will transform South Florida."

"The two great leaders we have here with us today truly see the connection between what scientists do in the laboratories and how their work leads to products that will eventually reach the patients’ bedsides," Shalala said of the Governor and House Speaker. "With their work we are well on our way to developing South Florida as a life science cluster with an unsurpassed economic potential."

The award is based on recommendations from Enterprise Florida to the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. Enterprise Florida’s recommendation came after a study and various analyses that found that the Innovation Incentive Fund award would help induce the creation of about 300 new jobs paying a salary of at least $62,000.

In talking about the economic boost the award will bring, Governor Crist and all the speakers acknowledged several people who also hand a hand in making sure UM got the funds. Many of those thanks went to Norman Braman, the vice chair of the UM Board of Trustees, who Governor Crist described as "a man of great kindness, an amazing human being. "

In explaining the important medical role of the Institute, Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Miller School, said successful discoveries at the Institute may determine "from the time you are born, what type of illnesses may actually damage your health" and determine appropriate prevention.

"That is what the Miami Institute for Human Genomics will provide as an opportunity to everyone in Miami, in Florida, and way beyond, the United States and the world," Dean Goldschmidt said.

The Miami Institute for Human Genomics, established at the Miller School a year ago, has already drawn international attention for the groundbreaking work of Institute director Margaret Pericak-Vance, Ph.D., and Jeffery Vance, M.D., Ph.D. Pericak-Vance is also the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Professor of Human Genomics and Vance will become the chairman of a newly created department that Dean Goldschmidt will recommend be named the Dr. John T. Macdonald Department of Human Genetics and Genomic Medicine.

During the news conference Dean Goldschmidt singled out the foundation for its overwhelming support of genetics research at the Miller School of Medicine over the years.

Most recently, Pericak-Vance co-led a multi-center study, published in July, that for the first time in 30 years uncovered a gene linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) that could pave the way for future research and treatment options. The Vances and their team have uncovered critical clues to the origins of diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, age-related macular degeneration and autism.

Nordstrom Announces Beneficiaries for Aventura Opening Gala

Evening to Benefit Junior League of Miami, The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis/The Miami Project at the University of Miami, and University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

SEATTLE (December 5, 2007) — Nordstrom, Inc., one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, will kick off the opening of its third Miami-area store with an evening gala on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. The party is expected to raise more than $300,000 for the Junior League of Miami, The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis/The Miami Project at the University of Miami, and the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Nordstrom Aventura Mall opens on Friday, February 15, 2008.

Guests at the gala will enjoy lavish hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, dinner and desserts, live entertainment and the opportunity to do some “sneak preview” shopping in the new 165,000-square-foot specialty store. The highlight of the evening will be a theatrical runway fashion show featuring spring designer collections in a tent adjacent to the store. Doors open for the party at 7 p.m.

The event, entirely underwritten by Nordstrom, will help raise funds for the signature projects of the Junior League of Miami, The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis/The Miami Project at the University of Miami, and the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The Junior League of Miami, founded in 1926, is an organization of more than 1,000 women sharing a common vision to empower Miami’s women, children, and families to conquer tomorrow’s challenges and to build a community. Funds raised through the event will help support the mission of the Junior League of Miami to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women and improve communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.

“The League is honored to be associated with a charitable corporation such as Nordstrom,” said Lauren Harrison Genovese, president of Junior League. “We look forward to celebrating the opening of this magnificent store and using the proceeds from the event to help women and children in need in Miami-Dade through Junior League’s projects and programs.”

In 1985, Barth A. Green, M.D., and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti helped found The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after Nick’s son, Marc, sustained a spinal cord injury during a college football game. Today, The Miami Project is the world’s largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center based at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury, the Buoniconti family established The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis in 1992, a non-profit organization devoted to assisting The Miami Project achieve its goals. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis is embarking in the most exciting study in its 22-year history. Funds raised from the gala will be used to initiate their first-ever transplantation clinical trials in humans. The study has potential to affect millions worldwide living with paralysis and suffering from spinal cord injuries.

“We are thrilled to be the beneficiary of Nordstrom’s support in the South Florida community with the grand opening of their new store along with Junior League of Miami and University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center,” said Marc Buoniconti, president of the Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis. “Nordstrom’s support of our signature project will help us get one step closer to our goal of finding a cure for paralysis. Hopefully the entire community will join us at the Nordstrom opening party for a wonderful evening in support of some very worthwhile causes.”

Since its inception as a dedicated, comprehensive cancer center in 1992, the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has led the fight against cancer. As South Florida’s only university-based cancer center, UM/Sylvester is an integral part of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and works diligently to reduce the human burden from cancer in research, education, prevention, and delivery of the highest quality patient care. Funds raised will be used to conduct ground-breaking research, resulting in better outcomes for the community. Their goal is to reach a day when cancer is no longer a life-threatening illness.

“It takes a community to build a world-class comprehensive cancer center,” said UM/Sylvester Director W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S. “We are grateful for Nordstrom’s corporate and civic leadership in helping create a world-class community in yet another way.”

Gala co-chairs for the event are Pennie and Gary Abramson, Marc A. Buoniconti, Nick Buoniconti, Barth A Green, M.D., and Erin Knight. Tickets for the opening gala are $125 per person. For ticket information, call (305) 243-8100.

Nordstrom, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, with 157 stores located in 28 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operates 101 full-line stores, 51 Nordstrom Racks, two Jeffrey boutiques, one freestanding shoe store and two clearance stores. Nordstrom also serves customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com and through its catalogs. Nordstrom, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol JWN.

Contact:

John Bailey
Nordstrom, Inc.
(206) 373-2415

UM/Sylvester Physician-Scientist Receives Award for Groundbreaking Lymphoma Research

Izidore S. Lossos, M.D., director of the lymphoma program at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine received the 2007 Celgene Young Investigator Award for Achievements in Clinical Hematology Research during a ceremony Saturday, December 8th in Atlanta. This is the sixth year for the prestigious award that is given to a clinician under the age of 45 who has made a significant research contribution in clinical hematology.

Lossos, who was nominated by Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., associate director of clinical and translational research and chief of the Division of Hematology-Oncology at UM/Sylvester, has been a trailblazer in the field of hematology-oncology research. His mentor from Stanford University School of Medicine, Ronald Levy, M.D., chief of the Division of Oncology, also nominated Lossos, calling him “one of the emerging pioneers in the field of lymphoma diagnosis and therapy.”

This Young Investigator Award is based on his breadth of work which includes a study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2004. Lossos and his team of researchers identified the six genes that were the strongest predictors of outcome for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Recently, the laboratory team headed up by Lossos confirmed applicability of the model using routinely available paraffin specimens from the diagnosis. Using that six-gene model, Lossos and his team at UM/Sylvester have launched a multi-center study to treat DLBCL patients with a new therapy that adds rituximab to standard chemotherapy.

In his lab, Lossos has also been able to clone the Human Germinal Center-Associated Lymphoma (HGAL) gene. In a study detailed in the December issue of the journal Blood, the investigators demonstrated that this protein is involved in lymphocyte motility in response to extracellular signals and researchers hope to identify its function and how it predisposes to better outcomes for DLBCL patients.

Lossos is now working on six clinical trials, including one that is yielding “excellent results” for mantle cell lymphoma, which is not curable. He is trying to pinpoint the mechanisms of lymphoma “to identify what makes certain types of markers good and bad. That may allow us to give specific therapies for these subtypes.” Translating that research to the patient is one of Lossos’ strengths, says Levy. “He continues to break new ground in the analysis of gene expression in lymphoma and in the use of these genes… to predict which patients will be cured with the current therapies and which will not.”

As this year’s winner of the Young Investigator Award, Lossos joins an elite rank of five previous recipients from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, among others. Lossos was chosen by six prominent physicians who are members of the Selection Committee.

Besides the Young Investigator Award, Celgene also handed out a Career Achievement Award and five Future Leaders in Hematology Awards at the annual American Society of Hematology conference in Atlanta. Lossos says the award is “another way of recognizing your contribution and it’s stimulus for further work.”

Party in the Park Strikes a Pose for UM/Sylvester

Miami, FL – Party in the Park was a huge success, gathering more than 500 guests, along with cancer survivors and their doctors at the Village of Merrick Park. The November 29th event featured eleven patients modeling designer fashions as they graced the runway with their world-renowned doctors who escorted them through their treatment. Guests were treated to food and drinks from South Florida’s top restaurants. Guests came from as far away as Massachusetts and Pennsylvania to support UM/Sylvester in its research and clinical mission. CBS4 was on hand along with other photographers and videographers. The event raised more than $100,000 for cancer research at UM/Sylvester. 

Thanks goes out to our inspiring patient models and their physicians:

Shirley & Jon Alexiou and Dr. Jerry Goodwin
Jennifer Stearns Buttrick and Dr. Raymond Leveillee
Denny & Paul Feinsilver and Dr. Fred Moffat
Donna Chase Finkelstein and Dr. Joseph Rosenblatt
Janice Gonzalez and Dr. Orlando Silva
Barbara Kimbley and Dr. Aaron Wolfson
Joan Scheiner and Dr. Pasquale Benedetto
Alexandra Villoch and Dr. Stefan Glück
Norma Wilson and Dr. Luis Raez

Event chair Rick Morgan of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, chaired the fundraising event for the second time. Emcee for the evening was Mark Trowbridge, president and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

Special thanks to our many sponsors including Presenting Sponsor, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC; Hosting Sponsors: Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A., The Miami Herald, and Zubi Advertising; Feature Sponsors: Adam Carlin, Himmel Foundation, Macy’s, Patron Tequila, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., Tommy Bahama Rum, and Zyr Vodka; Associate Sponsors: Amergent, Dade Paper, Donald J. Pliner, Fowler White Burnett, FP&L . The Tate Family, The Weinbach Group, Torbert Produce, Inc., and Turnberry Associates.; our participating Village of Merrick Park merchants for outfitting the models: Adolfo Dominguez USA, Inc., Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, Astoria, CH Carolina Herrera, Cache, Edward Beiner, Equinox Fitness, Lisa Todd, Schedoni, Silvia Tcherassi, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Bahama, and UCB Benetton; and South Florida’s featured restaurants: A Thierry’s Catering & Event Design, Ana Paz Cakes, Cacao Restaurant, Chef David Schwadron Catering and Event Design, Cold Stone Creamery, Crepe Maker, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Havana Harry’s, Jennifer’s Homemade, Links Restaurant & Lounge at the Diplomat, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Ortanique on the Mile, Qdoba Mexican Grill, Roasters n’ Toasters, Siam Lotus, The Palm Coral Gables, Trattoria Sole, and Via Quadronno.

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,600 surgical procedures, and treats 3,400 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 250 clinical trials and receive more than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

UM Miller School of Medicine Begins a New Era of Health Care with the Launch of the University of Mi

Today marks a momentous occasion for the University of Miami and its Miller School of Medicine as the University takes ownership of the newly renamed University of Miami Hospital. Owning and operating a full-scale hospital is a first for the 55-year-old medical school.

The purchase of the 560-bed, single-room facility, the former Cedars Medical Center located just across Northwest 12th Avenue from the medical campus, exemplifies UM’s solid commitment to bring more university-based health care to Floridians and the international patients who seek the care of UM physicians.

“The creation of a university hospital environment enables us to provide the very best academic medical care to the people of South Florida and beyond,” said Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., senior vice president for medical affairs and dean of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. “With this new flagship hospital, our top-ranked physicians will forge a new era in University of Miami-delivered care. This academic medical center will become a true medical destination.”

The University of Miami already had a strong, long-standing relationship with Cedars Medical Center as students and trainees rotated at the hospital in nearly a dozen specialties. Plans are now under way to build and expand Centers of Excellence in specialties ranging from cardiology and urology to orthopaedics and internal medicine at the new University of Miami Hospital.

“The type of very sophisticated, cutting-edge care we are planning can best be developed if we entirely control the delivery of care from the time a patient makes an appointment to the time the patient leaves the hospital,” said Goldschmidt. “At the same time, we will continue and strengthen our invaluable and highly successful affiliation with the Jackson Health System by expanding existing programs in such areas as acute cardiac and stroke care, pediatrics, obstetrics, organ transplant, and trauma, neurological and orthopaedic surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital.”

Indeed, UM faculty physicians also serve as the medical staff of Jackson Memorial, which is run by the Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County, and of the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Most physicians on the Cedars medical staff have already completed the credentialing process and are ready to begin practicing at the University of Miami Hospital. In addition, the nurses, technicians and other support personnel will become University of Miami employees.

“There is widespread excitement among the faculty and leadership of the Miller School of Medicine about this critically important step to building future excellence in medical care,” said William Donelan, vice president for medical administration and chief operating and strategy officer at the Miller School of Medicine. “We are extremely gratified that the same excitement and optimism about the future is being expressed by Cedars employees and physicians.”

Dr. Julio Barredo Receives Prestigious Micah Batchelor Award

Julio Barredo, M.D., Toppel Family Professor and Director of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Pediatrics, received the 2007 Micah Batchelor Award for Excellence in Children’s Health Research last night during an award ceremony and dinner at the Miller School.

The late George E. Batchelor, a renowned aviation entrepreneur and philanthropist, established the Micah Batchelor Award for Excellence in Children’s Health Research in memory of his grandson, Micah. The award, one of the largest of its kind in the country, was established in 2004 with a $5 million endowment; it provides at least $300,000 to the winning scientist.

An intimate dinner in a tented area outside the Batchelor Children’s Research Institute provided the perfect backdrop for feting Dr. Barredo, whose proposal to research the genetic characteristics of leukemic cells to develop better therapies for treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia took the prize over nine other worthy applications.

“The work that we are going to do thanks to this award will hopefully allow us to move some of the discoveries in the laboratory into the clinic and really make a difference in the lives of the children who currently cannot be cured,” said Dr. Barredo, after thanking his team and his family for their support. “We’ve chosen to work with drugs that are close to final development. The hope is that when we’re done with the work that we’ve proposed to do, these drugs are going to be ready for prime time in pediatrics and we’ll be able to start clinical trials with those children who are not as fortunate and who are still relapsing and dying of leukemia.”

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common cancer of childhood and the most common cause of cancer-related death for children under the age of 19. Despite great strides made in the field over the past 30 years, a significant number of children do not respond positively to the therapies currently available.

University of Miami President Donna E. Shalala and Miller School Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., extended a warm welcome to members of the Batchelor family and Batchelor Foundation trustees who attended the event, and President Shalala recognized the Toppel family’s pivotal role in the recruitment of Dr. Barredo through the creation of the Toppel endowed chair, calling it a “sterling example of the kind of commitment it takes to recruit a world-class scientist clinician.”

The addition of Dr. Barredo, who joined the Miller School pediatrics team in 2006, fits into a larger picture for the future of the department, said Steven E. Lipshultz, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics. “Over the past four years the Department of Pediatrics has made many advances and we’ve had a road map that we believe will take the department and its programs to new heights,” he said. “Part of this road map includes the recruitment and appointment of Dr. Barredo as the Toppel Family Professor and Director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.”

Faculty with full appointments in the Department of Pediatrics at the Miller School, who conduct medical research that will improve children’s health and work in the Batchelor Children’s Research Institute, are eligible to compete for this award. Proposals are judged in three areas: the quality of the scientific proposal, the importance of the research to the health of children, and the contribution of the individual researcher to the health of children.

The review board assembled to select this year’s winner was the largest group in the award’s history, boasting 32 prominent physicians and researchers who are nationally and internationally known in pediatrics. Three of the esteemed reviewers – Stacy Fisher, M.D., Robert “Budge” McKey, M.D., and Bill Yeh, M.D., Ph.D. – were present for the ceremony.

“Awards like the Micah Batchelor award are essential for the advancement of pediatric medicine because they specifically target work that is being done to improve health care for children,” said Dr. Barredo. “The hope and the beauty of working with children is that when you are successful, you’ve affected a life for many, many years. I think that Mr. Batchelor recognized that and very wisely created this award. His vision and motivation behind the support is felt every day.”

Macy’s Foundation Donates $100,000 to Name Waiting Area at UM/Sylvester

MIAMI, FL - November 27, 2007 - Macy’s Foundation is doing its part in the fight against cancer with a national gift to the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Macy’s Florida Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Julie Greiner and President and Chief Operating Officer of Macy's Florida J. David Scheiner presented a $100,000 check from the Macy’s Foundation to UM/Sylvester today. UM/Sylvester Director, W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S., was on hand to receive the check.

“Macy’s is a wonderful corporate partner and we are excited about this investment in breast cancer research,” said Goodwin. “Our Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at UM/Sylvester has rapidly become one of the finest in the Nation and I am confident that Dr. Joyce Slingerland (director of the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute) and her team will use this investment wisely.”

A key member of that team, Mark D. Pegram, M.D., was also on hand for the event. Pegram recently joined UM/Sylvester as associate director, clinical and translational research for the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute. He is an internationally-renowned expert who was a co-investigator on the landmark research and clinical trials that led to the development of Herceptin, the first FDA-approved targeted therapy for use in early-stage HER-2 positive breast cancers. Joseph D. Rosenblatt, M.D., UM/Sylvester’s Associate Director of Clinical and Translational Research, discussed the latest advancements taking place at the cancer center. And, UM/Sylvester Board of Governors chair, Joan Scheiner, talked about her personal cancer journey.

The Macy’s Foundation donation will be used to name the mammography waiting area at the Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at UM/Sylvester, which is currently the only academic research-based breast cancer facility in South Florida, serving residents throughout Florida and providing international breast consultation services.

“Macy’s is proud to be joining together with UM/Sylvester, a leader in South Florida in the treatment of cancer,” said Julie Greiner, Macy’s Florida Chairman. Greiner, along with COO Scheiner and his wife, Joan, presented the check to Dr. Goodwin.

The waiting area will be called the Macy’s Foundation Mammography Waiting Area.

About UM Sylvester

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,600 surgical procedures, and treats 3,400 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 250 clinical trials and receive more than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

About Macy’s

Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at more than 800 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Offering distinctive assortments including exclusive fashion and home brands, Macy’s stores are operated by seven regionally based retail divisions – Macy’s East, Macy’s Florida, Macy’s Midwest, Macy’s North, Macy’s Northwest, Macy’s South, and Macy’s West – and an online store at macys.com.

About Macy’s Florida

Macy’s Florida is based in Miami and operates 61 stores in Florida and Puerto Rico. For additional media materials, please visit our online pressroom at www.macys.com/pressroom.

Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients

November 26, 2007 - Being diagnosed with cancer is difficult enough, but imagine adding to this the worry that the treatment needed to save your life might also make you infertile. However, if cancer patients make informed decisions regarding their fertility between the time they are diagnosed and the onset of treatment, they will have greater control over their reproductive futures.

Specialists at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Miami are now offering fertility counseling for male and female cancer patients. This counseling will help patients explore their options and make decisions regarding fertility preservation before they undergo treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation which can kill gametes.

“Recent research has found that most oncologists don’t advise their patients about the availability of fertility preservation options,” said Dr. George Attia, Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division in the Department of OB/GYN. “There is definitely a need and a role for fertility counseling.”

It is understandable that in the struggle to eradicate cancer, fertility is a lower priority and so oncologists may not discuss preservation options with patients prior to treatment. Dr. Attia’s goal is to partner with specialists at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in having cancer patients of reproductive age receive fertility counseling before they undergo treatment.

“Talking to patients about their options before treatment gives them hope and may result in a better quality of life after the cancer treatment is complete,” said Dr. Attia.

This interdisciplinary and holistic approach to care will be available to male and female patients. Some standard options available for these patients include freezing sperm for males, and for female patients, freezing eggs and embryos, and suppression of ovarian function (this is a medical treatment which suppresses ovulation and preserves ovarian reserve).

In the future, Dr. Attia also hopes to test some experimental treatments, such as freezing ovarian tissue and in vitro maturation of the egg.

To refer patients or to schedule an appointment for fertility counseling, please call 305-243-8642.

The University of Miami Infertility Center, a division of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, offers a variety of treatment options for infertility. In data published by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology in 2007, approximately 61% of our patients under age 35 receiving treatment went on to give a live birth, while nationwide, the rate was 37%.

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,600 surgical procedures, and treats 3,400 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 250 clinical trials and receive more than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Party in the Park Presented by Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney to Benefit UM/Sylvester

Miami, FL – Eleven “model” patients will grace the runway on Thursday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m., escorting their physicians to the second biennial Party in the Park event, which raises money and increases awareness about the importance of cancer research. Attendees will enjoy a runway show, unique libations, stylish food, and a live auction in a beautiful tropical setting at the Village of Merrick Park, Coral Gables, FL. All proceeds from this event will support cancer research at UM/Sylvester.

“Our patients are thriving survivors that inspire us with their beauty and their radiance,” said UM/Sylvester Director, W. Jarrard Goodwin, M.D., F.A.C.S. “We escorted them through their treatment and now they are strong enough to escort us down the runway.”

Guests will enjoy fabulous tastings from South Florida’s top restaurants including but not limited to: Cacao Restaurant, Crepe Maker, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bra, Havana Harry’s, Links Restaurant & Lounge at the Diplomat, Ortanique on the Mile, The Palm Coral Gables, and Trattoria Sole. Participating merchants outfitting the model patients include: Ann Taylor, Anthropologie, CH Carolina Herrera, Cache, Tiffany & Co., Tommy Bahama, UCB Benetton, and many, many, more.

Event chair Rick Morgan of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, has taken on this project for a second year. Special thanks to our many sponsors including The Miami Herald, Zubi Advertising, and The Village of Merrick Park for providing the venue for the event and our inspiring patients-turned-models.

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney invites you to an evening where haute couture celebrates the beauty of survival. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call UM/Sylvester’s Office of Development at 305-243-9088.

UM/Sylvester opened in 1992 to provide comprehensive cancer services and today serves as the hub for cancer-related research, diagnosis, and treatment at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. UM/Sylvester handles nearly 1,600 inpatient admissions annually, performs 2,600 surgical procedures, and treats 3,400 new cancer patients. All UM/Sylvester physicians are on the faculty of the Miller School of Medicine, South Florida’s only academic medical center. In addition, UM/Sylvester physicians and scientists are engaged in more than 250 clinical trials and receive more than $30 million annually in research grants. UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach opened in 2003 to better meet the needs of residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A major expansion is currently underway, which will double the size of this facility by adding diagnostic imaging services, additional chemotherapy chairs, and expanded exam rooms. Deerfield Beach offers appointments with physicians from 12 of UM/Sylvester’s 15 Site Disease Groups, complementary therapies from the Courtelis Center, and education and outreach events.

Media contacts:

Felicia Lopez-Walker: 305-243-5181
Lisa Worley: 305-243-5184

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