Latest news with #NationalCancerInstitute-designated
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Five University of Colorado Cancer Center Advancements That Changed the Game for Patients
As the CU Cancer Center celebrates its 40th anniversary, here are five ways it helped to change detection and treatment of the disease. AURORA, Colo., June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Colorado Cancer Center this year celebrates its 40th anniversary, highlighting significant advances in research and innovations that include new therapies, treatments and insights into cancer prevention. "For 40 years, the CU Cancer Center has been the cornerstone of cancer research, innovation and care in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region," says CU Anschutz Chancellor Donald Elliman. "We're not only delivering world-class care today – we're bringing new possibilities into reach and redefining the cancer treatment of the future." The CU Cancer Center, founded in 1985, became a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in 1988 under the leadership of its founding director, Paul Bunn, MD. In 1997, it had the further distinction of being named one of 57 NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The "comprehensive" designation recognizes the center's strengths in basic, translational, clinical and population science research, as well as leadership and resources devoted to community outreach and engagement and cancer research training and education. Here are five innovations that helped make the CU Cancer Center part of the worldwide cancer conversation. Multidisciplinary clinics It can take an army of specialists to treat a cancer patient, and in the early days of the CU Cancer Center, that meant multiple appointments on multiple days with specialists who may or may not have been aligned on a treatment plan. That changed in 2012, when Richard Schulick, MD, MBA, became chair of the CU Department of Surgery. Schulick brought with him the concept of a multidisciplinary clinic for pancreatic and biliary cancers in which a patient comes in for one day and is seen by multiple specialists — including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, dietitians and genetic counselors. They then meet that same day to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. When Schulick became director of the CU Cancer Center in 2018, he expanded the multidisciplinary clinics. There are now clinics for 12 types of cancer. "It was incredible to suddenly have all these doctors come together to give me answers," says patient Val Beck, who was treated for colorectal cancer at the CU Cancer Center in 2023. "They never lied to me. They told me that my type of cancer was scary, and they said it was going to be hard. But they also said they were going to ensure I received the best treatment possible." A new treatment for acute myeloid leukemia Thanks in large part to early work by CU Cancer Center researchers Craig Jordan, PhD, and Daniel Pollyea, MD, MS, patients with the blood cancers acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome have a new treatment option that has fewer side effects and has been shown to increase longevity. In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration granted regular approval to the drug venetoclax (Venclexta), in combination with a low-dose chemotherapy treatment, for the treatment of AML in older adults who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy. The drug works by targeting and inhibiting the Bcl-2 protein, a key component of leukemia stem cells. Of 31 evaluable patients treated with venetoclax in a 2018 clinical trial conducted by Pollyea and Jordan, 20 experienced complete remission, while eight had a complete response but with continued low blood counts. The FDA granted the drug preliminary approval based on those clinical trials and a subsequent randomized study. Pollyea and Jordan still are researching the drug to determine how it could be even more effective, including new and upcoming studies on its effects in younger populations as well as research to tackle both upfront and post-treatment resistance. "Some of our hypotheses about how we could use venetoclax weren't necessarily part of the conventional wisdom five years ago," Pollyea says. "It's exciting to see how many of our theories were correct, and to see how others in the hematology community have built out parts of the story that are very complementary and exciting. We're all learning from each other." Lowering the screening age for colorectal cancer After an alarming rise in colorectal cancer in people younger than 50, the United States Preventive Services Task Force in 2021 lowered the recommended screening age for the cancer from 50 to 45 for people at normal risk. One of the key figures behind the move was Andrea Dwyer, program director of the Colorado Cancer Screening Program at the CU Cancer Center, who worked alongside the American Cancer Society to expand the screening population. "The change in the guideline is going to take several years to fully catch on with people in the way we need it to, but we're already starting to see some people start their screening at age 45," Dwyer says. "We still have a lot of work to do on awareness of the need to start screening earlier. Colorectal cancer does happen among young adults, even teenagers, and we don't know why." Cell-based immune therapies Though many cancers are still effectively treated with chemotherapy and radiation, some cancers — especially blood cancers — have seen a revolution with treatments using the patient's own immune cells to attack cancer cells. The CU Cancer Center is at the forefront of this evolving science. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, for example — which is being studied by CU Cancer Center researchers including Eduardo Davila, PhD — involves surgically removing tumor tissue from a patient's body and extracting activated T cells from the tissue. The cells are multiplied in the lab, then reinfused into the patient's body to attack tumors. The CU Cancer Center also is a national leader in chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T) therapy, a powerful treatment in which a patient's immune cells are removed from their body, taken to a lab and genetically engineered to become fighter cells, then injected back into the patient, where they seek out and destroy cancer cells. One of the leaders in this effort is CU Cancer Center member Terry Fry, MD, executive director of the Gates Institute, a translational research institute on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus that produces CAR T and other cellular therapies for research. Gates recently launched a clinical trial of a CAR for pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory pre B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Elsewhere on campus, M. Eric Kohler, MD, PhD, and Catherine Danis, PhD, recently published research on a next-generation CAR T therapy called ALA-CART (adjunctive LAT-activating CAR-T cells), which optimizes CAR-T cells to more effectively eliminate cancer cells, including those that have been able to hide from traditional CAR-T cells. The therapy also is being studied at the Flint Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University, one of the CU Cancer Center's clinical partners. A trial launched in 2023 at Flint is testing the effectiveness of CAR T treatment on naturally occurring osteosarcoma in pet dogs. "These are cells that can potentially live in your body for months or even years," says Steven Dow, DVM, PhD, "The cells eradicate the cancerous tumor with the aim to make sure it doesn't recur." Testing for gene mutations in lung cancer Not all lung cancers are created equal, and researchers at the CU Cancer Center's Thoracic Oncology Research Initiative helped to pioneer the practice of testing for genetic mutations within lung cancer cells to determine which patients are likely to respond to specific medications — in some cases a single daily oral medication that allows someone diagnosed with lung cancer to enjoy a better quality of life. Research into fusions and mutations by CU Cancer Center members Robert Doebele, MD, PhD, Marileila Garcia, PhD, and D. Ross Camidge, MD — as well as early research in the field by Paul Bunn, MD, the cancer center's first director — has helped thousands of lung cancer patients worldwide. "We're fortunate that in Colorado, we were one of the early adopters of doing routine molecular testing of our lung cancer patients, to put them into different buckets based on the mutations in their cancer," Camidge says. "That allowed us to say, 'OK, there are five people in front of us, and they all have lung cancer, but really, they have different subtypes of lung cancer, and they need different treatments.' When you personalize that treatment, you start to really get transformative control of the cancer." About the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusThe University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is a world-class medical destination at the forefront of transformative science, medicine, education and patient care. The campus encompasses the University of Colorado health professional schools, more than 60 centers and institutes, and two nationally ranked independent hospitals - UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children's Hospital Colorado - that treat more than two million adult and pediatric patients each year. Innovative, interconnected and highly collaborative, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus delivers life-changing treatments, patient care and professional training and conducts world-renowned research fueled by over $705 million in research grants. For more information, visit Contact: Laura Kelley, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Framing for the Future: Texas community celebrates construction milestone for St. Jude Dream Home Showplace
SOUTHLAKE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Southlake community came together in a powerful show of support at the Stud Signing Cookout, a meaningful step towards the completion of five custom homes that will make up the debut St. Jude Dream Home Showplace Community in Southlake's Carillon Parc neighborhood. This milestone marks a major step forward in a landmark fundraising initiative aimed at generating one million dollars to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ®. The event brought together local leaders, builders, volunteers, and supporters for an afternoon of food, connection, and purpose. Attendees wrote messages and words of encouragement onto the wooden frames of the homes, leaving a lasting imprint of hope and support to live within the walls of each residence. One message read, 'Blessings to all the kids and families of St. Jude'; another was a heartfelt message in a child's handwriting, 'Ava loves St. Jude.' The five participating builders, Atwood Custom Homes, Beckett Graham, Heritage Homes, Kensington Custom Homes, and WillowTree Custom Homes will bring their signature craftsmanship, style, and heart to this unprecedented project. Each builder, along with its trade partners, vendors, and suppliers, has pledged to raise $200,000. The five homes are expected to open to the public in spring 2026. Funds raised will support groundbreaking research and treatment by St. Jude for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The St. Jude Dream Home Showplace Community would not be possible without the commitment of its builders and the continued support of national sponsors including Brizo, Shaw Industries, Trane, Bosch, Kichler, and foundation sponsor Middleby. Visit St. Jude Dream Home Showplace Community to learn more and get involved. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ® St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. ® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
New York Post
20-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Nearly 20K cancer patients at NYC's Memorial Sloan Kettering at risk of losing critical care over insurance spat
Nearly 20,000 patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering could lose access to critical care because of a contract battle between the renowned cancer hospital and health insurance behemoth UnitedHealthcare. The two sides have until the end of June to hash out a new deal over reimbursement rates — but are trading blame while patients, many in need of lifesaving care, anxiously wait to see if they will keep in-network treatment. Patient Lee Kassler, of Plainview, Long Island, said he was in 'disbelief' and 'shocked' when he found out that he could lose care on July 1 if the Manhattan hospital and health insurance company don't reach an agreement by June 30. 'Full of anxiety, full of stress, saddened, angry, worried, just a whole host of emotions that I was faced with when I was diagnosed with cancer,' Kassler, who has had a rare, incurable gastric cancer since 2022, told The Post Friday. The new grandfather, 61, said he goes to MSK with '110 percent' confidence, and couldn't imagine using another medical center for his 'life and death situation.' MSK officials have been pushing for a higher reimbursement rate for services, claiming the current yearly increase of 1.6% over the last five years isn't on par with rising costs the hospital is facing. 'MSK has worked hard to reach a long-term agreement with UHC — one that reflects the real cost and value of our specialized cancer care,' the hospital said in a statement. 'UHC refused to agree to that.' But UHC argued that the top-rated cancer treatment center is pushing a 35% spike in reimbursement rates over the next three years — which could cost the health insurance provider nearly $470 million. Memorial Sloan Kettering says UnitedHealthcare needs to increase the reimbursement. Christopher Sadowski 'Our top priority is to reach an agreement with MSK that is affordable for consumers and employers,' the company, which also covers Oxford plans, said in a statement to The Post. 'We have proposed meaningful rate increases that would continue to reimburse MSK at levels significantly higher than other National Cancer Institute-designated health systems in the New York City metro area.' The company, whose CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot by alleged gunman Luigi Mangione last year, has also publicly worked to make its case to consumers. MSK chief medical officer Cardinale Smith, meanwhile, argued in an interview the proposal from the health insurer is not financially sustainable. UnitedHealthcare claims MSK's demands are too high. Getty Images 'Bottom line is that there are thousands of patients who need our care and UHC is just not putting them first,' Smith said. About 19,225 patients, including Kassler, could have treatment disrupted, hospital reps said. Sloan Kettering has gotten into past contract fights with Anthem and Cigna before deals were reached. Even if a new agreement with UHC isn't inked by June 30, a New York state law requires a cooling-off period in which at least some patients will get in-network care at the hospital through the end of August. The grace period applies to patients with fully insured UnitedHealthcare or Oxford plans for hospital care, both MSK and the health insurer said. Patients can also apply for continuity of care that would possibly give them a temporary extension of in-network treatment. With his birthday coming up in a few days, Kassler said all he wants is to receive news of a deal. 'The best birthday present was my grandson but the second best would be let's put this behind us,' Kassler said. 'Let me just be under the treatment of Sloan for a long time.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. Appoints Dr. Josh Neman as Chief Clinical Officer to Advance Clinical Strategy and Translational Oncology Programs
USC brain tumor authority to accelerate four clinical trials including lead asset NEO100 nearing Phase 2a completion ahead of schedule Appointment bolsters FDA approval path while company explores AI and quantum computing to enhance drug delivery platform CALABASAS, Calif., June 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTHI), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative treatments for central nervous system (CNS) cancers and disorders, today announced the appointment of Josh Neman, PhD as its new Chief Clinical Officer (CCO). Dr. Neman brings with him a distinguished career at the intersection of cancer neuroscience, translational research, and academic medicine. Dr. Neman joins NeOnc Technologies Holdings Inc. (NeOnc) from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC), where he serves as Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Physiology & Neuroscience, and Scientific Director of the USC Brain Tumor Center. At USC, he also leads the Cancer Biology and Genomics PhD Program and serves as Director of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center- a leading National Cancer Institute-designated cancer research hospital. A nationally recognized leader in neurooncological sciences and cancer neuroscience, Dr. Neman's research has advanced the understanding of how brain microenvironments influence the progression of brain tumors and metastases. His pioneering studies on tumor-neuron interactions, GABAergic signaling in cancer, and mechanisms of leptomeningeal dissemination have helped shape new therapeutic paradigms for both adult and pediatric brain tumors. 'I am deeply honored to join NeOnc at this exciting time,' said Dr. Neman. 'NeOnc's commitment to developing innovative therapeutics, including Blood Brain Barrier-penetrant compounds like NEO212 and NEO100, aligns perfectly with my lifelong passion to improve outcomes for patients with brain tumors. I look forward to helping lead the translation of promising discoveries from the lab into meaningful clinical impact.' In his role as Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Neman will lead NeOnc's clinical development strategy, including investigator-initiated trials and precision oncology partnerships. He will also play a key role in expanding NeOnc's research collaborations with academic institutions, regulatory agencies, and patient advocacy groups. 'Dr. Neman's appointment signals a major step forward in NeOnc's mission to transform the treatment landscape for patients with life-threatening cancers with poor outcomes,' said Amir Heshmatpour, Executive Chairman and President of NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. 'His academic and clinical leadership, coupled with his deep expertise in brain tumor biology, will be instrumental in accelerating all four of our clinical trials—especially our lead asset, NEO100, which is approaching the completion of its Phase 2a trial with full enrollment achieved ahead of schedule. As we look to add AI and quantum computing into our expanding platform in drug delivery and bio-conjugation, Dr. Neman's appointment further strengthens our commitment to advancing precision therapies and driving toward FDA approval.' About NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTHI): NeOnc Technologies is a publicly traded, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapies for brain and central nervous system cancers. Its lead programs—NEO100-01, NEO100-02, NEO100-03, and NEO212—utilize proprietary formulations to bypass the blood-brain barrier and target malignancies with precision. The company's IP portfolio includes 176 patents worldwide, reflecting a broad platform with strong commercialization potential. For more about NeOnc and its pioneering technology, visit Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Generally, such forward-looking statements include statements regarding expectations, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, including statements regarding expectations or predictions or future financial or business performance or conditions and those statements that use forward-looking words such as "projected," "expect," "possibility" and "anticipate," or similar expressions. The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. The Company cautions that statements and assumptions made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and make no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company and its management are under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements following the date of this news release, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 'NEO100' is a registered trademark of NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. Company Contact:23975 Sorrento Park Suite 205, Calabasas, CA, 91302info@ Investor Relations:James CarbonaraHayden IR369 Lexington AvenueSecond FloorNew York, NY 10017Office: (646)-755-7412James@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
05-06-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
What patients can expect from the new leader of a South Florida hospital system
The University of Miami Health System has a new leader. Dr. Dipen Parekh, a surgeon who led the hospital system through the COVID-19 pandemic, will now serve as UHealth's chief executive officer and UM's executive vice president for Health Affairs. As UHealth CEO, Parekh will oversee the more than 17,500 employees who work across the hospital system at more than 100 facilities, including Bascom Palmer Institute, the nation's top hospital for opthalmology, and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in South Florida. The urologic oncologist wants UM to 'push the frontiers of research.' That goal may be challenging at a time when more than 1,000 research grants in the country have been terminated by the federal government, according to a database created by two scientists documenting the terminations and as reported by STAT News. Parekh also sees more AI in the future of healthcare in South Florida. 'The demand for our services is increasing every day, and our responsibility is to meet that demand without compromising the excellence that defines UHealth,' Parekh told the Miami Herald Wednesday in an email. 'To do so, we must continue to improve how patients access our care—whether that's through new locations, more efficient systems, or advanced technologies. Artificial intelligence will play a key role in this effort. 'AI holds tremendous promise in helping us make smarter decisions, improve outcomes, and enhance the experience for both patients and providers.' UM's Board of Trustees unanimously agreed this week to promote Parekh, UHealth's chief operating officer and a longtime urology chair at UM's medical school, to CEO. The surgeon will takes over the top job from Joseph Echevarria, who since 2024 has juggled the jobs of UM and UHealth president and UHealth CEO. Echevarria will remain president. Parekh considers expansion to be one of the health system's greatest challenges — and opportunities — and has played a key role in UHealth's recent push into North Miami-Dade and Doral, one of South Florida's hottest growing medical hubs. Like other health systems, UHealth is trying to bring care closer to patients, a strategy to not only improve access to care, but to also attract and retain patients and employees. 'Dipen has played a pivotal role each step of the way as the University of Miami Health System has grown into one of the top academic medical centers in the country,' Echevarria said in a statement. 'He understands the mission —from the operating room to the classroom to the boardroom — and he embodies the excellence we strive to deliver for our patients, students, and community.' Who is UHealth's new CEO? UHealth is now the second hospital system in South Florida to be currently led by a physician. The veteran surgeon, one of UM's highest paid employees, has performed more than 6,000 robotic urologic cancer surgeries and has published more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, including a 'groundbreaking trial, published in The Lancelet in 2018, which established the efficacy of robotic-assisted surgery for bladder cancer,' according to the university. Parekh joined UM's medical school in 2012 as the chair of urology and is also the founding director of the Desai Seithi Urology Institute. He became chief clinical officer, his first system-wide administrative role, in 2017, before becoming chief operating officer in 2020, when COVID struck and hospitals became overwhelmed with sick patients. Besides being tasked with overseeing UHealth's day-to-day operations, Parekh in 2021 was also made executive dean for clinical affairs at UM's Miller School of Medicine. Becker's Hospital Review named him among the top 60 academic health system COO's to know in 2024. The private university declined to reveal is new salary. For years, UHealth has been the only academic health system in South Florida although that will change once Baptist Health South Florida finalizes the process of becoming the future teaching hospital of Florida International University. FIU has tapped Nicklaus Children's Health System to be its pediatric teaching hospital. UHealth's teaching hospital is Jackson Memorial, part of Miami-Dade's public hospital network. At UM's medical school and health system, researchers have long tackled infectious diseases, cancer treatments and therapies, Alzheimer's, dementia, genetic diseases and many other conditions. The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis is working with Elon Musk's startup company Neuralink to test whether its brain chip can give people who are paralyzed the ability to use mind to wirelessly control computers, smartphones and other electronic devices. 'Our role as an academic health system is not just to care for patients, but to lead in innovation, discovery, and training the next generation of healthcare leaders,' said Parekh, who plans to keep caring for patients while serving as CEO. 'That's what sets us apart — and that's what we'll continue to build on.'
