2005

November

Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., was quoted in stories by Associated Press and Reuters about her research study published in JAMA that showed radiation therapy for pelvic cancers may increase the risk of fractures in older women. The story ran in numerous newspapers including the Seattle Post Intelligencer, Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Baltimore Sun, Miami Herald, Chicago Sun Times, and Austin Statesman. Dr. Baxter also was interviewed for reports on MPR, AP Radio and CNN Radio.

Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., and Robert Kratzke, M.D., discussed tobacco research, smoking and lung cancer on the WLTE Radio's Sunday morning public affairs program. Dr. Hatsukami was also interviewed by MPR, Minneapolis Star Tribune and WCCO Radio about a study she led on nicotine vaccine for helping smokers quit. The study is published in the current issue of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

Levi Downs, M.D., was quoted in reports by WCCO-TV, KSTP-TV and KARE-TV about research he is leading on thalidomide plus topotecan for treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer.

Doug Yee, M.D., was quoted in a Minnesota Daily article about breast cancer in men.

Phil McGlave, M.D., and Jeff Miller, M.D., were cited in these media reports about their recently received NCI program grants for stem cell and natural killer cell research: Pioneer Press, Duluth Star-Tribune, Grand Forks Herald, Twin Cities Business Journal, Minnesota Daily, WCCO-TV, KSTP-TV, KIMT-TV, and KTTC-TV. The two grants total more than $20 million and will be distributed over five years.

Arkadiusz Dudek, M.D., Ph.D., was quoted on the Doctor's Guide website about research he and other Cancer Center researchers have conducted to develop a new method of vaccine-induced augmentation of tumor specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses with the use of latex or silica beads for treatment of renal and skin cancers. Dr. Dudek recently presented the research findings at the 13th European Cancer Conference in Paris.

Michael Garwood, Ph.D., and Patrick Bolan, Ph.D., were quoted in the article "MR spectroscopy helps improve breast cancer diagnosis,” published in Radiology Today.

Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., and Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., were cited in these national news reports about their research findings on nicotine vaccine (Hatsukami) and carcinogen exposure across oral tobacco and medicinal nicotine products (Hecht): United Press International, ABCNews.com, Baltimore Sun., Atlanta Journal Constitution, Austin American-Statesman, Forbes, WebMD, Dr.Koop.com and various TV newscasts across the country. The reports stemmed from their presentations last week at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research in Baltimore.

October

Krisin Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor of epidemiology and member of the Cancer Center's Carciongenesis and Chemoprevention Program, was featured in a WCCO news report "Busting Myths About Cancer" on Friday, October 14. To see the story visit the WCCO Web site. Dr. Anderson was also interviewed about her study on grilled meat linked to pancreatic cancer by WCCO Radio, KARE-11 TV News, and Minnesota Public Radio. The study, "Dietary Intake of Heterocyclic Amines and Benzo(a)Pyrene: Associations with Pancreatic Cancer,” is published in the current issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

John Kersey, M.D., was featured in news reports by WCCO-TV and Minnesota Daily Oct. 7 about the 30th anniversary of the world's first successful bone marrow transplant for treatment of lymphoma. On Oct. 7, 1975, Dr. Kersey led the University of Minnesota team that performed the BMT on patient David Stahl, then 16 years old. Stahl is now 46 years of age, married, father of an 11-year old son, employed as an illustrator, and by his account, enjoying a very happy life. To watch the WCCO-TV report, visit the WCCO Web site.

Kristin Anderson, Ph.D., was featured in a news report about cancer myths, scheduled to air on the 10 p.m.,Thursday, Oct. 13 newscast on WCCO-TV. Joanne Disch, Ph.D., director of the Densford Center for Nursing Leadership, spoked about cancer myths as a cancer survivor.

Michael Garwood, Ph.D., and Michael Nelson, M.D., were featured in a WCCO-TV news report about research they are doing on the use of MRI/MRS for better detection and treatment of breast cancer. To see the story, visit the WCCO Web site.

Levi Downs, M.D., and Doug Yee, M.D., were quoted in an article on breast cancer in the October issue of Minnesota Monthly magazine.

Cindy Blair, Ph.D., was quoted in an article by Reuters Health and listed on abcnews.com regarding her research finding that obese women face greater multiple myeloma risk, published in the journal Epidemiology.

Doug Yee, M.D., participated in a panel discussion about the disparities women in ethnic communities may face in getting screened and treated for breast cancer. The program was produced by TPT and aired Sunday evening.

September

Cancer Center members John Kersey, M.D., Walter Hall, M.D., Levi Downs, M.D., and Todd Tuttle, M.D. are featured in ads that are part of a campaign launched Sept. 19 by University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview and University of Minnesota Children 's Hospital and currently running throughout the Twin Cities and much of Minnesota on television, radio, newspapers and magazines until Thanksgiving. The entire campaign includes three TV commercials and three print ads about cancer, heart and pediatric services. The goal of the campaign is to showcase the importance of academic medicine and reinforce in the minds of Minnesotans why they should consider the University for their health care needs early on. To communicate this message, the ads feature physicians affiliated with UMPhysicians whose work reflects the strength of academic medicine. To see the ads and learn more about the campaign, visit the Web site.

August

Michael Garwood, Ph.D., Cancer Center member and associate director for Magnetic Resonance Research, was quoted in the Arizona Republic and Atlanta Journal Constitution about his most recent research on the use of MRI/MRS for breast cancer, published in the August issue of the journal Radiology.

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.

Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., is quoted in an article on "Studies clarify radiation therapy effects on rectum, heart", 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.

July

David Largaespada, Ph.D., leader of the Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, was quoted in reports about research on the Sleeping Beauty method (July 14 Nature) for identifying cancer-causing genes quicker and more accurately in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minnesota Public Radio, WCCO Radio and the NCI Bulletin. In addition, Lara Collier, Ph.D., first author on the Sleeping Beauty study, was interviewed by Pat Miles on her WCCO Radio show.

Michael Garwood, Ph.D., associate director of the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, wrote an article about MRI/MRS research for more accurate diagnosis and better treatment of breast cancer in the July issue of Minnesota Healthcare News.

June

Levi Downs, M.D., assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was interviewed by MPR reporter Cathy Wurzer on her Morning Edition program, June 7, about cervical cancer and the Patricia clinical trial he is leading here testing a vaccine against HPV.

Margot Cleary, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Minnesota's Hormel Institute and Cancer Center member, gave a podium presentation on prevention of mammary tumor development by intermittent caloric restriction at the DOD Era of Hope meeting in Philadelphia, June 8-11.

May

Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, was featured in a WCCO-TV news report about his research with zebrafish to study blood vessel growth for cancer.

Andrew Flood, Ph.D., epidemiologist, and David Rothenberger, M.D., colorectal surgeon, were quoted in reports by the Pioneer Press and WCCO-TV about a study in the May 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine that found colonoscopy is the most effective method for screening for colon cancer in women. Flood was a co-author on the study, which was led by an investigator at the University of Michigan. This study is the first large, evidence-based study on screening for colorectal cancer in women.

Julie Ross, Ph.D., Cancer Center member and associate professor of Epidemiology, was cited in an article in the Pioneer Press about the $2.6 million grant she recently received from the National Cancer Institute to lead a five-year study that will aim to determine why adult myeloid leukemia is more common in Minnesota than the rest of the nation.

Doug Yee, M.D., Nancy Baxter, M.D., Ph.D., and Todd Tuttle, M.D., were quoted in an article about breast cancer, "Forging Ahead on Scientific Advances Provides More Options for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment," May issue of Mpls/St. Paul magazine.

John Kersey, M.D., Doug Yee, M.D., Carol Lange, Ph.D., and Kathryn Schmitz, Ph.D., were quoted in another article, "A Research Epicenter”, and about clinical trials, May issue of Mpls/St. Paul magazine.

Mary Aherns, M.S., C.G.C., Adult and Pediatric Genetic Counselor, was quoted in an article about genetics counseling for breast cancer, May issue of Mpls/St. Paul magazine.

Levi Downs, M.D., is featured in an in-depth story which KARE-TV has developed for May on cervical cancer and HPV clinical trial. Also features a cervical cancer patient.

April

Michael Garwood, Ph.D., associate director, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, wrote an article about MRI/MRS research for breast cancer detection and treatment for the April issue of Minnesota Physician.

Jeffrey Miller, M.D., co-leader, Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, Matthew Mescher, Ph.D., director, Center for Immunology, and Philip McGlave, M.D., co-leader of the Translational Research Program, were quoted in the lead article, titled "The Contenders — Vaccines and Viruses Take Aim at Cancer Cells," April issue of Minnesota Medicine.

Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., member, Genetic Mechanisms of Cancer Program, was featured in an article about his research on tumor growth using zebrafish, April issue of Minnesota Medicine.

Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., leader, Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program, and Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., co-leader, Prevention and Etiology Program, wrote an article summarizing some of the research done at the University's Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center (TTURC), April issue of Minnesota Medicine.

Leslie Robison, Ph.D., co-leader, Prevention and Etiology Program, wrote an article about long-term outcomes among adult survivors of childhood cancer, April issue of Minnesota Medicine.

Donald Connelly, M.D., Ph.D., director, Informatics Core, was quoted in an article about the prostate cancer research project, part of the University, Mayo and state of Minnesota Genomics Partnership, April issue of Minnesota Medicine.

Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., was featured in a WCCO-TV news report about his recent study, "Light Cigarettes as Harmful as Regular Cigarettes."

March

Jeff Miller, M.D., and Stephen Ekker, Ph.D., are the focus of sidebar features to a major article in the April issue of the Mpls/St. Paul magazine titled "What Matters to Us: U of M at a Crossroads". The sidebar about Dr. Miller, headlined "Hunting the Big C" is about his research on natural killer cells. Dr. Ekker is featured in the sidebar, "Honey, I Shrunk the Micro Cells," about the emerging field of nanomedicine. Barbara Forster, chair-elect of the Cancer Center's Community Advisory Board, and Catherine Verfaillie, M.D., stem cell researcher, also are mentioned in the main article.

The announcement about Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., leader of the Cancer Center's Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program, recently receiving a $300,000 continuation research grant from the American Cancer Society for his research into prevention of tobacco-induced cancer is noted in the March issue of Business Journal.

Patrick Gaffney, M.D., was quoted in a recent article in the Rochester Post Bulletin about alternative remedies and cancer treatment.

Stephen Hecht, Ph.D. , leader of the Carcinogenesis and Chemoprevention Program, was recently quoted in news reports by the Pioneer Press, Minnesota Daily, MPR, KARE-11, KSTP-TV and WCCO Radio about a study he led titled "Similar Uptake of Lung Carcinogen by Smokers of Regular, Light and Ultra-light Cigarettes," published March 8 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D. , director of the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center, also was quoted about the same study in the Minnesota Daily article.

Bruce Blazar, Ph.D., leader of the Transplant Biology and Therapy Program, was quoted in a recent article about gene therapy in the Baltimore Sun. Dr. Blazar also was one of a handful of scientists from NCI-designated cancer centers to lecturer at the Inaugural Joint American-Israeli Conference on Cancer, March 16-18, in Jerusalem.

Don Connelly, M.D., professor of Lab Medicine and Pathology, and Michael Garwood, Ph.D, professor of Radiology-CMRR, were recently quoted in a Rochester Post-Bulletin series of articles about the Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics. The partnership involves four collaborative projects between the University, State of Minnesota and Mayo Clinic. Connelly is working with his Mayo colleague George Klee, M.D., Ph.D., to find a blood or tissue test to identify aggressive prostate cancers. Garwood is collaborating with Mayo's Joseph Poduslo, Ph.D., and Clifford Jack, M.D., to develop a better way to diagnose Alzheimer's disease.

January

Anne Joseph, M.D., M.P.H., Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center, was quoted in an article on "Quit Smoking," which was part of the cover article on "50 Ways to Fix Your Life" in U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 27 issue.