R
esearch
T
reatment
P
revention
Spring 2010
In this Issue:
E
ducation
I
nside
CINJ
uch of the progress made in this country
against cancer has been the result of research and
cancer care done at National Cancer Institute-
designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, of which,
40 are scattered throughout the United States. These
centers, including The Cancer Institute of New Jersey,
are the centerpiece of the nation's effort to reduce
disability and death from cancer. They are places of outstanding research and are
sought by cancer patients for the latest advances in treatment and by young
scientists and physician-scientists dedicated to solving the mysteries of cancer.
I recently had the honor of being asked to testify before Congress during a
meeting of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on
Health to provide expertise on the importance of cancer research funding (http://
). I described
how as a major force in discovering the cure for cancer, and developing effective
approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and therapy, NCI-designated Comprehensive
Cancer Centers deliver medical advances to patients, educate healthcare professionals
and the public, reach out to underserved populations, and collaborate with colleagues
in academia and industry to bring the latest medicines directly to patients.
We are at the beginning of a revolution in cancer diagnosis and care thanks to
advances in cancer research. Treatments are becoming personalized for the individual
patient with therapies that target the specific molecular changes that cause cells to
become cancerous as part of the therapeutic arsenal. Translational and clinical research
play an important role in moving medical science and improving the public's health.
For example, at CINJ we recently opened a clinical trial to look at harnessing the
body's own immune system to tackle pancreatic cancer. As you'll read in this edition
of Oncolyte, researchers are testing the effectiveness of a new vaccine combination
injected directly into the tumor (see page 7). If the results prove successful, this will
improve patient outcomes for one of the deadliest types of cancer.
As you'll learn in our cover story, work done in the laboratory of CINJ Associate
Director for Basic Science, Dr. Eileen White, has been translated into a clinical trial that
explores the use of an arthritis and malaria drug in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Many times, as a result of our discoveries, collaborations are fostered between CINJ
and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. CINJ's coveted NCI designation
brings value to our state through opportunities, prestige, resources, and funding not
otherwise available.
We are at a promising time in cancer research. But much more remains to be
done. We have the potential to welcome a new era of cancer treatment and preven-
tion, but we can't do it alone. Every research breakthrough is a victory. But it will take
continued support to win the war. We hope you'll join us in meeting this goal.
Sincerely,
Director's Corner
Robert S. DiPaola, MD
Director, CINJ
Associate Dean for Oncology Programs and Professor of Medicine
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
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