Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) has awarded a research grant to Dr. Christine Molmenti from the Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology, and Prevention, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and Heather Hampel from The Ohio State University. Wexner Medical Center.
Their research, titled “A feasibility study to determine history of advanced adenoma(s) among first-degree relatives of early-onset colorectal cancer patients participating in the Ohio Colorectal Cancer Prevention Initiative” ultimately aims to determine the prevalence of advanced adenomas among first-degree relatives of Early-Age Onset (EAO) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.
Experts available for comment include:
Andrea (Andi) Dwyer, Director of Health Promotion, Fight Colorectal Cancer
Andrea (Andi) Dwyer is a public health practitioner from the University of Colorado Cancer Center and Colorado School of Public Health. She joined Fight CRC in 2014 to develop a health education program that provides relevant and timely information to survivors, caregivers, and families. As the co-director of the Colorado Colorectal Screening Program, she is a leader in patient navigation and established one of the largest screening patient navigation programs in the country.
Andi received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from Regis Jesuit University in Denver, Colorado and is a student within the Colorado School of Public Health. In addition to her role at Fight CRC, she serves as research program director working in the dissemination and implementation of science with a focus on cancer survivorship. She is on the Steering Committee with the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, and Co-Chair of the Evidence-Based Education and Outreach Task Group and has served as a leader on the Colorado Cancer Coalition.
QUOTE: “Currently, little is known about the behavior of advanced adenomas in early-age onset colorectal cancer patients. We’re very excited to fund this research because these are ideas that have been vetted among groups, including the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT), and now Fight CRC is working collaboratively with both researchers and experts globally to critically think about next steps. There’s a lot of hypotheses around early-age onset colorectal cancer and furthering this work will help validate the fundamental looming question of why we’re seeing an increase in young adults.”
Dr. Christine Molmenti, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health
Christine L. Sardo Molmenti, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor and Cancer Epidemiologist, Department of Occupational Medicine, Epidemiology, and Prevention, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and in the Center for Health Innovations and Outcomes Research.
Since 2003, Dr. Molmenti been integrally involved in the design and conduct of cancer chemoprevention clinical trials and epidemiologic pooling studies specifically focused on colorectal cancer, colorectal adenomas, and risk factors related to the occurrence and recurrence of colorectal cancer. She has also worked extensively with the public in the area of nutrition education and cancer prevention. She has served on the Surgeons General National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship as part of an interdisciplinary team to develop evidence-based goals and strategies to advance national initiatives on cancer prevention and survivorship. She is a member of the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT), and leads the NCCRT’s Advanced Adenoma Working Group. She is a member of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (CCA) Medical Scientific Advisory Committee and Co-Chair of CCA’s Peer Review Grants Program. She completed a NCI Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cancer Epidemiology at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in 2016.
QUOTE: “Our recently funded Fight CRC grant allows us to begin to uncover the impact of having a first-degree relative with an advanced polyp on the burden of early-onset disease and contribute to the body of emerging literature about this early onset cancer, with no known cause. Our work has the potential to yield important clinical implications by raising awareness among gastroenterologists and primary care physicians to improve communication of colonoscopy findings and colorectal cancer risk to family members in order to promote and ensure adequate uptake of screening guidelines.
Heather Hampel, MS, Licensed Genetic Counselor, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Division of Human Genetics
Heather Hampel, MS has been a cancer genetic counselor since 1995 and is a faculty member in the Division of Human Genetics.
Her clinical duties include providing comprehensive cancer genetic consultations to individuals and families with a history of cancer. Cancer genetic consultation requires tremendous documentation of cancers in the family, risk assessment, screening recommendations and incorporation of genetic testing as necessary.
Ms. Hampel's research interests include screening all colorectal and endometrial cancer patients for Lynch syndrome, the American Founder Mutation (exon 1-6 deletion in MSH2) as a cause of Lynch syndrome and the etiology of MSI-negative familial colorectal cancers. Ms. Hampel is currently serving a five-year term on the American Board of Genetic Counselors (ABGC) and was elected to serve as the president of ABGC for 2009.
QUOTE: “Research on early-age onset colorectal cancer is critically important so that we can identify the risk factors and work toward prevention. In this case, we would like to identify what proportion of EAO CRC is potentially preventable. We know what proportion of EAO CRC patients has a hereditary cancer syndrome and or a family history of colorectal in a first-degree relative. Now, we would like to know what proportion of EAO CRC patients has a first-degree relative with an advanced adenoma. These cancers are potentially preventable if the familial risk factor is identified and earlier cancer surveillance is initiated.”
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About the OSUCCC – James
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute strives to create a cancer-free world by integrating scientific research with excellence in education and patient-centered care, a strategy that leads to better methods of prevention, detection and treatment. Ohio State is one of only 49 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers and one of only a few centers funded by the NCI to conduct both phase I and phase II clinical trials on novel anticancer drugs sponsored by the NCI. As the cancer program’s 308-bed adult patient-care component, The James is one of the top cancer hospitals in the nation as ranked by U.S. News & World Report and has achieved Magnet® designation, the highest honor an organization can receive for quality patient care and professional nursing practice. At 21 floors and with more than 1.1 million square feet, The James is a transformational facility that fosters collaboration and integration of cancer research and clinical cancer care.
About Northwell Health and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, 665 outpatient facilities and more than 18,500 affiliated physicians. Northwell cares for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from their communities. Our 66,000 employees – 16,000-plus nurses and 4,000 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. Northwell is making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. They training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies.
An integral part of the Northwell Health System, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research is a disease-oriented biomedical research institution. The Feinstein Institute is dedicated to scientific translational and clinical research with the goal of transforming clinical practice. The Feinstein currently receives approximately $40 million annually in funding from NIH and other federal agencies, as well as strong support from the Northwell Health System. The Institute supports a number of shared core facilities for the use of investigators. Among those is the Merinoff Center for Patient-Oriented Research and the Center of Health Innovations and Outcomes Research (CHIOR). The CHIOR conducts multidisciplinary research examine all levels of healthcare delivery, from patient-provider interactions to federal policy regulations, and contribute to developing clinical practice improvements, reducing disparities and healthcare costs.
About Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC)
Fight CRC is a trusted, national nonprofit advocacy organization fighting for a cure. It was founded in 2005 by Nancy Roach, a patient advocate who witnessed the need for colorectal cancer advocacy after her mother-in-law’s diagnosis. The organization plays an important role in rallying colorectal cancer advocates to action. Fight CRC is known for activism and patient empowerment throughout patient, academic, political, scientific, medical, and nonprofit communities. With a mission focused on advocacy, research, patient education and awareness, the organization serves advocates in every state of the U.S. and many others around the world. Fight CRC is rated Platinum by nonprofit monitoring group GuideStar and is recognized as a 4-star charity by Charity Navigator. To learn more, visit FightCRC.org
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