Treating cancer often involves the use of high-tech equipment or spending hours at a time in the hospital. Now a new approach to controlling brain tumors is remarkably simple. For some patients, it’s as easy as taking a pill.
Hockey players have a reputation for being tough, but few have gone through what Holly Archer has. Holly’s been practicing and playing on her adult hockey team, while battling a brain tumor.
“My tumor was a glioblastoma multiform, which is a GBM, in short. Essentially when it was removed, it was the size of an orange,” says Holly.
Even after taking her tumor out, doctors knew they had to do more. So, like most other patients, they put Holly on a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.
“People have tried these kinds of chemo-radiation combo treatments for decades. It’s never worked - until now,” says Dr. Herbert Newton, an oncologist at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at Ohio State University.
What made the difference for Holly was something as simple as taking a pill. It’s a chemotherapy pill called temozolomide. After taking it for two years, Holly has no signs of cancer. Dr. Newton says that’s remarkable when you consider how deadly these brain tumors can be. But in one study, doctors were able to use this pill to make a dramatic difference.
“They were able to more than double the two-year survivor rate. The two-year survival rate went from roughly 10% to 26%,” says Newton. Most doctors will give patients the pill for six months as follow-up treatment. Newton gave it to Holly for two years. Now, with her tumor in check, Holly’s back on the ice - redefining just how tough and determined hockey players can truly be.
Not only are the pills convenient for patients to take, but doctors say the side effects are much more tolerable than traditional therapy. Holly goes back to the doctor every 4 months for a brain scan. So far, there are no signs of her tumor coming back.
Ohio State University
Two Mayo Clinic researchers who study the role nanoparticles may play in hardening of the arteries and in the formation of kidney stones, will lead a symposium on how these super-small particles may affect the body’s physiology. The symposium will take place April 8 at the Experimental Biology conference in San Diego.
Nanoparticles are a thousand times smaller than the bacteria, E. coli, but recent advances in microscopy have allowed researchers to watch them interact with cells in the body, said Virginia M. Miller and John C. Lieske of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. They will lead the symposium, “Using nanotechnology to answer physiological questions.”
One of the questions physiologists want to explore is whether nanoparticles can cause diseases such as atherosclerosis, kidney stones, gall stones and periodontal disease. Dr. Lieske is investigating how nano-sized crystals in the kidney can lead to the development of kidney stones. Dr. Miller has been studying the link between atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and nanoparticles which calcify within the arteries.
A fuller audio interview with the researchers is available at http://www.lifelines.tv/.
New technology: promise and peril?
Nanotechnology presents intriguing possibilities and some troubling unknowns. The technology is already applied in commercial products as disparate as flame resistant materials and cosmetics. In addition, the technology holds promise in the development of medications that can target precise areas of the body, such as a tumor.
Because of their size, nanoparticles may more easily gain entry to the body, where the longterm effects are unknown. Dr. Miller has found that some nanoparticles cause inflammation when injected into the blood vessels of animals, an early step in the development of atherosclerosis.
Using the latest in microscopy, Dr. Miller has begun to observe nanoparticles from atherosclerotic tissue. She hopes to determine how these particles gain access to cells and whether the interaction eventually leads to cell activation or death leading to calcification.
Kidneys stones start as tiny calcifications which later become larger and eventually develop into kidney stones. Dr. Lieske hypothesizes that the nanoparticle causes the initial calcification. Once that happens, other processes can take place that results in a kidney stone.
It is not yet known where nanoparticles that are implicated in kidney stones and atherosclerosis originate - whether our bodies contain them naturally or we obtain them from the environment.
Miller said research should proceed to determine if nanoparticles are safe over the long term. “We may not know some of the consequences until further down the road” she said.
Dr. Miller and Dr. Lieske will moderate a program on nanotechnology at Experimental Biology. The speakers are Vitaly Vodyanoy of the University of Auburn; Robert Lee of The Ohio State University; Kevin D. Gillis of the University of Missouri-Columbia and Farooq Shiekh of the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine will present at the symposium.
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Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or disease. The American Physiological Society (http://www.the-aps.org/) has been an integral part of this scientific discovery process since it was established in 1887.
Source: Christine Guilfoy
American Physiological Society
With more than a million new cases a year, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in this country.* If it’s caught early, skin cancer can be very treatable. For some people, however, it might be just a warning sign of more problems to come.
Susan Lasure says learning to embroider took a lot of patience and determination - qualities that have come in handy during her battle with cancer, which all started more than 12 years ago with a spot on her face. “It was a very fast-growing tumor. It was right on the side of my nose and it got big very quickly,” says Lasure.
Doctors removed the tumor and Susan thought her bout with cancer was over - but it was just beginning. Susan has a genetic condition called Muir-Torre syndrome. After developing colon cancer years later, doctors realized the tumor on her face was more significant than they thought. “Besides a family history, these skin tumors may be the only sort of warning sign that a patient may have of a hereditary cancer syndrome such as this,” says Dr. Chris South, an oncologist with the James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State University.
South says now that scientists have made the link between skin cancer and the risk of colorectal cancer, they might be able to use one to help prevent the other. In a recent study, doctors at the James say 6 out of 10 patients with colorectal cancer actually had skin cancer first - often years earlier.
“So that’s potentially 60% of colorectal cancers that could have been prevented through high-risk cancer screening and surveillance strategies,” says South.
Susan now undergoes regular tests to screen for other forms of cancer. Her family has been tested as well. A genetic test showed that Susan is the only one with Muir-Torre syndrome, which means the rest of her family most likely won’t face the same challenges she did.
Experts say if you have a history of cancer in your family, especially skin cancer and colorectal cancer, you should talk to a genetic counselor.
*Basal Cell Carcinoma, Skin Cancer Foundation, retrieved March 2008 at http://www.skincancer.org
Ohio State University
Researchers say the finding of lung cancer genes is an important discovery because it can provide ways to prevent and offer treatment for lung cancer and explain why some smokers get the disease and other don’t and how come people who never smoke can get lung cancer.
The teams in the United States, France and Iceland scoured the DNA of thousands of white smokers and non-smokers of European descent,with and without lung cancer, looking for genes that have been linked to smoking.
Researchers identified three genetic variants that if inherited, increase a person’s risk of developing lung cancer from 30 to 80 percent compared to those who do not have the genes.
While cigarette smoking is considered the number one risk factor for lung cancer, only fifteen percent of smokers eventually develops the disease, leading doctors to suspect genetics.
Mark Lathrop, co-author of one of the three studies, says it appears many more genes play a role in lung cancer but have yet to be identified. "Undoubtedly with larger studies of the same sort, we’ll be able to identify a number of further genetic factors that are involved in the predisposition," he said.
Investigators say that smokers who inherit a full complement of the genetic variants have a twenty-three percent increased risk of developing lung cancer.
In all three studies, investigators found a link between smoking and nicotine. But only one team of scientists identified a genetic variation that they say causes addiction to nicotine, including how much a person smokes.
For now, researchers say it’s unlikely their work will lead to some kind of a genetics test to determine who is and is not at high risk for lung cancer.
"There’s not a public health message here that you know you can find what version of the gene you have and decide whether to keep on smoking or not. Because then also you have to bear in mind that there are so many other diseases that are caused by smoking," said Paul Brennan of the International for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, who is a senior author of one of the studies.
But investigators say identifying genetic variants in gives scientists targets that can lead to new drugs to treat and possibly prevent lung cancer, a leading cause of cancer death around the world.
Meanwhile, investigators say they are now conducting studies involving Asians and Americans of African descent to try to identify genetic abnormalities that increase the risk of lung cancer in those populations.
Two of the studies on lung cancer were published in the journal Nature and one of the studies in the sister journal, Nature Genetics.
HumanaDental Insurance Co., part of the Humana Specialty Benefits family of supplemental benefits offered by Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), will provide oral-cancer screening to HumanaDental members (age 40 and older) enrolled in the company’s fully insured dental plans.
“One person dies of oral cancer every hour in the United States,” said Mark Matzke, chief operating officer, HumanaDental. “Because early detection is the key to fighting this disease, we’re pleased to offer this coverage as part of our commitment to promoting oral health, which is directly linked to overall health.”
“ViziLite® Plus with TBlue630″ - the cancer-screening procedure - is simple, quick, pain-free and effective. HumanaDental will cover the screening once a year beginning April 1, 2008.
An annual ViziLite Plus exam, after a conventional visual examination, represents an integral part of comprehensive oral-cancer screenings. The screenings help dentists detect oral cancer in its early stages, as well as precancerous tissue.
After the patient rinses with a special solution, the dentist examines the mouth with a disposable light stick. Under the light, abnormal tissue appears bright white; the dentist marks it with a temporary dye called TBlue630.
A recently published clinical study revealed that using ViziLite Plus with TBlue630 detected 100 percent of cancers and lesions at highest risk of becoming cancer. Oral cancer is found primarily in tobacco users or heavy drinkers, but new research shows a common strain of the sexually transmitted HPV virus also accounts for a significant percentage of all oral cancer cases in the U.S.
ViziLite Plus with TBlue630 is a product of Zila Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ZILA); more information is available at www.vizilite.com. To learn more about oral cancer, visit www.oralcancerfoundation.org.
About HumanaDental
HumanaDental Insurance Company is one of the nation’s ten largest U.S. dental insurers. HumanaDental’s product portfolio features options to meet any employer’s benefit and budget needs. HumanaDental’s dentist network - now topping 106,000 dentist locations - enables members and their families to benefit from negotiated discounts by choosing in-network dentists.
HumanaDental markets and administers dental insurance plans under the license names HumanaDental Insurance Company, Employers Health Insurance Company, The Dental Concern Inc., and The Dental Concern, Ltd. More information on HumanaDental is available online at http://www.humanadental.com.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with approximately 11.5 million medical members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions company, offering a wide array of health and supplementary benefit plans for employer groups, government programs and individuals.
Over its 47-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at http://www.humana.com:
-Annual reports to stockholders
-Securities and Exchange Commission filings
-Most recent investor conference presentations
-Quarterly earnings news releases
-Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
-Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
-Corporate Governance Information
http://www.humana.com
PyroMarkTMQ24 is the new Biotage Pyrosequencing(R) platform, which is being launched in March. The Molecular Pathology at the Dept of Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital, is evaluating the new PyroMark Q24TM to implement the Pyrosequencing® technology in cancer diagnostics.
Several novel drugs against the growth hormone receptor EGFR have been recently approved for the treatment of advanced colorectal- and lung cancer. The efficacy of all of these drugs is strongly connected to the mutation status of the gene k-ras. Many studies give evidence that patients with k-ras mutation do not response to EGFR-inhibitor treatment; in contrast patients without mutation are much more likely to benefit significantly from this therapy in these often fatal cancer forms.
Biotage provides an established assay for the determination of this clinical relevant mutation. The assay determines contiguous, multi-variable mutations at codons 12 and 13 of the K-ras gene, as well as rare mutations in codon 61. Initial focus of the molecular pathology group is to test the k-ras assay on the new PyroMarkTMQ24 platform for clinical cancer diagnostics. Dr. Patrick Micke from the Dept of Pathology stresses the clinical importance to implement robust and sensitive molecular analyses in cancer diagnostics. “We have had good experience with the PyroMark system within a previous clinical research project. Therefore we were interested in extending the collaboration into clinical practice. As a result we are able to provide the mutation analysis already today for clinicians. In the next month we will carefully test the system and, in cooperation with other pathology centers, compare it to other methods.”
“We are very pleased to collaborate with the Uppsala University Hospital. Our future strategy is to explore the diagnostic and clinical research market with our innovative solutions for genetic analysis. We believe that the new Biotage Pyrosequencing® platform together with new diagnostic kits is coming to play an important role in future genomic cancer diagnostics. Genomic analysis of cancer associated genes might predict prognosis, tendency of disease recurrence, or the response to different cancer therapies. The collaboration with Dr. Micke and his team is one of several efforts that we expect to lead into further future product developments.” says Torben J?rgensen, CEO & President of Biotage.
About Biotage
Biotage is a global company active in life science research with strong technologies, a broad range of operations and a long-term view of the market. The company offers solutions, knowledge and experience in the areas of genetic analysis and medicinal chemistry. In 2007 operations and products were acquired from the American company Argonaut, further strengthening the medicinal chemistry product range. The customers include the worlds top 30 pharmaceutical companies, the worlds top 20 biotech companies, and leading academic institutes. The company is headquartered in Uppsala and has offices in the U.S., Japan, UK, Germany and several other European countries. Biotage has 336 employees and had sales of 496,4 MSEK in 2007. Biotage is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm AB. Website: http://www.biotage.com
About the Molecular Pathology Unit at the Department of Pathology
The molecular pathology facility provides a divisional resource for molecular testing of human tissue specimens with diagnostic purpose. Clinical activities include the molecular analyses of haematological and solid tumour malignancies, as well as the detection of oncogenic viral infections. Molecular testing can be applied as supplements for diagnostics but also to predict response to therapy or provide prognostic information. Additionally, the facility provides a state-o-the-art equipped platform to develop, evaluate and establish upcoming molecular analyses at the intersection of research and clinical application.
The Molecular Pathology is located in the Rudbeck Laboratory that is a joint venture between Uppsala University Hospital and Uppsala University and a substantial investment in genetic and cancer research. It houses research groups in genetics, pathology, tumour biology, oncology, radiation science and immunology, as well as the clinical departments of pathology, clinical genetics and immunology. Website: http://www.rudbeck.uu.se
Doctors’ quest to see what is happening inside a living body has been hampered by the limits on detecting tiny components of internal structures and events. Now a team of Stanford University School of Medicine researchers has developed a new type of imaging system that can illuminate tumors in living subjects-getting pictures with a precision of nearly one-trillionth of a meter.
This technique, called Raman spectroscopy, expands the available toolbox for the field of molecular imaging, said team leader Sanjiv Sam Gambhir, MD, PhD, professor of radiology. He is the senior author of a study describing the method that was published in the March 31 advance online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“This is an entirely new way of imaging living subjects, not based on anything previously used,” said Gambhir, who directs the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford. He said signals from Raman spectroscopy are stronger and longer-lived than other available methods, and the type of particles used in this method can transmit information about multiple types of molecular targets simultaneously.
“Usually we can measure one or two things at a time,” he said. “With this, we can now likely see 10, 20, 30 things at once.”
Gambhir said he believes this is the first time Raman spectroscopy has been used to image deep within the body, using tiny nanoparticles injected into the body to serve as beacons. When laser light is beamed from a source outside the body, these specialized particles emit signals that can be measured and converted into a visible indicator of their location in the body.
Gambhir compared the Raman spectroscopy work to the development of positron emission tomography discovered 20 or 30 years ago. PET has become a routine hospital imaging technique that uses radioactive molecules to generate a three-dimensional image of body biochemistry. “Nobody understood the impact of PET then,” he said, referring to its discovery. “Ten or 15 years from now, people should appreciate the impact of this.”
Imaging of animals and humans can be done using a few different methods, including PET, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, optical bioluminescence and fluorescence and ultrasound. However, said Gambhir, none of these methods so far can fulfill all the desired qualities of an imaging tool, which include being able to finely detect small biochemical details, being able to detect more than one target at a time and being cheap and easy to use.
Gambhir’s group turned to making good use of the Raman effect, the physical phenomenon that occurs when light from a source such as a laser is shined on an object. When the light hits the object, roughly one in 10 million photons bouncing off the object’s molecules has an increase or decrease in energy-called Raman scattering. This scattering pattern, called a spectral fingerprint, is unique to each type of molecule and can be measured.
Postdoctoral scholars Shay Keren, PhD, and Cristina Zavaleta, PhD, co-first authors of the study, found a way to make Raman spectroscopy a medical tool. To get there, they used two types of engineered Raman nanoparticles: gold nanoparticles and single-wall carbon nanotubes.
First, they injected mice with the some of the nanoparticles. To see the nanoparticles, they used a special microscope that the group had adapted to view anesthetized mice exposed to laser light. The researchers could see that the nanoparticles migrated to the liver, where they were processed for excretion.
To be able to detect molecular events, said Zavaleta, they labeled separate batches of spectrally unique Raman nanoparticles with different “tags” - peptides or antibodies - and then injected them into the body simultaneously to see where they went. For example, if each type of particle migrated to a different tumor site, the newly developed Raman microscope would enable the researchers to separate the signals from each batch of particles.
As part of this proof-of-principle work, Gambhir’s team tagged the gold nanoparticles with different pieces of proteins that homed in on different tumor molecules.
“We could attach pretty much anything,” said Gambhir. The Raman effect also lasts indefinitely, so the particles don’t lose effectiveness as indicators as long as they stay in the body.
Using a microscope they modified to detect Raman nanoparticles, the team was able to see targets on a scale 1,000 times smaller than what is now obtainable by the most precise fluorescence imaging using quantum dots.
When adapted for human use, they said, the technique has the potential to be useful during surgery, for example, in the removal of cancerous tissue. The extreme sensitivity of the imager could enable detection of even the most minute malignant tissues.
Gambhir’s lab is further studying these Raman nanoparticles to follow their journey throughout the body over the course of several days before they are excreted. They are also optimizing the particle size and dosage, and are evaluating the particles for potential toxicity. Gambhir is publishing a study in the March 30 issue of Nature Nanotechnology indicating that the carbon nanotubes are not likely toxic in mice.
A clinical trial is planned to test the gold nanoparticles in humans for possible use in conjunction with a colonoscopy to indicate early-stage colorectal cancer.
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This work was funded by the National Institutes for Health, including the Center for Cancer Nanotechnology Excellence. Other Stanford researchers who contributed to this work are: Zhen Cheng, PhD, assistant professor of diagnostic radiology; graduate student Adam de la Zerda and Oliver Gheysens, PhD, a former postdoctoral scholar.
Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions - Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center’s Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu/.
Source: Mitzi Baker
Stanford University Medical Center
Regular monitoring with positron emission tomography (PET) scanning - which detects changes in the function of cells - achieves earlier detection of recurrences of colorectal cancer than conventional scanning that simply looks at the structure of body tissues, a prospective study has shown.
Colorectal cancer - cancer affecting the lower part of the digestive tract - is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries. Most people newly diagnosed with the disease undergo surgery to completely remove their tumour. However, approximately half of people who have curative surgery go on to develop recurrent disease. The median survival after surgery is two years. Adjuvant chemotherapy - anticancer drug treatment given just after surgery - improves the prognosis, but one-third of patients having this treatment still suffer a recurrence within two years after surgery.
Surgery to remove metastases in the liver or lung in people who have a recurrence of colorectal cancer improves survival so that 35-40% are alive after five years. This means that it is very important to follow up patients with colorectal cancer regularly to detect recurrence as early as possible so that tumour tissue can be removed and their chances of survival improved. Most people have regular clinical examinations and computed tomography (CT) scans, which provide detailed images of structures inside the body, to look for signs of recurrence.
French researchers carried out a study to see if functional positron emission tomography (PET) imaging - looking at the function of body cells by measuring their use of a radio-labelled isotope of glucose (18fluorodeoxyglucose, 18FDG) - could detect recurrences of colorectal cancer earlier than CT imaging. They randomly allocated 130 patients who had undergone curative surgery for colorectal cancer followed by chemotherapy to regular follow-up with conventional tests or with PET scans.
All the patients had six follow-up appointments, starting from the ninth month after their initial surgery and continuing to 24 months or their death. They had a physical examination, measurement of biological markers for cancer, an ultrasound scan every three months (replaced by abdominal CT scans after 9 and 15 months) and a chest X-ray every six months. Patients in the PET group also had 18FDG-PET scans after 9 and 15 months.
Results showed that recurrence occurred in 46 patients - 25 in the FDG-PET group and 21 in the group having conventional follow-up. Use of PET scans revealed unexpected tumours in a further three patients.
Recurrences were detected after a significantly shorter time with PET scanning (12.1 months, on average) compared with conventional follow-up (15.4 months, P=0.01). Recurrences in the PET group were also more frequently cured by surgery, with 10 patients with recurrence being cured, compared with only two patients in the group not having PET scans.
Professor Iradj Sobhani, Université Paris 12 et H?pital Henri Mondor, Paris, France, and lead author of the study, commented: “We showed that FDG-PET is a valuable adjunct to conventional follow-up. Using this new follow-up strategy increased the rate of curative resection by allowing us to detect recurrences of colorectal cancer at an earlier stage.” He added: “Regular FDG-PET monitoring in the follow up of colorectal cancer patients may permit the earlier detection of recurrence. We would expect improved patient survival if such as follow-up programme was undertaken.”
PET scanners have now been developed that can detect smaller tumours than the machine used in the French study. The study authors noted that coupled PET and CT scans appears to provide more accurate diagnoses than using the techniques separately. They predicted that using combined PET-CT scans would make it easier to correctly determine the stage of a patient’s cancer, although more research is needed to confirm this.
Early detection of recurrence by 18FDG-PET in the follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer I Sobhani, E Tiret, R Lebtahi, T Aparicio, E Itti, F Montravers, C Vaylet, P Rougier, T Andre, JM Gornet, D Cherqui, C Delbaldo, Y Panis, JN Talbot, M Meignan, and D Le Guludec
British Journal of Cancer (2008) 98, 875-880. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6604263. Published online 26 February 2008
Cancer Research Summaries are overviews of important cancer research findings that have been reported in leading cancer publications. The Cancer Research Summaries are provided by the Cancer Media Service Cancer Media Service (CMS) in collaboration with Nature Clinical Practice Oncology.
“This summary is provided by the European School of Oncology’s Cancer Media Service”http://www.cancerworld.org/mediaservice
A young Hunter cancer researcher will visit the United States to meet with some of the world’s leading cancer researchers and establish research alliances for our region.
Gladys M. Brawn Memorial Post Doctoral Research Fellow Dr Nikola Bowden from the University of Newcastle has been awarded a PULSE Education Prize to attend two international cancer research meetings in San Diego.
Dr Bowden will present the results of her early research into a rare childhood skin cancer disorder, Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP), at the world’s largest cancer meeting, the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research. She will also attend the Illumina User Group Meeting to learn from experts in genetic research.
The prize is supported by PULSE, a group of young Hunter business people who organise social events to raise money for the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s (HMRI) early career researchers.
“As a young researcher, it is most valuable to establish collaborations with other research groups beyond the Hunter. Even though we have a lot of expertise here, talking and exchanging details of recent findings with researchers from international research centres is one of the fastest ways to enhance our research,” said Dr Bowden.
“Xeroderma Pigmentosum affects 1 in 250,000 people and results in extreme sensitivity to UV light and a significantly increased risk of sunlight induced skin cancer. As the number of XP patients is quite low in Australia, initiating a collaboration with XP researchers overseas will increase the number of patients involved in my research. This will provide better results and will help me to attract continued funding for my research.
“International collaborations increase the level of expertise in the Hunter region and also assist in highlighting the high level of expertise we already have here.”
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Dr Bowden’s XP research is funded by the Matthew Heaney Memorial Trust and HMRI Life Governor Jennie Thomas.
Dr Bowden is a member of the University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre for Bioinformatics, Biomarker Discovery and Information Based Medicine and works in collaboration with HMRI’s Information Based Medicine Research Program. HMRI is a partnership between the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health and the community.
Source: Lauren Eyles
Research Australia
Former chief medical officer for both Scotland and England, Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, is the new chair of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), it was announced today Tuesday 1 April.
Prof Calman will take up the post with immediate effect. He takes over from the national cancer director for England, Professor Mike Richards, who steps down after two years in the role. Professor Richards will continue to be a member of the NCRI board.
The NCRI, which is a UK-wide organisation, consists of 20 government and charity partners as well as the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. It was set up in 2001 to facilitate joint planning for cancer research. In total, NCRI partners have an annual spend on cancer research exceeding ￡400M.
Professor Richards said: “I’m delighted Professor Calman has been appointed as chairman. Sir Kenneth will bring his extensive experience as a cancer clinician, a researcher and as a senior manager to this role.
“The NCRI has continued to go from strength to strength in recent years and its role has never been more important. The country’s growing ageing population means that the number of people who get cancer will continue to go up. And this presents a number of challenges for the future.”
In his role as chief medical officer for England, Professor Calman co-authored a report* which recommended the radical restructuring of cancer services to improve treatment outcomes and reduce inequalities. The report was the precursor to the government’s Cancer Plan, which delivered this restructuring.
Kenneth Calman was professor of oncology at the University of Glasgow. He is currently chancellor of the university and will take up his new role with the NCRI in addition to this post. He is also a Cancer Research UK trustee and a former member of the World Health Organisation’s executive board.
Professor Calman said: “I’m joining the NCRI at an exciting time - just as the organisation enters a new five year strategic plan. Cancer research is a fast moving field and we will be focussing on new priorities - such as providing care and support for cancer survivors, and early detection and diagnosis. The strategic planning and coordination that the NCRI provides will be crucial in delivering on these.
“We will help the funders understand the challenges of supporting research in these areas, and we will develop joint plans to promote and deliver this work.”
Notes
*A policy framework for commissioning cancer services: a report by the expert advisory group on cancer to the chief medical officers of England and Wales. Calman and Hine. 1995.
The 2008 NCRI Cancer Conference will be held at the ICC, Birmingham, from 5-8 October. Details available on the NCRI Cancer Conference website.
The NCRI was established in April 2001. It is a partnership between government, the voluntary sector and the private sector, with the primary mission of maximising patient benefit that accrues from cancer research in the UK through coordination of effort and joint planning towards an integrated national strategy for cancer research.
The NCRI consists of: The Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI); The Association for International Cancer Research; The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; Breakthrough Breast Cancer; Breast Cancer Campaign; Cancer Research UK; Children with Leukaemia; Department of Health; Economic and Social Research Council; Leukaemia Research Fund; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research; Macmillan Cancer Support; Marie Curie Cancer Care; The Medical Research Council; Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Research & Development Office; Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation; Scottish Government Health Directorates ; Tenovus; Welsh Assembly Government; Wellcome Trust and Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Cancer Research UK