Surgery Department Chair Peter Scardino spoke about biomarkers developed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering that, when used together with PSA tests, can reduce the need for prostate biopsies by more than 50 percent.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering patient Seun Adebiyi launched Nigeria’s national bone marrow registry after experiencing firsthand the difficulty of finding donors for patients of African descent.
Dermatologist Kishwer Nehal was interviewed about research from Missouri University of Science and Technology that looked at what happens to cells containing zinc oxide when exposed to sunlight.
Gynecologic oncologist Douglas Levine spoke about risk-reducing surgery for carriers of BRCA gene mutations. BRCA gene mutations, which are much more prevalent in Jewish people of Ashkenazi descent than in the general population, increase the likelihood of developing ovarian or breast cancer.
Medical oncologist Jedd Wolchok was interviewed about immunotherapy – the harnessing of the body’s immune system to fight cancer – and how it has turned certain cancers into chronic diseases for patients rather than fatal ones.
Michel Sadelain, Center for Cell Engineering Director, discussed encouraging findings of a recent study that found that HIV patients given gene therapy more than a decade ago are healthy and the altered DNA they received remains stable in their bodies. The study suggests that this treatment may safely be tested as a way to attack other illnesses.
Diagnostic radiologist Carol Lee spoke about mammography for women in their 40s. Recent studies suggest that women with a low risk of breast cancer do not need regular mammograms until age 50, but Dr. Lee warns that the studies “may discourage women who don’t have an identifiable risk factor from seeking screening, and therefore the potential lifesaving benefit of screening won’t be realized.”
Director of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Center for Health Policy and OutcomesPeter Bach continued his discussion with American historian and broadcaster Richard Heffner about the cost of medical care.
Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program Chair Charles Sawyers spoke about the excitement around the emerging role of DNA in the fight against cancer. He said, “There has never been a time of greater optimism about the future of cancer therapy.”
Dermatology Service Chief Allan Halpern offered skin cancer prevention tips and discussed sun safety with Martha Stewart and Debra Black of the Melanoma Research Alliance.
Pain and Palliative Care Service Chief Paul Glare commented on a study that found that as many as one-third of cancer patients may be receiving inadequate treatment to control their pain, even though many medicines are available to help.
Department of Surgery Chair Peter Scardino discussed prostate cancer diagnosis, screening, and treatment in light of Warren Buffet’s announcement that he will undergo radiation therapy for stage I prostate cancer.
Breast Surgical Service Chief Monica Morrow was interviewed about the advantages of a new, more patient-friendly approach called radioactive seed localization, which is being used to locate and remove very small breast cancers that can only be seen by mammography.
Head of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Basking Ridge Dermatology Section Steven Wang spoke about new FDA guidelines for sun-protection products, including cosmetics with sunscreen. The new guidelines state that products must pass a test to show they protect against both UVA and UVB rays and must clearly be labeled “broad spectrum” followed by an SPF number.
Thoracic Oncology Service Chief Mark Kris spoke with CNN’s Erin Burnett about the collaboration between Memorial Sloan-Kettering and IBM to develop a supercomputer to support oncologists based upon IBM’s Watson technology. He said, “The beautiful thing about Watson is that it extracts the information. It does not tell you an answer. It tells you the possible answers.”
Herbalist and manager of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s About Herbs database K. Simon Yeung spoke about using dietary supplements to ease side effects of cancer treatment. He said that while some herbs help alleviate symptoms many can pose risks for people with cancer.
Cancer Biology and Genetics Program Chair Joan Massagué discussed cancer metastasis. He said that while the silent nature of metastasis makes it a particularly daunting research subject, he’s optimistic that current research will yield treatments that extend patients’ lives.
Medical oncologist Ghassan Abou-Alfa spoke about efforts to prevent and treat liver cancer 12 years after actor Alec Guinness’s death. He said that while liver cancer remains a frustrating disease, the past two decades have seen the emergence of new treatments. While only modestly successful, they do suggest a new approach to therapy.
