At the Forefront of the Revolution For Cancer Research
Cleveland Clinic is moving toward the forefront of the cancer drug discovery revolution and cancer research. Through cancer research, we have identified new molecules with anti-tumor effects, developed collaborative ties with biotechnology companies, begun training more young scientists, and expanded our base of financial support. These bold steps in cancer research will result in discovery and application of new therapies to help us eliminate cancer as a significant cause of mortality.
Cleveland Clinic Researchers Publish
First Comprehensive Study on New Cancer Grouping
Study Published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute Provides Insight into Patient Characteristics, Treatment Approaches into Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, Cleveland: Cleveland Clinic researchers have published the results of the first study to track the treatment patterns used by physicians who care for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). MDS, which was once considered an orphan disease, is now considered a cancer mainly affecting the elderly. The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database has tracked MDS for seven years, but little has been known about how MDS patients have been treated for their disease, or the characteristics of these patients, until now.
To learn more about MDS, Mikkael Sekeres, M.D., of Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute, and a team of researchers surveyed 101 geographically-representative physicians who treat MDS patients to develop a detailed overview of the disease and current treatment methods. They then reviewed data on 4,514 patients seen by these physicians.
"It is our hope that this information will help physicians learn more about this little-known cancer grouping and will ultimately assist researchers and clinicians as they try to develop more effective treatments and therapies for MDS," Dr. Sekeres said. "This research is just the beginning of the process into understanding MDS, but we’re excited about this first step and what could come from it."
Currently, the only known cure for MDS, which occurs when blood stem cells do not mature into healthy red and white blood cells and platelets, is bone marrow transplantation, yet the study found that few patients are considered for this treatment. The findings also revealed that a high number of the patients were treated with red blood cell or platelet transfusions, and more than half of the patients received red blood cell stimulating agents. Additionally, the majority of higher-risk patients have been treated with a combination of stimulating drugs and other medicines, even though these combinations are still being clinically tested. The research also showed that few MDS patients are considered for clinical trials.
There are an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 new MDS cases diagnosed annually in the United States, and the estimated worldwide prevalence ranges from 300,000 to 400,000 cases. Due to the growing risk of this disease with advancing age, its prevalence is rising as life expectancy rises.
The study is being published in the November 5, 2008 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Young Investigator of the Year Award
Wael Lasheen, M.D. received the Young Investigator of the Year Award from leaders of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). Dr. Lasheen is a research fellow in the Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine; his research supervisor is Declan Walsh, M.D. The 21st International MASCC Symposium was held the 26-28 June, 2008 in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Lasheen received the award for his skills, goals, and desire to contribute to the mission of MASCC; his oral presentation "Controlled Double Blind Study of Imipramine(IM) and Morphine(M) in Chronic Pain Due to Advanced Cancer." Dr. Lasheen’s work at The Harry R Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine seeks to standardize classifications of cancer pain and develop evidence based dosing regimens for opioid route conversions.
Other Cancer Research Links
Center for Hematology and Oncology Molecular Therapeutics (CHOMT)
The Center for Hematology and Oncology Molecular Therapeutics (CHOMT) was formed in 2005, spurred by a surge in both human and financial resources for therapeutic and diagnostic bench research on new therapeutics and their targets, and comprises six research laboratories focusing on drug discovery and development, clinical pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, and experimental hematology and hematopoiesis.
Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute
The mission of the Department of Cancer Biology is to perform high impact basic science research focused on the molecular biology and genetics of cancer. We seek to define the molecular events that control cellular responses to external cues signaling cell division, differentiation, or death. These studies will help clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in the development and progression of human cancers and will also shed light on normal cellular regulatory processes. In addition, molecular genetic techniques are being used to identify novel molecular markers that may prove useful in the early diagnosis or prognosis of cancer and/or be potential therapeutic targets. Indeed, underlying all of our basic research is the long-term objective of rapid translation into therapeutic strategies that will improve outcomes for patients.
The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center: Collaborative Cancer Research
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute and the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals of Cleveland have joined together to constitute the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC) with a particular focus on National Cancer Institute supported cancer research. A common cancer research agenda is being collaboratively pursued to improve the understanding of cancer and its treatment.
