• share
• favorite_border

• share
• favorite_border

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is offering a clinical trial examining the investigational treatment known as ONC201 in patients with solid tumors whose cancer no longer responds to standard therapy. Prior research on the study drug suggests that it may be capable of turning off proteins that maintain tumor growth and and may help kill cancer cells while sparing normal ones.

• share
• favorite_border

Helping to advance scientific and clinical knowledge to combat cancers that affect the bladder, kidneys, urinary tract and male reproductive organs, physician scientists at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey are presenting their latest research in this area at the 2015 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. At focus are studies examining radical cystectomies and patients with uncontrolled diabetes and a look at how laparoscopic and robotic surgeries have evolved in adrenal cancers.

• share
• favorite_border

As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is preparing to issue a final ruling on whether it will extend its tobacco regulatory authority to electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), researchers from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Rutgers School of Public Health have identified strong support for a number of e-cigarette policies among smokers. Findings included strong support for advertising restrictions and placing warning labels for potential risks on the devices.

• share
• favorite_border

The mechanism by which small cellular vesicles promote melanoma metastasis (spread of disease), will be further explored by investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. The goal is to search for a possible correlation between exosome production and biologic response in patients with melanoma.

• share
• favorite_border

With President Obama’s recent State of the Union speech addressing the launch of a national precision medicine initiative to further tackle cancer and other diseases, Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS, a leading immunotherapy expert from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, weighs in on where we stand with precision immunology and personalized medicine and what needs to be accomplished.

• share
• favorite_border

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University demonstrates that a drug used to treat Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) helps radiation be more effective when it was administered to laboratory models with melanoma that had metastasized to the brain.

• share
• favorite_border

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is referring breast cancer patients to a clinical trial examining the side effects of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy on the brain. Referred to as “chemo brain,” these changes can affect a patient’s quality of life.

• share
• favorite_border

Aiming to increase treatment options for prostate cancer patients who have an early relapse, investigators from a multi-institutional cooperative group – including Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – have demonstrated that a vaccine therapy that stimulates the body’s own immune defenses can be given safely and earlier in the course of prostate cancer progression.

• share
• favorite_border

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey shows that a combination of doxil, carboplatin and bevacizumab is a well-tolerated treatment regimen in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who received no prior treatment for their metastatic disease. The work, which also included genomic profiling to measure molecular correlates of response, is being presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium being held this week in Texas.

• share
• favorite_border

When looking at cancer, measures of survival are a valuable tool to clinicians, researchers and public health officials. New Jersey State Cancer Registry Director and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey resident member Antoinette Stroup, PhD, further examines this topic comparing relative survival rates that use state life tables to traditional methods that use U.S.-based life tables.

• share
• favorite_border

A protein associated with poor survival in lung cancer patients will be further explored by investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey to uncover its role in lung cancer development and metastasis. A recently-awarded $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to Cancer Institute of New Jersey researcher Sharon R. Pine, PhD, will support the work.

• share
• favorite_border

A $1.5 million gift has been given to establish the Embrace Kids Foundation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The pledge will support the recruitment of an academic leader and research efforts in pediatric hematology/oncology.

• share
• favorite_border

Uncovering the mechanisms of a protein activator involved in promoting colorectal cancer, scientists from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey demonstrated that a small GTPase enzyme, known as Rab1A, is a key switch for amino acid signaling – a process that investigators say could play an important role in the development of malignancies and targeted cancer therapy.

• share
• favorite_border

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is one of 50 global sites to offer a clinical trial examining an investigational treatment for a rare cancer known as Merkel cell carcinoma.

• share
• favorite_border

A $5.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will help investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers School of Public Health and Roswell Park Cancer Institute expand their research into breast cancer in African-American women by exploring the impact of obesity and other health factors on survival and quality of life.

• share
• favorite_border

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is one of the many breast cancer-related entities nationwide that will benefit from the sale of the Pink Ribbon Bagel at Panera Bread® bakery-cafes during the month of October. The effort is in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is designed to raise awareness about the disease.

• share
• favorite_border

Recognized by colleagues across the state and nation for their dedication and skill, several physicians at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey have been named as a ‘Top Doctor’ by Inside Jersey magazine.

• share
• favorite_border

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is one of several worldwide sites to offer a clinical trial examining the investigational vaccine-based treatment PROSTVAC in patients with prostate cancer that is no longer responsive to hormone therapy and has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body. The goal of this immunotherapy study is to see if PROSTVAC improves survival when combined with a drug that helps boost the body’s ability to fight infection.

• share
• favorite_border

In an effort to learn why South Asians in New Jersey and New York City have low participation rates when it comes to some cancer screenings, researchers at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey are conducting a study to further explore this issue. The goal is to use the information to develop a program to help increase screening participation by this population.

• share
• favorite_border

A $10 million anonymous pledge will support a collaborative precision medicine effort between Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RUCDR Infinite Biologics aimed to help advance the treatment of patients with rare and resistant cancers that don’t respond to standard therapies.

• share
• favorite_border

The remodeling of a kitchen or bathroom changes the appearance of the room and improves its functionality. As investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Rutgers and Princeton Universities have demonstrated, a similar concept comes into play in remodeling proteins found within a family of cancers that does not respond well to cancer-treating drugs -- cancers driven by what is known as activated Ras.

• share
• favorite_border

Minimally invasive surgical procedures have become more common over the past decade, and when offered through a comprehensive program that has a specialized focus in this type of surgery “it is of great benefit to the patient,” says Mira Hellmann, MD, director of the new Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. The Center features more than 20 surgeons, who are specially trained in robotic and laparoscopic methods.

• share
• favorite_border

The method of treating cancer patients who have genomic abnormalities with drugs designed to target those abnormalities has resulted in higher response rates than previously seen. Often these discoveries are made as part of a clinical trial. Innovation of trial design and the need to streamline established processes for developing and executing these studies is more important than ever. A $600,000 gift from Jewels of Charity is fueling a comprehensive clinical trial initiative at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey that will address those needs.

• share
• favorite_border

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey shows a popular prostate cancer treatment that disables male hormones known to promote growth of prostate cancer lacks survival benefit for older men with localized disease. The study focuses on ADT, which for the past 15 years has become a popular alternative to surgery, radiation or conservative management when used as the only therapy.

• share
• favorite_border

Robert S. DiPaola, MD, director of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey has been selected to receive the Melvyn H. Motolinsky Research Foundation Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his accomplishments in the field of oncology. Dr. DiPaola who has international expertise as a prostate cancer physician and researcher, was viewed as a “luminary” in being chosen for this year’s honor, which is reserved for those who make a difference in the lives of many through leadership in healthcare, public health, public service or science.

• share
• favorite_border

The Breast Surgery Fellowship Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is receiving a $75,000 training grant from the Breast Cancer Alliance to support a surgical fellow for academic year 2014-2015. It is the third consecutive year that the non-profit entity has given this award to the program.

• share
• favorite_border

More than a third of all human cancers are driven by mutations in a family of genes known as Ras. Ras has long been considered to be a target that does not respond to cancer treating drugs, but recent research suggests new possibilities. Investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey have demonstrated that targeting a metabolic dependency downstream of Ras could provide therapeutic benefit to patients with Ras-driven lung cancers.

• share
• favorite_border

Susan Goodin, PharmD, executive director of statewide affairs at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, has been appointed as Executive Officer to the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium. Dr. Goodin will work closely with consortium members in the development of national cancer clinical trials stemming from collaborative science.

• share
• favorite_border

As the prevalence of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) continues to grow, research from investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Rutgers School of Public Health shows more defined survey measurements are needed to better identify established users. Key say the authors is delineating experimental or ever use – from adoption or established use.

• share
• favorite_border

Even though melanoma patients are at an increased risk of disease recurrence, research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey shows that many patients do not perform a regular, thorough self-exam of their skin or sufficiently engage in sun protection behaviors. To address these concerns, Elliot J. Coups, PhD, will explore developing a web-based intervention for this group with the help of a $2.5 million grant from the National Cancer Institute.

• share
• favorite_border

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey shows that the ‘first in man’ series of vaccine injections given directly into a pancreatic cancer tumor is not only well tolerated, but also suggests an “encouraging” period of stable disease. Results from a Phase I clinical trial conducted at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey are being presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Pancreatic Cancer conference in New Orleans this week.

• share
• favorite_border

Oncology nurses are involved in more than just administering therapies to cancer patients. In addition to providing treatment, nurses at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey also play a key role in research, peer mentoring and the development of both patient and nursing education materials. To recognize their expertise, the Cancer Institute honored its nurses with its annual Oncology Nursing Excellence Awards.

• share
• favorite_border

Addressing the complexities involved with a pre-surgical treatment regimen for some breast cancer patients, a pair of nurses at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey explored an educational initiative to better help patients navigate this process. Their research is being presented at the ONS Annual Congress this week.

• share
• favorite_border

While advances in cancer treatments have led to an increase in the number of childhood cancer survivors in the United States, this population faces significant health risks including early cardiovascular disease. To address this concern, Katie Devine, PhD, a behavioral scientist at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, will explore how a cancer-specific mobile application targeting physical activity might help this population. Dr. Devine recently was awarded an $824,000 Career Development Grant from the National Cancer Institute which will support this work.

• share
• favorite_border

A physician-scientist from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey who is studying ways to advance the molecular understanding of breast cancer has received a $181,000 grant to further this research with the aim of identifying new treatment approaches for more aggressive forms of the disease. Vassiliki Karantza, MD, PhD received the award at the Annual Meeting of the AACR held earlier this week in San Diego.

• share
• favorite_border

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey shows genomic profiling identifies genomic alterations in tumors that can be associated with targeted treatments for rare and poor prognosis cancers. Preliminary results are being presented this week at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting.

• share
• favorite_border

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey shows that the RUNX2 protein, which regulates the transcription of genetic messages responsible for the different functions of cells, may play a role in melanoma cell growth and spread and could serve as a therapeutic target for the disease.

• share
• favorite_border

Research from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey shows that a new function discovered for a long-studied enzyme could have implications for the diagnosis and treatment of some cancers and neurological disease. The work involves superoxide dismutase 1 (Sod1), an enzyme that for nearly half a century has been known to remove a specific radical byproduct created during the energy-producing process of cell metabolism.

• share
• favorite_border

Nearly 84,000 women each year are diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer, and 29,000 die from one of these diseases. Physician scientists at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey continue to advance scientific and clinical knowledge in this area and recently presented findings relating to cervical and endometrial cancers during the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s 45th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer this past week.

• share
• favorite_border

The movement to ‘personalize’ cancer treatments has grown significantly over the past few years, with researchers making advances in identifying targeted therapies and understanding what drives them. Aiming to further build on that momentum with the development of innovative early-phase clinical trials is Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Thanks to a $4.25 million NCI grant, Rutgers will collaborate with investigators from the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center to support a precision experimental therapeutics endeavor.

• share
• favorite_border

In a call to action against tobacco use, nationwide events are slated for March 19 – known as ‘Kick Butts Day.’ Experts at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Rutgers School of Public Health are available for comment on cessation efforts, the development of lung cancer and other health effects of smoking.

• share
• favorite_border

Richard Drachtman, MD, interim chief of pediatric hematology/oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey has been appointed as Vice Chair of the National Cancer Institute Pediatric Central Institutional Review Board (PedCIRB). Drachtman -- who is widely recognized for his clinical expertise and research in childhood cancer and sickle cell disease has served as a panel member since 2009.

• share
• favorite_border

Marking a decade of supporting research at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the Century for the Cure charity bike ride is gearing up for another successful year. The aim is to add to the $1.2 million already raised to support innovative early-stage clinical trials in leukemia, lymphomas and kidney cancer.

• share
• favorite_border

A gynecologic oncologist at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is the first in the central New Jersey region to have performed what is known as a single-incision hysterectomy using a robotic method. The ‘single port’ method strategically places the incision near the belly-button to achieve a somewhat ‘scarless’ surgery, where in some patients the scar is barely noticeable to not noticeable at all. A typical robotic hysterectomy would involve four or five such incisions. Mira Hellmann, MD, performed the procedure February 20.

• share
• favorite_border

Why do some young women frequently use indoor tanning beds, even though they know it can increase their chances of developing melanoma? And what can be done to help convince women to reduce that risk? These are questions Jerod L. Stapleton, PhD, a behavioral scientist at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, aims to answer with the help of nearly $700,000 in funding from the National Cancer Institute. The grant will support Dr. Stapleton’s examination of this activity and the development of a web-based behavioral intervention specifically tailored toward indoor tanning users' experiences.

• share
• favorite_border

Aiming to enhance its clinical research program, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is welcoming Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS, as Associate Director for Clinical Science. Dr. Kaufman, who is nationally recognized for his work in cancer immunology, is a recipient of major grant awards from the NIH and NCI and most recently was the director of the Rush University Cancer Center in Chicago.

• share
• favorite_border

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has awarded a pair of investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey a one-year, $240,000 grant to examine treatment implications for a genetic variation found in a quarter of Caucasians and in a small percentage of Caucasian breast cancer patients.

• share
• favorite_border

Several physicians at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey have been named as a ‘Top Doctor for Women’s Health’ by Inside Jersey magazine.

• share
• favorite_border

Creating an even greater impact on the southern New Jersey counties it serves, Atlantic City Electric is supporting the Val Skinner Foundation in its efforts to educate high school science teachers in delivering cancer biology curriculum to their students. Known as BioCONECT, the lessons, which focus on breast cancer, were developed by education experts from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Rutgers School of Public Health who conduct the workshops. South Jersey teachers participated in the most recent training session held last week.