CLEVELAND – To help survivors adjust to life after breast cancer, the University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center has launched the Center for Survivors of Breast Cancer.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that 1 in 8 women in America will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. However, survival rates are improving, with earlier detection and advances in treatment. The NCI estimates there are 2 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today. Breast Cancer survivors often face multiple challenges after treatment ends, including fatigue, lymphedema (swelling of the arm), weight gain, sexual side effects, relationship problems and fear of recurrence. The new Center helps breast cancer survivors to address these issues

CLEVELAND – Sanford Markowitz, MD, PhD, a colon cancer researcher at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) has laid out the roadmap for how medical researchers should employ aspirin and aspirin-like drugs to prevent colon cancer in certain high-risk individuals.

In today’s New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Markowitz’s editorial accompanies research by Dr. Charles Fuchs’ team at Harvard Medical School. The Harvard researchers discovered the hypothesized mechanism by which aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), called COX-2 inhibitors, act to decrease the risk of developing colon cancer.

CLEVELAND – The Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the first in Northeast Ohio to use a new radiation treatment that provides hope for patients with colon cancer that has spread to the liver. The noninvasive procedure uses microscopic radioactive spheres that target inoperable tumors without damaging the surrounding tissue.

Called Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT), the procedure uses SIR-Spheres^® microspheres infused with the radioactive element yttrium-90. The spheres deliver 40 times more radiation directly to the site of the liver tumors than is possible using conventional radiotherapy. The minimally invasive procedure is not considered a cure, but studies have found it reduces tumors more than chemotherapy alone in patients with metastatic colon cancer and has fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

CLEVELAND – For the first time in a comic strip, Funky Winkerbean creator Tom Batiuk has depicted the death of a young wife and mother from the recurrence of breast cancer. Lisa Moore, a major character who is battling breast cancer for a second time, succumbs to the disease on Oct. 4, 2007, leaving behind her husband, Les, and their five-year-old daughter, Summer.

As a result of Batiuk’s commitment to helping people facing their own real life battles with cancer, University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center in Cleveland has unveiled a fund called Lisa’s Legacy Fund for Cancer Research and Education, named in honor of Batiuk’s character and her subsequent story which has resonated with thousands of readers.

“We in the medical community have long believed we were caring for these women appropriately and this study determines that these patients over age 65 are being woefully undertreated,” said Dr. Owusu, who runs the ICC’s geriatric oncology program and was lead author of the study. “Going forward we need to develop strategies to improve breast cancer outcomes for these women.”

CLEVELAND – The federal government has recently selected the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) to join an elite group of hospitals to rapidly evaluate and treat potential victims of radiological and chemical attacks. The Ireland Cancer Center is the only adult site in Ohio to be part of the Radiation Injury Treatment Network (RITN), created by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

The Ireland Cancer Center, selected for its expertise in stem cell transplantation and immune deficiencies, will be one of 52 centers across the country to respond to victims exposed to radiation or other bone marrow injuries. RITN, a joint project of the National Marrow Donor Program and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, was formed so that when disasters strike these centers can triage and treat patients. Examples include chemical (mustard gas), nuclear devices or dirty bombs.

CLEVELAND – In a major step towards the opening of the new Cancer Hospital, Julian A. Kim, MD, has been appointed Chief of Oncologic Surgery at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC). In this newly-created position, Dr. Kim, who is currently Chief of Surgical Oncology at UHCMC, will unify all cancer surgery capabilities to prepare for a seamless transition to the Cancer Hospital, which will house the Ireland Cancer Center and is scheduled to be completed in December 2010 on the UHCMC campus. This innovative approach to surgical care is being adopted at top cancer hospitals throughout the country.

An accomplished cancer surgeon, Dr. Kim will oversee and align the various surgical services throughout UHCMC, UH community hospitals and the Ireland Cancer Center regional network. His programmatic oversight links surgical oncology with all surgical specialties involved with cancer care, including urology, neurosurgery, gynecologic oncology, thoracic surgery, dermatology, colorectal surgery and pediatrics. His team will be fully integrated with the Ireland Cancer Center’s multidisciplinary care teams.

CLEVELAND – A new analysis reveals that fewer than half of older patients successfully treated for colorectal cancer receive the recommended screening schedule to detect any recurrence of cancer. The study, appearing in the October 15, 2008 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, indicates poor compliance to recommended monitoring of colorectal cancer survivors could affect survival.

Patients who undergo potentially curative surgery for colorectal cancer have an increased risk of recurrence. To reduce that risk, guidelines have been developed that specify a combination of regularly scheduled physician visits, colonoscopy, and other tests to detect changes that could indicate a recurrence. While some patients may not receive these recommended services, others may undergo other procedures, such as computerized tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans, which are generally not recommended. Therefore, some patients may not meet guidelines standards while others receive testing that goes beyond guideline recommendations.

CLEVELAND – Nathan Levitan, MD, MBA, has been appointed President of the University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center (ICC) and Senior Vice President, System Cancer Services, effective November 1, 2008.

In his new role, Dr. Levitan is responsible for cancer-related clinical program development, quality outcomes, strategic planning, and the ongoing integration of clinical trials into the ICC model of care. While working in close collaboration with Stanton Gerson, MD, Director of the Ireland Cancer Center, Dr. Levitan will oversee the continued growth of our ICC Regional Network as well as the consolidation of cancer services at UH Case Medical Center into the new UH Cancer Hospital that is scheduled to open in 2010.

Marlborough, MA and Cleveland, OH – (December 22, 2008) – EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS) and University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) of Cleveland, Ohio today jointly announced that UHCMC has launched a program for stool-based DNA (sDNA) screening within its health care system at two sites comprising fifteen physicians.  For patients unwilling or unable to obtain a colonoscopy, sDNA screening will now be the preferred method of screening offered at the sites.  UHCMC will evaluate program performance to determine broader roll-out of sDNA screening system-wide.

“Among our guiding principles is to pursue and implement breakthrough medical advancements and practices to deliver superior clinical outcomes for our patients,” said Stanton Gerson, MD, Director, Ireland Cancer Center of UHCMC, Director of Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University.  “Our new sDNA screening initiative within UH Case Medical Center is an exciting example of this principle in action. Non-invasive sDNA screening includes the Vimentin gene, a genetic locus discovered by Dr. Sanford Markowitz of the Ireland Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve Medical School, a discovery that we believe can have a dramatic impact on increasing screening rates and decreasing mortality.”

CLEVELAND – A new study identifies a group of individuals at increased risk for developing colon cancer and holds the promise for developing new tailored cancer treatments. The study in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is by Sanford Markowitz, MD, PhD, the Markowitz-Ingalls Professor of Cancer Genetics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and oncologist at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and colleagues.

"The bottom line is that we have found an uncommon but potentially important group of individuals who are born with certain genetic mutations and are at increased risk for developing colon cancer," says Dr. Markowitz, who is also an investigator in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. "This is yet another step towards identifying who is at increased risk for this deadly form of cancer and it may potentially allow us a greater ability to detect and treat, as well as develop therapies, for cancer."

CLEVELAND – Researchers at the Ireland Cancer Center of University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center, have published new findings that may lead to a new standard of care for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

Published in the February issue of Clinical Cancer Research, the phase one study found that a new chemotherapy medicine, Triapine, was well tolerated in combination with standard-of-care cisplatin chemotherapy and radiation treatment in women with cervical cancer. This regimen provided both significant reduction in cancer disease and cancer control.

CLEVELAND – Neal J. Meropol, MD, has been appointed Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology in the Department of Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Meropol, who is also Associate Director for Clinical Research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, is an internationally-known colon cancer clinical researcher whose work spans the spectrum from cancer prevention to treatment. 

“Neal is a national leader in clinical research and we are so pleased to have him assume this leadership role in our renowned cancer and hematology programs,” says Richard A. Walsh, MD, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center. “We look forward to the energy and advocacy he brings to advancing cancer care through high quality clinical trials research.”

Dr. Paula Silverman, Medical Director of the UH Case Medical Center Breast Cancer Program, discusses breast cancer treatment and new drug therapies on ABC News.

Dr. Donald and Ruth Weber Goodman Discovery Center Established in the UH Cancer Hospital

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center announces $35 million from the estate of Dr. Donald J. Goodman and Ruth Weber Goodman that will support UH’s cancer care program. In honor of this unparalleled generosity – given in gratitude for the pioneering cancer treatment that saved and extended Dr. Goodman’s life – UH has established the Dr. Donald J. and Ruth Weber Goodman Discovery Center for Clinical Research in the new UH Cancer Hospital. “We are honored that Don and Ruth named University Hospitals as the most significant beneficiary of The Dr. Donald J. Goodman and Ruth Weber Goodman Philanthropic Fund at the Cleveland Foundation,” says Fred C. Rothstein, MD, President of UH Case Medical Center. “The Goodman’s were passionate about the importance of clinical trials to advancing new treatments and a cure for cancer. Their dedication, along with their family, promises to change the face of cancer care for Northeast Ohio and beyond for generations to come.”

CLEVELAND – In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, physicians at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center who are Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine researchers are exploring the role of Vitamin D in preventing esophageal cancer.  Principal Investigator Linda Cummings, MD, along with Amitabh Chak, MD, and Gregory Cooper, MD, from the UH Digestive Health Institute, is recruiting patients with Barrett’s esophagus to measure the effects of Vitamin D on protein levels that may influence the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

“Vitamin D is being studied for its role in possibly reducing the risk of developing several types of cancer, such as colon, breast and prostate,” says Dr. Cummings, a gastroenterologist with the UH Digestive Health Institute and Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “This novel study is the first-of-its-kind looking at Vitamin D’s potential role in helping to prevent esophageal cancer.”  According to co-investigator Sanford Markowitz, MD, Ingalls Professor of Cancer Genetics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and oncologist with UH Case Medical Center, the study “has the potential to make a highly important contribution to the medical management of Barrett's esophagus, which is becoming an ever increasing challenge.”

CLEVELAND – Thanks to Cleveland’s social media power, The Gathering Place & University Hospitals (UH) Ireland Cancer Center are winners of a LIVESTRONG® Community Impact Project award. LIVESTRONG, an organization founded by Lance Armstrong to serve those affected by cancer, created the awards to fund cancer support programs in communities nationwide.

One hundred seventy-nine qualified hospitals, cancer centers and community organizations from around the country were selected to participate in an online voting campaign to compete for funding. The Gathering Place & UH Ireland Cancer Center “Cancer Transitions” program received the most votes of any group, securing more than 6,000 votes from around the world. Clevelanders posted dozens of Facebook and Twitter posts calling for support of the organizations in this effort.

The Gathering Place & UH Ireland Cancer Center will receive a joint $4,000 award to create Cancer Transitions, a program designed to support, educate and empower those transitioning out of cancer treatment. The innovative program, set to launch in early 2011, will incorporate support groups, education, nutrition and physical exercise, as well as address other medical management, psychosocial and quality of life issues. The program also will provide survivors with practical tools and resources to formulate a personal action plan for survivorship.

Join us as Dr. Paula Silverman presents recent breast cancer news and answers your questions about breast cancer and its treatment.

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine are conducting an important new study addressing the lack of knowledge about causes and risk factors for ovarian cancer in African American women. The five-year study is funded by the National Cancer Institute through Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Ovarian cancer, though relatively rare, is the most lethal of all gynecologic cancers. It is the fifth most common cause of cancer death among women behind lung, breast, colorectal and pancreas. African American women have lower incidence rates than women of other races yet have a poorer survival rate.

“This study hopes to address the lack of knowledge about causes of ovarian cancer among African-American women by establishing a multi-site, national collaboration that will educate, treat, and assess both environmental and genetic risk factors in African American women,” said Jill S. Barnholtz-Sloan, PhD, the study’s principal investigator at UH Case Medical Center and Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “Ovarian cancer is a deadly disease and it is important that we better understand what causes this disease if we have any hope of preventing it in the future.”

CLEVELAND – In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, physician-scientists at University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center are exploring a new method to potentially prevent recurrence of an early stage, aggressive type of breast cancer.  The pilot study, conducted by Joe Baar, MD, Director of Breast Cancer Research at UH Case Medical Center’s Seidman Cancer Center, is recruiting patients with HER-2 neu+ breast cancer. 

Patients with this form of breast cancer typically have a higher recurrence rate of nearly 25% following initial treatment. This novel study aims to improve outcomes through performing bone barrow biopsies to identify if patients’ cancer has spread and adding an additional cancer-targeting drug to standard therapy.

“This study has the potential to change the standard of care for women with this type of breast cancer, which tends to spread very quickly,” says Dr. Baar, who is also Associate Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “A small number of HER-2 neu+ breast cancer patients do not do well following standard therapy. We are hoping to identify these high-risk patients and stop the cancer before it progresses to other parts of the body.”