Cancer lines [2001 : fall]

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center University of North Carolina School of Medicine & UNC Health Care Fall 2001 UNC LINEBERGER COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CENTER • Director’s q Message Childhood Cancer: UNC Treats the Whole Family Childhood cancer is complicated. First, it’s rare — only about 130 in a million chil¬ dren will be diagnosed annually in the U.S. Second, treatment often cures the initial cancer — about 75 percent — but also can result in complications later in life, includ¬ ing the rare development of second malig¬ nancies. Finally, more than any other can¬ cer, it involves the entire family and not just the patient. Despite its rarity and improvements in treatment and supportive care, childhood cancers are the second leading cause of death in children after accidents. The most common is leukemia, accounting for al¬ most 30 percent of childhood cancers. The most common type of leukemia is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), which accounts for about two-thirds of the leukemias. Rare As Truffles “Common adult cancers are carcinomas, such as lung and colon cancers, and are very rare in childhood,” notes Brent Weston, associate professor of pediatrics in the Hematology/ Oncology Division. “In children, cancer is less toxin- or environment-related and more virus-related or hereditary. Because most pediatric tumors are tissue-specific rather than organ-specific, they can be challenging to diagnose.” According to American Cancer Society statistics, about 8,600 children under the age of 15 in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer this year. “Because there are so few cases and fewer tumors, there has to be good coordination among cancer centers,” explains Julie Blatt, professor and chief of the Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology Division. “We do cooperative group trials which allow us to monitor types of treatments over time to deter¬ mine which are most effective.” Pediatric Oncology Team. Front row (left-right) : Dr. Rupa Redding- Lallinger; Linda Mansmann, oncology nurse; Dr. Julie Blatt, chief, of pedi¬ atric hematology-oncology; Dr. Stuart Cold; and Dr. Matt Richardson (fellow). Back Row (left-right): Mary Brookins, clinic nurse; Michael Musty, data manager; Dr. Brent Weston; Rose Dunaway, oncology nurse; Barbara Cheek; receptionist Khadijah Farrakahan, receptionist; Dr. Mike Douva (fellow); Dr. Paul Monahan; and Fran Wright, muse practitioner. Not pic¬ tured are Dr. Herb Cooper; Kristi Geib, oncology nurse practitioner; Gwen Konsley oncology nurse; and Verity Kromalt, clinic nurse. Stuart Gold, associate professor of pediatrics, is the principal investigator for UNC to Children’s Oncology Group — the largest cooperative group in the world caring for child¬ hood cancer. The group undertakes randomized clinical trial as well as Phase 1 and 11 studies identifying new agents. “These trials incorporate laboratory/genetic research as well,” Gold says. “We send in tumor tissue to a central bank for distri¬ bution to researchers looking into better treatments, the etiol¬ ogies of childhood cancers and the genetic basis of disease.” The group also initiates studies on supportive care, quality of life and nursing. continued on page 3 Breast Cancer SPORE Renewed A highly competitive national review by the National Cancer Institute awarded the Center a $12.5 million renewal of its Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in breast cancer with one of the best ratings in the history of the SPORE program. Featured are projects using fundamental research to create novel therapies for advanced breast cancer and pioneering methods for genetically defining new sub- types of breast cancer and their response to therapy. Ground¬ breaking investigations into the disparities in incidence, mortality and morbidity between African-American and Caucasian women will take on new dimensions as we follow up outcomes in over 4,000 breast cancer cases. Full story in the next issue of Cancer Lines. America’s Top Doctors 2001 list Published. We’re extremely pleased that UNC had 53 doctors on this list in all specialties, and particularly excited that 19 of the 53 are UNC Lineberger faculty.