August 2, 2005

Cancer Center Update is sent to Cancer Center members and staff every Tuesday at 10 a.m. To submit an item for publication, send the information to Sandi Sherman by noon the Friday before publication.

In This Issue:

Today's Cancer Center Seminar

News

Events

Professional Education and Seminars

Grant Information & Announcements

Reminders

NEWS

CLINICAL RESEARCH SCHOLARS ARE INVOLVED IN CANCER RESEARCH, TREATMENT

Four of the five clinical researchers accepted in the Clinical Scholars Program have ties to cancer and tobacco research and treatment. They include:

Mukta Arora, M.D., hematologist, focuses her research on ways to overcome graft-versus-host disease. Working with her mentor, Daniel Weisdorf, M.D., she will design clinical trials to identify better treatment strategies in GVHD in bone marrow transplantation.

Mark Kirstein, Pharm.D., pharmacy professor, investigates how anticancer agents metabolize differently in patients. Collaborating with his mentor, Robert Kratzke, M.D., he aims to find out what influences how patients respond to a commonly used chemotherapy drug, gemcitabine.

Rocco Ricciardi, M.D., surgeon, is working with his mentor Robert Madoff, M.D., to devise a “decision aid” for treatment of malignant colorectal polyps.

Michael Kotlyar, Pharm.D., pharmacy professor, is working with TTURC director Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., to learn if taking the antidepressant Paxil can reduce the negative effects of stress in smokers.

The Clinical Research Scholars Program is a new initiative at the University, aimed at providing mentoring and financial support to junior faculty pursuing clinical research. The program combines a mentored research project with 75 percent protected time and $50,000 per year for research activities for up to three years. For more information about the program and scholars, see the cover story in the recently published summer issue of Pictures of Health.

CANCER CENTER MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., is quoted in an article on “Studies clarify radiation therapy effects on rectum, hear” in the June issue of RSNA News. Baxter’s comments pertain to her research study — a retrospective cohort study of more than 80,000 men found that previous radiation treatments for prostate cancer significantly increased the long-term risk of secondary malignancies in the rectum when compared with prostatectomy, published in the April issue of Gastroenterology.

David Rothenberger, M.D., has been named the new Research Foundation President of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

Joseph Neglia, M.D., is quoted in an article about Minnesota Ride for Kids and the importance of their fundraising efforts for cancer research. “The research we’re doing today will result in better treatments in less than five years. We know this because the research of five years ago has resulted in better treatments that are being used today,” he said.

HORMEL INSTITUTE IS OFFERING PROGRAM ON TARGETING CARCINOGENESIS

Doug Yee, M.D., will discuss targeting the IGF axis at a continuing medical education program on targeting carcinogenesis,jointly sponsored by Hormel Institute/University of Minnesota and Mayo School of Continuing Medical Education, Oct. 6 & 7 in Rochester. Zigang Dong, M.D., Dr. Ph., Hormel Institute director and Cancer Center member, is a course director for the program and will give a presentation on JNK and its substrates. Brochures about the program are available from Marva Bohen, Outreach Education, and Sven Olsen, Administrative Services.

ERICA LANGER RECEIVES RECOGNITION AWARD

Congratulations to Erica Langer on receiving the Certificate of Award for her outstanding work as a scientist in the Prevention and Etiology Program. Langer was honored during recognition ceremonies, July 22. The nomination statement noted, “Erica is meticulous in keeping extremely good records and has been instrumental in helping to develop a strong pediatric cancer molecular epidemiology laboratory. She particularly stood out as a remarkable individual when she sought out whether neonatal blood spots could be used as a tool to evaluate common elements that an infant may have been exposed to during pregnancy.”

Certificates of Appreciation were presented to DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology, and to Data Collection and Support Services’ Eileen Harwood,Ph.D., Director; Angela Watkins, Coordinator; Megan Johanknecht, Natalie Morrison and Blake Downes. The nomination statement noted Lazovich “has been instrumental in several Cancer Center activities including taking a lead role in Cancer Plan Minnesota” and for being a “team player who has assisted in developing stronger liaisons between the Masonic Cancer Center and the School of Public Health.” The DCSS staff was recognized for “continued excellence in providing quality-assured, cost-effective survey support,” and for being “professional, friendly and a pleasure to work with.”

Presented quarterly, the recognition award provides an opportunity for associate directors to highlight activities and achievements in their research areas, and to honor individuals who demonstrate outstanding contribution to the Masonic Cancer Center’s mission.

LAZOVICH IS NAMED CO-LEADER OF PREVENTION AND ETIOLOGY PROGRAM

Cancer Center Director John Kersey, M.D., has announced that DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., Associate Professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health, will become co-leader of the Prevention and Etiology Program, effective Aug. 1. Members of this Program are nationally recognized for their important contributions to cancer epidemiology, survivorship and risk reduction. DeAnn has played a major role in developing Cancer Plan Minnesota and facilitating collaborations with Program members in the School of Public Health. DeAnn, along with co-leader Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., will be instrumental in further strengthening the Program.

GRAND ROUNDS IN PALLIATIVE CARE
Tuesday, August 9, 2005, 7:30 to 8:30 am, Moos 2-530
Sponsored by: Transitions and Life Choices, Department of Family Medicine and the Center for Bioethics

"Facts, Lies and Videotapes: PVS and Terri Schiavo"
Dr Ron Cranford

SPECIAL SEMINAR – PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ ONCOLOGY/BLOOD AND MARROW TRANSPLANT PROGRAM
Thursday, August 11, 2005, Time: 1:15-2:15 p.m.. 450 Cancer Center Research Building

"Pharmacogenetics and Pediatric ALL"
Richard Aplenc, MD, MSCE, Pediatric Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant, Center for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania

Sponsored by John E. Wagner, MD, Division Director Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/
Blood and Marrow Transplant Program
Light Refreshments will be served
For further information contact Joyce S. at 626-2961

NEW MEMBER

Chalet Tan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Care and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Duluth

Program: Cancer Progression and Metastasis
Area of scientific interest: The aberrant regulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) pathway in cancer cells; pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of novel antitumor agents