The Power and Possibilities ofHealthcare Technology

A Publication of Roswell Park Cancer Institute u vol. 8, no. 3 u Winter 2005

ALSO IN THIS ISSUEFound in Translation:

PSA Celebrates 25 Years

from the editor...

In his landmark book Future Shock, the popular and oft-quoted futurist Alvin Toffler describes technology as “that great, growlingengine of change.”

Here at Roswell Park, that growl has become joyful noise to our ears and to those of our patients. Our laboratories and clinical centers are abuzz with the language and imagery of important advances in medical and healthcare technology – robotics, nanotechnology, Gamma Knife, video-assisted thoracic surgery, brachytherapy, electronic information systems, and so many others.

RPCI’s leadership and faculty are committed to bringing new, state-of-the-art technology to this region to enhance the quality of ourpatients’ lives and the care they receive…and to improve outcomes.Another, but no less compelling, benefit is that we are seeing greaterefficiency and effectiveness in the way we deliver that care.

This issue of Roswellness highlights some of the latest and most promising technological innovations that are available right here in Western New York. And to paraphrase Lance Armstrong…it’s not about the hardware. The Honorable Richard Soluri, Mayor of the Village of Lewiston, can attest to that! A Roswell Park patient, Mr. Soluriwas successfully treated by a minimally invasive surgical technique knownas laparoscopic, or “keyhole,” surgery. We are proud and delighted topresent his remarkable success story within these pages.

The next time you visit Roswell Park, listen carefully, and you, too, may hear the great and hopeful sounds of innovation and change.

Colleen M. KaruzaManaging Editor

features– Found in Translation

The “First” 25 Years of PSA 2– Groundbreaking Prostate Cancer Research

Rooted in Donor Seed Funding 4– Suite Success!

Minimally Invasive Surgery Center Opens 6– Oncologic Foundation of Buffalo

Lauded for 20 Years of Research Support 10

– Thinking Small for Big ResultsThe Incredible World of NanoBiotechnology 12

— The Kindest CutGamma Knife Radiosurgery 16

— Here Comes the Sun(Rise)New Clinical Information System

Minimizes Error, Maximizes Efficiency 17

other RPCI news– When Harry Met Lance 18

– Dr. Robert Huben Honored 22

– Patient’s Legacy Fuels Leukemia Research 23

– Carly’s Club Branches Out 24– Profiles in Giving

Roswell Park’s “Upstate”Ambassadors 28

Creative Staff:

Managing EditorColleen M. Karuza

Development EditorJohn C. Senall

Contributing WritersSue Banchich

Jill MaxCarolyn Pawlowski

Deb PettiboneKaren RossKat Vossler

Creative Services ManagerBenjamin Richey

Design/LayoutHillary Banas

Cover DesignHillary Banas

PhotographyErrol DanielsDoug Nixon

Benjamin RicheyWilliam Sheff

Administration:

President & CEODavid C. Hohn, MD

Vice President for Marketing,Planning & Public Affairs

Laurel A. DiBrog

Vice President for DevelopmentCindy Eller

Roswellness is published three times ayear by the Department of Marketing,Planning & Public Affairs, RoswellPark Cancer Institute. All rightsreserved. No portion of this magazinemay be reproduced without the writtenpermission of RPCI. Address changesshould be sent to Kim Bonds,Development Office, Roswell ParkCancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263.Suggestions and comments regardingthis publication may be emailed toroswellness@roswellpark.org or mailedto Colleen M. Karuza, Director ofPublic Affairs, Roswell Park CancerInstitute, Buffalo, NY 14263.

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contents

35,000,000

This year, approximately 35 millionAmerican men will undergo aprostate specific antigen (PSA) test,a simple blood test that can lead tothe detection of cancer. Before theintroduction of this remarkable test,most prostate cancers were notdiagnosed until they had spreadbeyond the prostate, making themextremely difficult to treat. Today,the great majority of these tumorsare found when they are stillconfined to the prostate and arepotentially curable. T. Ming Chu,PhD, and his colleagues at RoswellPark discovered PSA 25 years agoand subsequently developed the PSAblood test, one of the most effectivescreening tools currently availablefor the early detection of cancer.

PSA, a protein produced almostexclusively by the prostate, can beelevated in the blood when theprostate is diseased or injured.Prostate cancer is not the onlycondition that can cause PSA levelsin the blood to rise. “PSA can alsocome up if you have an infection, oreven if you overexert the prostate byriding on a bicycle,” says DonaldCoffey, PhD, Professor of Urology atJohns Hopkins School of Medicine.However, a blood PSA level above

4 ng/ml usually warrants furthertesting, such as a biopsy, to check forprostate cancer. PSA is also valuablefor monitoring prostate cancerpatients during and after treatment,as rising PSA levels can alert doctorsto a recurrence of the cancer longbefore any symptoms develop orabnormalities are discovered by x-ray or physical exam.

When Chu began his work atRoswell Park in 1970, prostatecancer was generally diagnosed byfeeling for lumps on the prostateduring a rectal exam. Tumorsdiscovered in this way were mostoften very advanced and had a“gloomy prognosis,” says Chu, who,now retired, was RPCI’s Director ofDiagnostic Immunology Researchand Biochemistry. To identify amarker that could be used to detectprostate cancer earlier, Chu and hiscolleagues searched for substancesmade by prostate cancer tissue butnot by other tissues. One of theprostate specific substances theyfound was PSA. By 1980, Chu’sgroup had developed a method formeasuring PSA in the blood anddemonstrated that PSA was presentin the blood of prostate cancerpatients. Dr. Chu was responsible for

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Found in T r a n s l a t i o n

T h e “ F i r s t ” 2 5 Ye a r s o f P S Aby Karen Ross

Approximately

T. Ming Chu, PhD

000

the transfer of PSA technology to the biomedical industry, whichsubsequently manufactured FDA-approved PSA test kits forprostate cancer monitoring (1986)and screening (1994). “Roswell Parkshould be congratulated for takingbasic science and bringing it all theway up to clinical application,” saysCoffey. “That’s called translationalresearch…and this is one of the bestexamples I know.”

The PSA test has been so successfulthat there is now some concern thatprostate cancer is over-diagnosed.Prostate cancer is very common – oneout of seven men will be diagnosedat some point in their lives – but it isalso often quite slow-growing andgenerally strikes older men, so noteveryone diagnosed necessarily needsto be treated. Notes Donald L.

Trump, Senior Vice President forClinical Research and Chairman ofMedicine at Roswell Park, “Amongmen 80 years of age who get hit bya car, up to 85% will have cancer intheir prostates. Those are men inwhom we clearly did not have tofind prostate cancer.”

Right now, about 5% of prostatecancer patients choose to delaytreatment, a strategy called“watchful waiting.” However, JamesMohler, MD, Chair of theDepartment of Urologic Oncology atRoswell Park, says, “Most likely,watchful waiting is appropriate forthree to four times that number,”and an international study isunderway to develop criteria toidentify those patients. As more menchoose watchful waiting, the PSAtest will be critical for monitoringthe progression of their cancers. Onerefinement in the test that will beenormously helpful in this arena isthe PSA velocity, or the change inPSA level over time. A sharp risesignals an aggressive cancer thatneeds prompt treatment.

As for 25 years from now, Chu says,“I strongly believe that PSA will stillbe around and will continue to savemany lives. And I am very gratifiedto know that my colleagues and I at Roswell Park played a veryimportant role in this historic event.”

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American men will undergo a prostate specific

antigen (PSA) test.

Dr. Donald Coffey speaks at the recent RPCI-hosted“PSA 25th Anniversary” Meeting

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James Mohler, MD, chair of RPCI’sDepartment of Urologic Oncology,knows something about the potentialof “crazy ideas.” When he and hisresearch team first suggested thatandrogens (male hormones) werepresent in prostate cancer that wasthought to be androgen-independent,“people were a little skeptical,” he says. Androgens, particularly the potent dihydrotestosterone(DHT), stimulate the growth of prostate cancer.

But Dr. Mohler’s team provedthrough two different methods –radioimmunoassay and massspectrometry – that androgens were present in prostate cancerpatients after castration. Theysuspect that prostate cancer cells can feed themselves by drawingfrom the bloodstream a weakandrogen produced by the adrenalgland and turning it into the morepowerful DHT. Proving that theorycould open the doors to therapiesdesigned to block the enzymes thatproduce DHT.

THE IMPACT OF DONOR DOLLARS Dr. Mohler applied for projectsupport from the Roswell ParkAlliance Foundation, which managesall donations to RPCI to benefit

research, education, and patientcare. The Alliance Foundation seedmoney he received through ascientific advisory committee grantalso is being used by Roswell Parkresearchers Barbara Foster, PhD, andSergio Onate, PhD, to understandthe difference between prostatecancer cells in the prostate and thosethat have spread to the bonemarrow. The difference is importantbecause it is the prostate cancer cellsgrowing in the bone, not in theprostate, that ultimately cause death.

Cancer research projects like these,especially when they move to theclinical trial stage, often requiremillions of dollars in funding. Majorgrants are available from theNational Cancer Institute (NCI) andsimilar agencies, but winning amajor grant hinges on four things:

1 the goal of the research project to be funded;

2 what others haveaccomplished in the samefield of inquiry;

3 preliminary data showing thepotential success of theproject; and

4 the research plan.

Seed funding from the AllianceFoundation supports the initial

GROUNDBREAKING PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH R o o t e d i n D o n o r S e e d F u n d i n g

by Sue Banchich

“Many times,cancer researchmoves forward

when peopleare allowed to

pursue whatseem to be

unconventional ideas.”

– James Mohler, MD

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studies that provide hard evidence ofa project’s potential, which is thekey to the third step when applyingfor a major grant from outsidesources. “It’s important to have seedmoney available to look at novelideas that we can turn into NCIgrants,” Dr. Mohler explains.

MOVING VITAMIN D TRIALS FORWARD Alliance Foundation support alsohas funded preliminary research onthe effects of Vitamin D on prostatecancer, says Donald L. Trump, MD,Senior Vice President for ClinicalResearch and Chair of theDepartment of Medicine. Drawingon evidence that individuals withhigher sun exposures (which increaseVitamin D levels) have lower ratesof breast, colon and prostatecancers, Trump and his team beganVitamin D studies a decade ago. Labresults confirmed that “when youexpose cancer cells to high doses ofVitamin D, they die. Vitamin Dcombined with chemotherapy drugskills cells better,” Dr. Trump says.

But moving the research from thelaboratory to human applicationsposed a problem: Vitamin D isusually given in small dosescontained in small capsules.

“To ensure the dosage necessary, wehave given as many as 75 littlecapsules of Vitamin D at one time,for three days in a row,” Trumpexplains, “but with that method, it’snot very well absorbed. That led usto give Vitamin D intravenously insome of our trials.”

Administered this way, Vitamin D is very expensive, and it is notcovered by insurance for use as an experimental cancer therapy.Alliance Foundation seed funding of $100,000 underwrote the cost of purchasing the drug so clinicaltrials could proceed. “The Alliancemoney has given us the ability to go forward with much of thisresearch, and that has enabled us to get grants from both the NCI and the Department of Defense,”says Dr. Trump. “Alliance fundinghas been absolutely critical.”

SELENIUM STUDIES OFFER A ONE-TWO PUNCH Roswell Park’s donor dollars alsohave provided $90,000 in seedfunding to Clement Ip, PhD,Director of Cancer Chemopreventionand Chair of the Cancer Pathologyand Prevention Program. He and hisresearch team are testing a way ofdelivering “a one-two punch” toprevent prostate cancer through thedrug-mineral combination offinasteride and selenium. Theapproach is based on the idea thatfinasteride blocks the production ofdihydrotestosterone (DHT), whileselenium reduces the level of theandrogen receptor which is normallyneeded to trigger the action of DHT.

“Part of this program project is toidentify the target genes thatstimulate the growth of prostatecancer, which can be suppressed by these drug combinations,” Dr. Ip says. A clinical trial will

determine the effectiveness of thedrug combination. “The laboratoryresults are very, very promising,” Ip says, adding that he and his RPCI colleagues expect to submitthe NCI grant in February 2006.

All these projects have far-reachingpotential for the prevention andtreatment of prostate cancer. Allbegan with the help of gifts, bothlarge and small to the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.

At a Glance:New prostate cancer

studies funded by RPCIdonations focus on…

v

How prostate cancer cells might feed

themselves by drawingfrom the bloodstream

a weak androgen

v

Differentiating betweenprostate cancer cells in the prostate and

those that have spread to the bone marrow(more dangerous)

v

Providing Vitamin Dintravenously to increasechemotherapy efficacy

v

Preventing prostate cancerthrough the drug-mineralcombination of finasteride

and selenium

Clement Ip, PhD

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SUITE SUCCESS!Minimally Invasive Surgery Center Opens at RPCIby Deb Pettibone

Roswell Park Cancer Institute hasopened a state-of-the-art MinimallyInvasive Surgery (MIS) Center tobring this next generation ofsurgery to more cancer patients,advance the specialty throughresearch and clinical trials, andprovide educational opportunitiesto physicians and nurses.

The Center features twotechnologically advanced, fullyintegrated surgical suites andadjacent observation andteleconference rooms. One suitehouses the da Vinci® surgicalrobotics system and both suites arefully equipped to accommodate abroad array of MIS procedures.

MIS procedures are an alternativeto traditional open surgery formany patients with thoracic,gastrointestinal, urologic,gynecologic, head and neck andneurologic cancers. Most patientshave less pain and recover faster,and benefit further from improvedstaging and less delay to othertreatments. The number of patientstreated with MIS procedures atRoswell Park has tripled in the last three years.

“Computers and robots have nowentered the complex and dynamicenvironment of the operatingroom,” said David C. Hohn, MD,President & CEO, RPCI. “Webelieve we have an obligation toour patients to be at the leading

edge in cancer surgery and we havemet that obligation with the openingof this Center.”

“With the opening of the MISCenter, surgeons will be using one ofthe most comprehensively integratedsurgical suites in the region,” saidBoris Kuvshinoff, MD, SurgicalDirector. “Heavy equipment is now neatly housed within carrierssuspended from ceiling mountedbooms that can be easily maneuveredinto position. Bulky TV monitors arereplaced by sleek, flat-panel screenssuspended from arms that bring theimages into the surgical field in linewith the surgeon’s hands and eyes.”

The Roswell Park MIS Center alsooffers a wide range of opportunitiesfor education and research usingdigital imaging, telemedicine, androbotics. The combinationobservation and teleconferencingroom allow for training of futuresurgeons seeking advanced trainingin MIS. “RPCI will lead the way indocumenting the viability of the newsurgical therapies through clinicalresearch,” Dr. Kuvshinoff explained.

The Minimally Invasive SurgicalCenter at Roswell Park was designedby Robson Woese Inc., with input ofRPCI physicians, nurses, andfacilities planners. Olympus Surgicaland Berchtold served as the majorcorporate partners, providing bothequipment and technical expertise.

!What the new MIS Center houses:n two technologically advanced,

fully integrated surgical suites

n observation/teleconference room

n family waiting area

n post-anesthesia care unit

n consultation rooms

About the equipment:n Surgeons and nurses have complete control of the

surgical environment through touch panels and voice-activated command systems.

n Surgical instruments, equipment and lights arearranged on moveable racks suspended from theceiling by booms. These booms can be moved easilyand quickly into the surgical field.

n Digital images – both still and moving – can berecorded to DVD or converted to streaming video foreducation, research and follow-up patient care.

n All data collected during a procedure, including radiologic images,video and still images from the surgical endoscopes or the overheadsurgical light cameras, can be displayed on any monitor within theoperating room and/or the observation room.

n Telecommunication capability allows for long distance sharing ofsurgical case demonstrations and consultations.

n Surgical endoscopes, small telescope-like instruments which feature a miniaturized color camera chip at the tip, illuminate the surgicalfield inside the patient and transmit images to high-definitionmonitors.

n Flat screen digital monitors bring images of the surgical field in-linewith the hands and eyes of the surgeon, and can display differentviews, including those from the endoscope, CT scans, ultrasound,and the patient’s health information record.

n A large 42-inch plasma screen allows everyone in the operatingroom to visualize the surgical field, improving preparedness for each upcoming phase of the procedure.

n The da Vinci® surgical robotics system – located in one suite –combines computer technology with the surgeon’s skill. The robotenables surgeons to see vital anatomical structures more clearly andperform surgical procedures more precisely. The technology extendsthe surgeon’s capabilities by providing a three-dimensional view ofthe operating field, and improves access to the surgical site throughsmall ports that eliminate the need for large incisions.

What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?Minimally invasive surgery (MIS)offers some cancer patients analternative to traditional opensurgical procedures. This nextgeneration of surgery can beperformed through access incisionsless than an inch in size. RPCIsurgeons, equipped with pencil-sizedcameras and instruments, haveperformed increasingly morecomplex MIS procedures across anumber of surgical specialties overthe last few years.

MIS, sometimes referred to aslaparoscopic or “keyhole” surgery,has experienced rapid growth over the past five years and hasbecome the gold standard for someprocedures. This type of cutting-edgemedicine promises patients a better surgical experience whilepromoting patient well-being andenhancing healing. Minimallyinvasive alternatives usually result in less pain and trauma, decreasedrisk of blood loss and infection,smaller scars, less time in thehospital, and a more rapid recovery time.

For most MIS procedures, thesurgeon uses a small telescopeattached to a miniature camera and a light source that allows thesurgeon to see inside the patient’sbody. The surgeon removes thetumor or repairs the area by passing tiny surgical instrumentsthrough other small incisions.

Simply developing and using newminimally invasive techniques duringsurgery is not enough. The medicalcommunity and health insurersdemand proof that MIS is moreeffective than standard therapy.RPCI will lead the way throughclinical trials and research studies in documenting the viability of thenew surgical therapies for thetreatment of cancer.

For more information, visit ourwebsite at www.roswellpark.org.

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The Role of the Nurse in the New MIS Centerby Jill Max

The nursing staff in the newMinimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)Center can now spend less time onthe logistics of setting up andmaintaining heavy equipment andmore time on the needs of patientsand physicians.

Nurses played a crucial role in themore than two-year effort that wentinto planning the new state-of-the-art suites, helping decide how therooms should be set up, whereequipment should be mounted, andwhere the patient should be placedto allow for any type of surgery.Now that the suites are fullyoperational, nurses can make full use of the technological advancesthey offer.

In the past, minimally invasivesurgery at RPCI involved lugging

heavy equipment into operatingrooms and spending a lot of time on its positioning and set-up. In thetwo new suites, all of the equipmentis now suspended from overheadbooms and can be easily placed intoposition around the operating table,leaving not only more room tomaneuver, but also eliminatingcumbersome electrical lines on thefloor. Specially designed nursesstations allow nurses to operate theequipment, route images to one offive flat screen monitors, and havedirect access to the patient.

“Nurses have always embracedtechnology,” said Maggie Coyne,RN, MS, Assistant Director ofNursing, adding that the integratedrooms allow nurses to rapidlyrespond to physician requestswithout running back and forth tothe various machines. “It takes thenurses away from dealing with themachines and allows them to focuson what’s going on with the patient,”she said. “I have more time to spendon patient safety, making sure

supplies are in order, and makingsure everyone has what they need,”added Marlene Bienko, RN, whoenjoys working in the new suitesand was part of the team thatdesigned them.

Between six and eight surgeries a day are performed in the MISCenter, most of which require thesame complement of staff as opensurgery procedures. An additionalcirculating nurse is required in therobotics suite, however, due to thecomplexity of the equipment.Several procedures can be betterperformed using robotics, especiallyprostate surgery, where the use of the robot and overhead camerasallow surgeons to dissect nerveswithout damaging them.

Nurses in the MIS suites receiveadditional training to familiarizethem with the equipment and how it functions in the two rooms. A full-time nurse educator assistswith training to ensure that the staff is comfortable using the newset-ups and that their skills remain up-to-date as the technologycontinues to advance.

The fact that nurses don’t have tospend a lot of time moving andconnecting machines means the staff can really focus on the surgerythat’s taking place. In addition, theycan view the surgery on the variousmonitors placed throughout theroom. “Not only does the surgeonhave a clear view, but everyone cansee what’s happening,” said Bienko.“Everybody in the room is very much attuned to what’s going onwith the procedure.”

“I have more time to spend on patientsafety, making sure supplies are inorder, and making sure everyone haswhat they need.”

Not long after Richard Soluriretired from his career in theinsurance industry, he decided torun for mayor of the Village ofLewiston, NY. Now in his thirdterm of office, Soluri says he likesto “stay close to the projects and

issues. A lot has been going on in Lewiston over thepast eleven years.”

Fortunately, he wasn’t sidelined for long when heunderwent pancreatic surgery at Roswell Park Cancer Institute last April. That’s because BorisKuvshinoff, MD, an attending surgeon in the Divisionof Gastrointestinal Surgery, used minimally invasivesurgery (MIS) to remove a benign lesion and part of Soluri’s pancreas. The surgery took place on aThursday, and by Sunday, Soluri was on his way home.

MIS employs “very small incisions, between five andtwelve millimeters, so there is less chance for surgicalsite infection,” explains Dr. Kuvshinoff. “Patients tendto need less pain medicine, are up and around quicker,and start a diet about a day sooner.”

With traditional “open” surgery, he adds, both Soluri’shospital stay and recovery period would have beenlonger. “Typically, patients who have major upperabdominal surgery [with the conventional ‘open’technique] return to full activity in about eight to twelve weeks.” Soluri returned to his mayoral dutiesonly six weeks after MIS.

His medical team at Roswell Park encouraged him toget up and start walking the day after surgery, and“once I started walking, I felt better and better,” Solurisays. “Choosing Roswell Park was not a hard decisionto make. My wife and I had full confidence in Dr.Kuvshinoff and his staff. Roswell Park is a wonderful,wonderful place.”

The Broad Applications of MISMIS can be a treatment of choice for many types of cancer. In fact, the number of MIS cases performed at RoswellPark has tripled from 2002 to 2005. MIS procedures and the surgeons who perform them are listed below.

Area Common Cancers Treated The SurgeonsGastrointestinal Oncology Gall Bladder, Liver, Stomach, John Gibbs, MD

Pancreas, Spleen, Colon, Rectum Boris Kuvshinoff, MDHector Nava, MD Ashwani Rajput, MD

Thoracic Oncology Lung, Esophagus Todd Demmy, MDChukwumere Nwogu, MD

Urologic Oncology Kidney, Prostate, Bladder Hyung Kim, MD James Mohler, MDKhurshid A. Guru, MD

Gynecologic Oncology Ovaries, Uterus Shashikant Lele, MD Kunle Odunsi, MD Kerry Rodabaugh, MD

Neuro-Oncology Brain Robert Fenstermaker, MD Robert Plunkett, MD

Head & Neck Oncology Head & Neck Nestor Rigual, MD

For more information on MIS, call RPCI’s Call Center at 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724), or visit our website at www.roswellpark.org.

A Mayoral ProclamationLewiston, NY Mayor attests to the benefits of MIS

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combines the use of the light-sensitizing drug Photofrin® and light (usually from a laser) todestroy or remove solid tumors.

Dr. Dougherty’s discoveries haveextended and improved the lives of thousands of cancer patients. But they’ve also been doing doubleduty since 1985, when Doughertyused his share of PDT licensing feesto create the Oncologic Foundationof Buffalo. The Foundation is now a philanthropic leader that aids the development of new PDTapplications, while supporting othercritical health studies and initiativeslocally and across the country.

A Chemist Turns To Cancer

The beginnings of the OFB reallytrace back to 1970, when Dougherty

Discovering a drug with the ability to save lives wouldseem a worthwhile life’s

achievement to many scientists. But to Thomas Dougherty, PhD, it was only the beginning of a largereffort to expand the reach of hisinvention, while improving the lives of countless individuals.

Dr. Dougherty, along with otherleaders from the OncologicFoundation of Buffalo (OFB), washonored by Roswell Park CancerInstitute on October 24 for twodecades of philanthropic foresight,spawned from scientific success.

His accomplishment? Developingthe photodynamic process (knownsince 1900) into photodynamictherapy (PDT)—a revolutionarycancer treatment now in usethroughout the world. PDT

left a job in the chemical industry tobecome a researcher at Roswell ParkCancer Institute. The decision wasrisky. Hired on a research grant, hewould earn less than half his previoussalary, and his job would be finishedif the grant was not renewed. Yet hefelt a strong attraction to theprospect of helping people withcancer.

“I was young and naïve in thosedays,” he laughs. “I didn’t have anyrequirements for a big salary.”

A chemist, not a biologist, he spentmuch of his first year in the RoswellPark library exploring the nature ofcancer. What he already knew aboutphotochemistry—the interaction ofchemicals and light—and what helearned about cancer led ultimately tothe development of photodynamictherapy.

Oncologic Foundation of Buffalo Lauded for 20 Years of Research Support Discovery of Photodynamic Therapy at RPCI gave rise to philanthropic leadership

by Sue Banchich

Circa 1985 – Oncologic Foundation of Buffalo co-founders Dr. Thomas J. Dougherty (left) and Kenneth R. Weishaupt (second from left)shown with other PDT innovators Donn Boyle and William Potter. (Kenneth Weishaupt and Donn Boyle are deceased.)

In PDT, the drug Photofrin® (oranother photosensitizer) is deliveredintravenously, and is absorbed byhealthy tissue and tumors alike.After a few days, the drug remains in tumors, but is mostly cleared fromhealthy tissue. Exposing the tumorsites to light causes a chemicalreaction that kills the cancer, whilegenerally sparing normal tissue. Theonly side effect of Photofrin® is atemporary skin sensitivity to light.Depending on the cancer beingtreated, additional side effects fromthe light treatment itself are onlyminimally to moderately severe, andare easily controlled post-treatmentwithout suffering.

First approved in Canada in 1993,and later in the U.S. in 1995, thetreatment was used initially not as a potential cure but to removeobstructions that preventedterminally ill esophageal cancerpatients from swallowing, or patientswith lung cancer from breathing. It has since been approved by theFood and Drug Administration forcure of early-stage lung and early-stage esophageal cancer. OngoingPDT research at Roswell Parkfocuses on the development of moreeffective photosensitizing drugs, andseveral new applications for PDT areon the horizon.

From Frustration toInnovation…The OFBTakes Flight

Dr. Dougherty’s and Photofrin®

co-inventor, Kenneth R. Weishaupt’sestablishment of the OncologicFoundation of Buffalo in 1985initially was to ensure a stable sourceof funding for continued refinementof PDT. Dr. Dougherty was aware ofthe frustration experienced byresearchers in hiring and trainingstaff for a project, only to be forced

to let them go when grant moniesran out.

“The presence of the Foundationoften would help eliminate thoseproblems,” he explained.“Foundation money carried us over, or if somebody wanted to start a new project for which theydidn’t have money, the OFB would offer seed money.”

However, due to the OFB’s financialgrowth through wise investing,many more dollars became availableto benefit cancer research and otherhealth-related projects. Over thepast 20 years, the Foundation hasawarded a total of $3.2 million ingrants, including $2.2 million forprojects at Roswell Park CancerInstitute.

A Spectrum of Support

Among the many projects that havebeen seed-funded by the OFB is “a unique lung cancer screeningprogram for high-risk patients,using laser-induced fluorescenceendoscopy, to see tumors at theirearliest stages,” says Gregory M.Loewen, DO, FCCP, Director ofPulmonary Medicine at Roswell

Park. “The Oncologic Foundation ofBuffalo provided critical funding forthis project, which has become thebackbone of numerous relatedprograms.”

Outside Roswell Park, grants fromthe Oncologic Foundation of Buffalohave supported programs at CancerWellness Centers that teach medicalstudents how to deal honestly andcompassionately with terminally illpatients, and where newly-diagnosedpatients can find emotional supportfrom cancer survivors. OFB grantsalso have fueled medical research atinstitutions across the nation,including the American Brain TumorAssociation and HauptmanWoodward Medical ResearchInstitute; and have enabled CanisiusCollege in Buffalo, Dr. Dougherty’salma mater, to renovate biology labsand provide tuition assistance forscience majors.

Thirty-five years ago, Dr. Thomas J.Dougherty took an extraordinarypersonal risk when he left thechemical industry to enter the field ofcancer research. That single decisionhas since benefited Western NewYork and the world in ways thatcontinue to grow and astound.

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OFB Board Members (left to right): Cheryl A Weishaupt, Dr. Thomas J. Dougherty, James M. Sexton, III, Raymond P. Reichert, Esq. (Not shown: Rev. John A. Buerk)

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Scientists have long explored therealms of molecules and cells, but at RPCI’s NanoBiotechnologyCenter, they are immersed in another dimension: the world ofnanoparticles and nanodevices.

With its multidisciplinary team ofchemists, material scientists,engineers, biologists, and physicians,the NanoBiotechnology Center usesa collaborative approach to research,engineer and develop nanodevicesthat can be used to fight cancer.These devices, so small that they aremeasured on a molecular scale, areshowing promising results in cancerresearch and treatment. “Thesenanodevices can move in and out of cells or into areas thatother, larger devices can not easilyaccess,” explained Mohamed Khan,MD, PhD, Co-director of the Center and Director of Basic andTranslational Radiation Research.“We think of these nanodevices as multi-functional.”

Since it opened in June 2004, theNanoBiotechnology Center has

focused on developing nanodevicesfor cancer detection, imaging andtreatment. Much of the currentresearch, which is largely funded by the National Institutes of Health,focuses on imaging tumors. Imagingtechniques commonly used today,such as CT scans, are limited in thatthey can typically only detect tumorslarger than about one centimeter,which is approximately one billioncells. But researchers at the Centerare developing nanodevices that may be able to pick up microscopicdisease by recognizing specificproteins or other markers on cancercells. The nanodevices are compositesmade up of an organic molecule thatserves as a kind of host that carries“guests,” or other types of moleculesthat provide much better images.Once the nanocomposite recognizesthe cancer marker and attaches topreviously undetectable cancer cells,the guests emit a bright signal thatcould be picked up by severalimaging devices.

Lajos Balogh, PhD, Co-director of the NanoBiotechnology Center

and Director of NanotechnologyResearch, likens the process to anenvelope being sent in the mail: the organic portion serves as theenvelope, the guest is the contents,and the markers are the stamp,making sure that the bloodstreamcarries the nanodevices to theirtargets.

In addition to detecting and imagingcancer cells, the NanoBiotechnologyCenter is researching ways to treat cancer as well. By attachingradioactive molecules tonanocomposites, radiation could be delivered to cancer cells in verysmall doses without harming the surrounding healthy tissue.Likewise, chemotherapy could bedirected at cancer cells, drasticallyreducing the side effects patientsnormally suffer with this type oftreatment.

Because nanotechnology is anemerging science, researchers at RPCI and elsewhere are stilltrying to determine exactly hownanodevices operate and if they

THINKING SMALL FOR

BIGRESULTS

by Jill Max

The Incredible World of

NanoBiotechnologyDrs. Lajos Balogh and Mohamed Khan

One

out

of

twel

veOne of Only a Dozen…Roswell Park Cancer Institute has received one of only 12National Cancer Institute (NCI) grants to establish CancerNanotechnology Platform Partnerships. RPCI has beenawarded a $3.3 million five-year grant to study “NovelCancer Nanotechnology Platforms for Photodynamic Therapy and Imaging.”

Allan Oseroff, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department ofDermatology and Co-leader of the Biophysical TherapiesProgram, is principal investigator for the grant and willcollaborate with researchers from the University at Buffalo (UB) and the University of Michigan. Oseroff also is Chair of UB’s Department of Dermatology.

In making the announcement, Andrew von Eschenbach, MD,Director of the NCI said, “The future of oncology – and the opportunity to eliminate the suffering and death due to cancer – will hinge upon our ability to confront cancer at the molecular level.”

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) pioneered at RPCI by Thomas J.Dougherty, PhD, has proven effective for many types ofcancers. PDT uses a combination of photosensitizers and light to attack the cancer cells.

Dr. Oseroff and collaborators will develop targetednanoparticles for delivering light-activated anticancercompounds. Researchers envision the development,characterization and validation of tumor-seeking nanoparticles that carry imaging agents as well as delivering therapeutic photosensitizers. The nanoparticleswill allow detection and imaging of cancerous lesions.

The images can guide the delivery of light that activates the photosensitizers which allows for selective destruction of cancers.

“Nanotechnology can provide innovative ways to diagnoseand treat cancer,” said Dr. Oseroff. “This ‘see and treat’approach builds on our expertise with tumor-seeking agentsthat will make it possible to develop multifunctional devicesfor imaging and delivering localized therapy to malignanttumors.”

The funding is part of the NCI’s $144.3 million, five-yearinitiative for nanotechnology in cancer research. The NCICancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships are tightlyfocused programs designed to develop the technologies in six program areas which include molecular imaging and early detection, in vivo imaging, reporters of efficacy,multifunctional therapeutics, prevention and control and research enablers.

For more information on the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnologyin Cancer, please visit http://nano.cancer.gov.

cause any harmful effects. Beforenanodevices can be used in humans,they must first be tested in thelaboratory. “We’re looking atnanodevices of different sizes,examining how they’ll distribute,what their toxicity is, and whathappens to the immune system if weadd different molecules,” said Khan,who is conducting basic researchstudies on these miniature wonders.

Although using nanodevices inhumans probably won’t be possiblefor at least another five years,RPCI’s NanoBiotechnology Centerstands at the forefront of nanodeviceresearch and development. “Wefirmly believe that progress inmedical nanodevice technology willcome about by building on thescientific advancements of the last20 years,” said Balogh. “We nowhave the opportunity to approachissues in ways that we could onlyimagine before.”

13

All day, every day, hundreds of us go to work at Roswell Park with a single goal. To banish cancer. From our lives, your life,and the lives of your loved ones. FOREVER.

Since the day we became America’s first cancer care center over 100 years ago, this vision has driven our scientists to discoverbreakthroughs that have given hope to millions. And when you walk through our door, it’s what inspires our specialists – someof the top doctors in the world – to combine their unique insights for you. They work together to attack your cancer with thebest possible treatment, in the shortest possible time. So no matter what type of cancer you have, you‘ll receive trulycompassionate care and the most effective treatment available anywhere in the world.

Because until there’s a cure, we live for those moments we can look into a patient’s eyes and say: “Remission Accomplished.”

Congratulations to all of the doctors

at ROSWELL PARK who were named among

“America’s Top Doctors” for 2006 For a Free Information PacketCall 1.877.ASK.RPCI (1.877.275.7724)

or visit roswellpark.org

RWL-Top Doc-Ad 11/17/05 12:13 PM Page 1

All day, every day, hundreds of us go to work at Roswell Park with a single goal. To banish cancer. From our lives, your life,and the lives of your loved ones. FOREVER.

Since the day we became America’s first cancer care center over 100 years ago, this vision has driven our scientists to discoverbreakthroughs that have given hope to millions. And when you walk through our door, it’s what inspires our specialists – someof the top doctors in the world – to combine their unique insights for you. They work together to attack your cancer with thebest possible treatment, in the shortest possible time. So no matter what type of cancer you have, you‘ll receive trulycompassionate care and the most effective treatment available anywhere in the world.

Because until there’s a cure, we live for those moments we can look into a patient’s eyes and say: “Remission Accomplished.”

Congratulations to all of the doctors

at ROSWELL PARK who were named among

“America’s Top Doctors” for 2006 For a Free Information PacketCall 1.877.ASK.RPCI (1.877.275.7724)

or visit roswellpark.org

RWL-Top Doc-Ad 11/17/05 12:13 PM Page 1

When the Gamma Knife Centeropened at Roswell Park in 1998, itafforded a promising new treatmentoption to patients with brain tumorsand disorders once thought to beinoperable and/or inaccessible. Sincethen, Gamma Knife radiosurgery – ahigh-tech alternative to conventionalneurosurgery – has been used totreat more than 1,200 patientsquickly, safely and effectively.

This non-invasive, cutting-edgetechnology offers the same precisionas neurosurgery – without thescalpel or potential complications –while providing enough radiation to destroy brain tumors and otherdisorders in critical, difficult-to-access areas of the brain. Patientsusually leave the Gamma KnifeCenter the same day as treatmentand resume normal activities in aday or so with little or norehabilitation needed

“The Gamma Knife is a unique andindispensable tool for treating brain

disorders,”

according to Dheerendra Prasad,MD, M-CH, Co-Director of theGamma Knife Center. The delivery of a single, high-dose of radiation tosmall, critically located targets in theskull is one of the safest and mosteffective alternatives to conventionalneurosurgery. Dr. Prasad has beenassociated with the development andsoftware planning for the GammaKnife for the last decade.

Gamma Knife radiosurgery can be an option to patients of all ages withbenign or malignant tumors, as well as those who have vascularmalformations located deep withinthe brain that precludes conventionalneurosurgery. Brain disorders mostamenable include: single or multiplemetastatic brain tumors, trigeminalneuralgia, meningiomas, pituitarytumors, gliomas, acoustic neuromasand craniopharyngiomas. Theprocedure is also an attractivealternative to surgery for certainpatients, who, because of age, healthstatus or inability to tolerate generalanesthesia, are not good surgicalcandidates. Newer indications alsotreated with the Gamma Knifeinclude movement disorders andepilepsy when medical managementis not possible.

This Spring, the Gamma KnifeCenter became only thesecond in the world to installthe newest version of thistechnology – Model 4C –that offers patients the same

level of accuracy as the older model,but features an automatedpositioning system that enhancespatient comfort and reducestreatment time in many situations,and advanced software thatintegrates new imaging modalitiesthat improve treatment planning.

“This new technology will redefineradiosurgery beyond its currentboundaries,” notes Prasad. “Thecombination of automaticpositioning and enhanced imagingcapabilities will tell us not onlywhere the tumor or disorder is, butwhich areas are more likely to beproblematic for the patient.”

Gamma Knife radiosurgery isrecognized as an effective treatmentfor many brain disorders and hasbeen approved by the Food andDrug Administration. Therefore,most insurance carriers, includingMedicare, cover the cost of theprocedure. Success rates range from60% to well over 90%, dependingon the size, location and type ofdisorder, as well as the patient’spersonal medical history.

For more information, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724).

DONOR DOLLAR$AT WORK

Did you know that Roswell Park donors played a leadership role

in bringing Gamma Kniferadiosurgery to Buffalo?

To make a donation toward future medical and scientific

initiatives at Roswell Park,, visitroswellparkfoundation.org

or call 716-845-4444.

The Kindest CutG a m m a K n i f e R a d i o s u r g e r yby Deb Pettibone

16

Roswell Park Cancer Institute has embarked on The SunriseProject, an exciting campus-wideeffort to improve efficiency, patientsafety and health-care quality. The Sunrise Project will feature anew clinical information system,which includes an electronic health record, improved documentation,computerized provider order entry, a clinical research database, anddata from the laboratory, radiologyand pharmacy.

All physicians know how frustratingit can be to try to treat a patientwhen the paper chart has beenmislaid, or key data are missing.Using the new system, that willnever happen. Everything healthcareproviders need to care for a patientwill be available at the time they see the patient.

Today, physicians use slow,cumbersome, paper-based processes.When a patient leaves the clinic, thedoctor dictates a note, and someonehas to transcribe it; this all takestime. Under the new system, theelectronic health record will generatea detailed note before the patientleaves, and information will flowsmoothly back to the referringphysician.

With the new clinical informationsystem, all the patient's data will be neatly arrayed in columns andtables. With just a few mouse clicks,physicians can order lab tests orlook at radiology images. They cansend prescriptions to the pharmacyin seconds.

“Everything we do here is aboutenhancing the patient’s experience,”explains Marcia Gruber, MS, MSN,RN, Vice President for AmbulatoryServices. “This project is aboutfinding and creating opportunities to improve the efficiency of workflow, and to enhance patientsatisfaction and patient safety.”

17

Another important goal of TheSunrise Project is to improvecommunication between the Instituteand patients. Roswell Park expectsto offer its patients increased accessto their own health information, andits leadership is discussing variousmethods that would support thisgoal. Eventually, RPCI patients willbe able to access all the informationthey need to participate in everyphase of their own care.

Many questions still remain to beanswered about the exact layout anddesign that will serve physicians andpatients best. If all goes well, RPCIexpects its new clinical informationsystem to be in use by April 2006.

Technology alone won’t be able to solve the problems in healthcaretoday. But technology does offer important tools for change, and aninnovative way to improve theefficiency and effectiveness ofhealthcare delivery.

18

For nine days, during a gruelingbicycle journey across America,Roswell Park researcher HarrySlocum, PhD, carried a constantreminder of why he rode. On hiswrist he wore the familiar yellow“LiveStrong” wristband madepopular by cancer survivor andseven-time Tour de France winnerLance Armstrong. Attached to theband were tags bearing the names of 17 of Slocum’s family members,living and deceased, who havebattled cancer.

“These people I care very muchabout,” he says. They were hisinspiration in his quest to take partin the annual Bristol-Myers SquibbTour of Hope,™ a cross-country trekdesigned to raise awareness aboutcancer and the importance of clinicaltrials in the search for a cure.Though Dr. Slocum was a finalist forthe 2003 Tour of Hope team, he wasnot one of the 26 riders who crossedthe country that year. But hispersistence paid off this year when,out of 1,100 applicants, he becamethe team’s 25th member.

“The Tour of Hope is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he says. “Youdo this because you have a passionto fight cancer.” Fourteen of histeammates were cancer survivors;others included cancer researchersor people whose families had beenaffected by cancer.

But earning a place on the teamrequired more than passion alone.Explains Slocum, “You also have tobe physically capable, because youhave to train for a very arduous3,340 mile journey. The ride was anaround-the-clock relay from San Diego to Washington DC, inweather ranging from 118° drydesert heat in Arizona, to tropicalstorm Tammy blowing rain in theCarolinas and Virginia. Cyclingmore than 100 miles a day for eightdays in a row requires some prettygood preparation.”

Slocum had a 40-year head start in his training. That’s how long he’s been pedaling as a cyclingcommuter. Every day, he rides from his home in the Town ofTonawanda to Roswell Park, wherehe’s a member of the Departments of Pharmacology & Therapeutics,and Pathology. It’s seven miles each way, and with bike tiresequipped to chew through snow a foot deep, he’s on the road even in blizzard conditions.

Following an intensive 14-weektraining program, Dr. Slocum andhis teammates started in San Diegoon September 29. Lance Armstrongled them on the first leg of the

WHEN HARRY MET

LANCEby Sue Banchich

Dr. Harry Slocum

19

journey. “Lance also joined theteam when we crossed Mississippi,from Natchez to Jackson. Teammembers said riding with Lance islike riding with your best friend. His drive and accomplishments notwithstanding, when you are withhim, you most notice his warmthand common-man qualities. Somethink of him as superhuman, butclearly, he doesn’t view himself that way,” Slocum said.

During this year’s Tour of Hope, it was evident from the first thatSlocum’s light build and years of cycling gave him an uphilladvantage as the team pushed upascents totaling more than 10,000feet. When they fell behind schedulein the high desert country of NewMexico, Slocum’s special strengthhelped them make up lost time. Chris Brewer, a member of the 2003Tour of Hope team, reported thatthe team, exhausted from “ridingreally hard for 67 miles,” now faceda 1,100-foot ascent over five miles.

Wrote Brewer: “Harry was sent offon a Lance-like solo ascent to thetop to link up with the other squad,up—way up—the road ahead. Harrydrilled it up the mountain. As Harrycrossed his personal finish line andtagged off with the other squad, the entire support staff was cheering loudly.”

Dr. Slocum explains that it was ateam effort: “The team workedreally hard blocking the wind infront of me for the previous 20miles, to put me in position for thefinal launch up the hill.” AndSlocum knows firsthand thepowerful impact of teamwork.

“Just like the Tour of Hope, thefight against cancer is a team effort,”Slocum emphasizes. “Everybody hasto get involved if we’re going to curecancer,” he says. “If we can geteverybody pulling together, we’regoing to conquer it in our lifetime.”

So far, the effort has resulted in over100,000 signatures on the cancerpromise, including over 3,000 fromright here at Roswell Park. You canadd your promise, and find out moreabout the Tour and clinical trials atwww.tourofhope.org.

Seven-Time Tour de France Winner Lance Armstrong

The 2005 Tour of Hope Team

Dr. Slocum (right) with fellow riderRichard Shaffer

SAVETHE DATECreate your own

“Tour of Hope” at the11th Ride For Roswell

June 24, 2006.Details at

rideforroswell.org

NESTOR R. RIGUAL,MD, Head & NeckSurgery, has been electedas a Fellow to TheAmerican Laryngological,Rhinological and

Otological Society, also known asThe Triological Society.

DHEERENDRAPRASAD, MD, M-CH,Radiation Medicine,discussed “Radiosurgeryas a Mainstream ClinicalPractice,” during the

47th annual meeting of the AmericanSociety for Therapeutic Radiologyand Oncology (ASTRO) in Denver,CO. ASTRO is the largest radiationoncology society in the world, withmore than 8,000 members whospecialize in treating patients withradiation therapies.

YOUCEF RUSTUM,PhD, Senior VicePresident for ScienceAdministration, andCLEMENT IP, PhD,Cancer Prevention andPopulation Sciences,organized and hosted anInternational SeleniumWorkshop at RPCI inOctober. This workshopoffered insights into the

therapeutic and current scientificresearch of selenium.

The Commission on Cancer (CoC), American College of Surgeons, granted Roswell Park anOutstanding Achievement Award, which recognizes excellence in patient care. Only 9% ofprograms surveyed this year by the CoC received this special commendation.

ROSWELLNESS, RPCI’s consumer-targeted magazine with anational circulation of over 150,000, received a Merit Awardfor Health Promotion/Disease Prevention from the HealthInformation Resource Center, a national clearinghouse forconsumer health information programs and materials.Colleen Karuza, Director of Public Affairs, is the managingeditor and Benjamin Richey, Creative Services Manager,oversees its graphic design and lay-out.

tuesdays with

MMontyccoommiinngg ssoooonn!!

20

Details in nextissue of

Roswellness

What’s New at RPCI?

WELCOME N E W F A C U L T Y !

u KHURSHID A. GURU, MD, has been appointedDirector of the Robotic Surgery Center.

u The Department of Pathology and LaboratoryMedicine welcomes PAUL BOGNER, MD (thoraciccancers), GEORGE DEEB, MD (hematopoieticcancers), and MIHAI MERZIANU, MD (head and neck/hematological cancers).

u JUAN-DIEGO HARRIS, MD, has joined thefaculty of the Department of Pain Medicine.

u NAOYUKI G. SAITO, MD, PhD, will serve a joint appointment with the Departments ofRadiation Medicine and Pharmacology &Therapeutics.

u KELLI BULLARD DUNN, MD, joined the facultyof the Gastrointestinal (GI) Service, Department ofSurgical Oncology. She will continue her laboratorywork within the Department of Pharmacology &Therapeutics.

21

Answering AAnnsswweerriinngg KKaattrriinnaa’’ss CCaallll

By Kat Vossler

Weeks after Hurricane Katrinastruck the Gulf Coast, NicoleGerber, PhD, and Monique Watts, of RPCI’s Development Office,decided to volunteer their time tohelp pets that were abandoned bytheir owners in the rush to evacuate.Their destination was the hard hitarea of Gonzales, Louisiana.

Both women are life-long animallovers. Gerber visits local nursinghomes with her English Setter,Monty, a registered pet therapy dog. Watts, an equestrienne, loveseverything that has to do withhorses. “Horse people are of adifferent breed. Once you’ve metone, you’ve instantly made a friend,”said Watts.

RPCI employees donated about$1,000 to cover the costs of a rentalvan and gas, and animal crates were

donated by additional individuals.“We wanted to fly,” recalls Watts,“however, volunteers were asked to bring animal crates because of the limited space that existed tohouse the animals. There was noway that the crates could beconsidered carry-on baggage.Driving was our only option.”

“It was heart-wrenching to see thestarving animals,” said Dr. Gerber,who assisted veterinarians inproviding needed treatment to‘trauma’ patients. “About 10 to 15animals that needed serious medicalattention would be brought indaily.” Gerber recalls three youngdogs that were severely dehydratedand starving after having been foundlocked in a garage since thehurricane. “It was amazing howquickly they recovered once theyreceived care. All they wanted washuman attention,” she said.

Watts, who describes herself as a city girl with country dreams, turnedher attention to larger animals. “InGonzales, I worked in a barn withabout 77 horses. There were basicchores to be done, such as muckingthe stalls, and feeding and exercisingthe animals.” Some neededemergency care, like the NewOrleans draft horses that were found standing in the flood waters.“One of the carriage drivers whohad lost his own home stayed withthem and kept them from drowning– a real hero, in my eyes. He wasable to keep them alive until theycould be moved to Gonzales fortreatment,” said Watts. She recallsanother one of the seriously-wounded patients – a thoroughbredcolt – that was successfully treated.“Her legs were wrapped in barbedwire, and she struggled so hard tofree herself that she almost severed afew limbs.”

What made these women take the initiative to help the animals?“RPCI has the reputation forcompassionate care, and we had the opportunity to extend that care to others in need. There’s noway we could pass on that,” said Dr. Gerber.

Nicole Gerber assists a four-legged “friend in need” in Gonzalez, LA.

RRPPCCII’’ssRRPPCCII’’ss Own Drs. Doolittle

22

Grateful patients, friends, andcolleagues of Dr. Robert P. Hubennow are in the midst of a $750,000fundraising campaign to honor his many years of compassionatecommitment to and remarkable care of patients at Roswell ParkCancer Institute.

Dr. Huben, Chief of ClinicalUrologic Oncology at RPCI since1985, has been on a medical leavefrom his position. Patients and co-workers concerned about hishealth have begun a special drive to provide a permanent endowedfund in his name.

“Dr. Huben has devoted his careerto Roswell Park Cancer Institute,urology and to his patients; wewant him to feel our gratitude in a tangible way,” said Dr. JudySmith, Medical Director at RPCI.“The endowment drive will honor Dr. Huben’s commitment and dedicated service.”

Considered a role model for his fellow faculty and staff with his 23 years of dedicated service,

Dr. Huben has helped countlessindividuals during his RPCI tenure.

The Dr. Robert P. HubenProfessorship in Urologic Oncologywill provide a stable source offunding for research, and teachingsupport for a faculty member. Dr.Huben is intended to be the firstperson to hold this professorship.

“While this is a challenging goal, Dr. Huben is not one to letobstacles stand in his way,” said Dr. James Mohler, Chair of Urologic Oncology. “We areseeking gifts of all sizes to accomplish this—and wereally do need everyone’ssupport.”

To contribute to the Dr. RobertP. Huben Professorship inUrologic Oncology, please make your gift payable to The Dr. Robert P. Huben Endowment,and send to Roswell Park AllianceFoundation, Elm & Carlton Streets,Buffalo, NY 14263. Contact LindaKahn at 716-845-7606 for moreinformation.

Dr. Robert P. Huben to be Honored with Endowed Professorship

“Dr. Huben has devoted his career to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, urology and to his patients; we want him to feel our gratitude in a tangible way.”

Donations now sought to recognize his 23 years of compassionate care

—Dr. Judy Smith, Medical Director, RPCI

Betty Wah Leewas aremarkable

woman who left animportant legacy toRoswell Park CancerInstitute. Born inSwatow, China in

1934, she and her family moved toHong Kong when she was threeyears old. There, her eldest sister,who was learning English, decidedthat her siblings should all haveEnglish names, and called heryounger sister, Betty.

Ms. Lee won a scholarship toSimmons College in Boston, MA,and subsequently received a master’sdegree in comparative literature fromColumbia University in New York

City. Her career was spent as alibrarian both in this country and in Hong Kong.

Betty had just begun to enjoy herretirement when, in 1999, she wasdiagnosed with Acute MyelogenousLeukemia (AML)—a malignancy ofthe white blood cells. AML is thecommon type of acute leukemia inadults, with an estimated 10,100new cases reported each year.

A courageous woman, Lee battledher leukemia with intelligence andgood humor. Along the way, shecontributed very generously toRoswell Park’s leukemia researchprograms in honor of her physician,Dr. Maria Baer. Dr. Baer’s researchfocuses on new treatment approachesto overcome chemotherapy resistancein leukemia cells.

Betty Lee died in February 2004, five years after first being diagnosed.Her legacy was a gift of $100,000through an annuity policy, whichwill endow a leukemia research fundin her name.

“The Betty Lee Endowed Fund willhelp us continue our search forimproved improved treatments forAML—treatments that will extendand enhance many patients’ lives,”said Dr. Baer. “Having had theprivilege of serving as Mrs. Lee’sphysician, it is a tremendous honorfor me to lead this effort.”

For more information about how tomake a legacy gift to Roswell ParkCancer Institute, please call BetsyFerguson, Legacy Gifts Officer, at(716) 845-8720.

Patient’s Legacy Fuels Leukemia ResearchFormer librarian honors her physician, Dr. Maria Baer

Roswell Park is recruiting 25 menwith clinically localized prostatecancer for the Men’s Eating andLiving (MEAL) Study to determine if a change in diet might slow thegrowth of their disease.

James Marshall, PhD, Senior VicePresident for Cancer Prevention & Population Sciences at RPCI, is coordinator of this multisite pilotstudy that includes the University of California at San Diego, OhioState University ComprehensiveCancer Center and Southeastern

Medical Oncology Center. JamesMohler, MD, Chair of UrologicOncology at RPCI, is the principalinvestigator of the Roswell Parkcomponent of the study.

Prostate cancer patients between 50 and 80 years of age, who werediagnosed within the previous four years, may be eligible for thisstudy. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires on theirlifestyle and dietary habits andhave a blood sample taken toestablish baseline levels of

carotenoids (nutritional agentsfound in plants) and lipids(cholesterol).

At the end of the six-month studyperiod, researchers will evaluateboth groups for changes in dietarypractices and carotenoid and lipidlevels.

For more information, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI

(1-877-275-7724).

The Role of Diet and Prostate CancerRPCI Seeks Study ParticipantsThe Role of Diet and Prostate CancerRPCI Seeks Study Participants

23

Sitting in VIP seats at sold-outsporting or concert events.Celebrating holidays and personalachievements with special friends.And hearing voices of assurancefrom compassionate counselors whenlife’s challenges seem overwhelming.These are just some of the everydaymiracles performed by Carly’sClub—Western New York’s lifelineof support to children with cancerand their families.

Officially known as Carly’s Club for Kids & Cancer Research inWestern New York, the organizationhas gained considerable localrecognition in a short time throughits high-profile fundraising events.Volunteers from across Buffalo-Niagara team up regularly to raisebig dollars for pediatric cancerresearch seeking cures.

But that’s just one side of Carly’sClub. Its daily work also

takes place behind thescenes in homes andhospital rooms, and

its short-term successes are measured by the width of children’s smiles.

Carly’s Message of HopeThe inspiration one feels whenvisiting a Carly’s Club event oractivity is due to the early work ofCarly Collard Cottone—the youngfounder of the organization whoused her “kids helping kids” mantrato share toys, gifts and positiveexperiences with other pediatriccancer patients.

After a hard-foughtthree-year struggleagainst her illness,Carly succumbed tocancer in 2002. But the early groundwork for Carly’s Club she set with heradoptive parents, Chuck and Carole Ann Collard, would soon take off to new heights.

“By age 11, Carly had endured morehardships than many adults do in alifetime,” said Dr. Martin Brecher,Chair of Pediatrics at Roswell ParkCancer Institute. “Nevertheless, shecreated a legacy to help other kids inher situation, which continues to

make a real difference in the lives ofso many kids and families.”

Helping Families TodayTen-year-old Sean McLean is one of the children who has benefitedfrom his family’s involvement inCarly’s Club over the past threeyears. His mother, Mary Kay,remembers what it was like to hear that initial diagnosis, and whyCarly’s Club was so important.

“Childhood cancer is a ‘club’ you reallydon’t want to be in,” says McLean. “It is an incredibly

awkward and scary situation…therewas even a sense of denial that thiswas happening to our family. ButCarly’s Club helped us feel like wewere never alone.”

Today, their family is one of 250families receiving assistance fromCarly’s Club. One of the things that she and her husband, Scott,appreciate the most, is the inclusivenature of Carly’s Club activities.Sean’s sister, Kelly, and his cousins

regularly join him at events,sporting activities, and

holiday-themed parties.

by John C. Senall

24

“Carly’s Club helped us feel like wewere never alone.”

– Mary Kay McLean

And while the children interact withothers and see their doctors andnurses in a relaxed, non-hospitalsetting, parents like the McLeanshave the chance to get to know each other better. “Meeting otherfamilies put it all in perspective for us,” said McLean.

Now that Sean is cancer-free, MaryKay gives back to help others byserving on the Friends of Carly’sClub committee. The committeemeets regularly to plan special events and activities that will bestserve the overall needs of families. Among the long list of other benefits now offered to families are comfortbags for new patients (containing a fleece blanket, a squeezable stressball, and a journal for sharing hopesand fears); dinners on the pediatricinpatient floor; and regular

assistance from medical socialworkers (the Child Life Program).

Searching for Tomorrow’s CuresWhile the McLeans and families like them benefit from Carly’s Club membership, RPCI scientistsincluding Lionel Coignet, PhD,Eugene Yu, PhD, and others areworking around-the-clock to findanswers. Why do children getcancer? How can it be prevented?And how can we ensure childrennow in treatment can lead healthy,full lives after remission? Carly’sClub donations help support their work.

“Overall, childhood cancer is stillvery rare, and its five-year survivalrates have increased dramaticallyover the past 30 years,” explainedDr. Coignet, citing National CancerInstitute statistics of 55.9% survivalin 1974–1976 to now over 78%.Coignet says that new advances ingenetics offer real hope forincreasing that rate exponentially.

“We now have the knowledge baseto look at the genes responsible forspecific childhood cancers. Withcontinued funding from groups likeCarly’s Club, our goal is to find veryreal ways to let kids just be kids—tostop pediatric cancer before it caneven start.”

25

Carly’s Clubprograms funded by donor

support include…• Family counseling• Therapeutic play

programs• In-room/clinic visitation• Educational advocacy• Family-centered events• Stocked pediatric

inpatient kitchen• Patient “comfort bags”• Genetics research

To learn more about Carly’s Club for your child,

or to make a donation, please contact

Claire Daigler at 716-845-4590 or visit

CarlysClub.org.

Leukemia survivor Sean McLean (shown here with his sister, Kelly) is one of 250 Carly's Club members whoreceive individual and family support.

26

FAMRI Honors Anti-Tobacco Pioneers

Dr. K. Michael Cummings, Chair,Department of Health Behavior, was awarded a “Dr. William CahanDistinguished Professor Award” of$651,000 by the Flight AttendantMedical Research Institute (FAMRI)of Miami, FL. The award is namedfor the late Dr. William Cahan ofMemorial Sloan-Kettering CancerCenter, who for more than 50 yearswas a pioneer in the nationalmovement to fight the healthhazards of tobacco and secondhandsmoke.

Dr. Cummings will use his award toproduce a report that will contrastlevels of tobacco smoke pollution in common indoor venues in 20different countries, and to produce a book describing how the tobaccoindustry misled the public about thehealth risks of smoking. The awardwas made to Dr. Cummings inrecognition of his own pioneeringcontributions to research on thehealth hazards of tobacco andsecondhand smoke.

Treatment ImprovementProgram Funded byWendt Foundation, Roche Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Stephen B. Edge, Clinical Chair,Breast and Soft Tissue Surgery, wasawarded a grant of $115,000 by theMargaret L. Wendt Foundation ofBuffalo to help fund the WesternNew York Regional CancerTreatment Quality ImprovementProgram.

The goal of this project is toimprove care for cancer patients inWestern New York by assessing howcancer care is provided at variousstages throughout the treatmentprocess. The project will beimplemented jointly by RPCI and its partners in the P2 Collaborative.The Collaborative includes all threemajor health insurers in WesternNew York, major providerorganizations, hospitals and businessgroups. This project is also fundedby a $100,000 grant from RochePharmaceuticals. Roswell ParkCancer Institute is providing in-kind support.

Genetics ResearchAssisted by GeyerFoundation

The Charlotte Geyer Foundation ofWilliamsville, NY, awarded NormaNowak, PhD, an additional $23,000for her research on “Biomarkers forthe Progression of Head and NeckSquamous Cell Carcinoma” andKeshav K. Singh, PhD, an award of$50,000 up to $100,000 (uponsuccessful initial results) for hisresearch, “Mitochondria andMutagenesis.”

Dr. Nowak is the director of RoswellPark Cancer Institute’s MicroarrayFacility, Department of CancerGenetics. This additional fundingbrings Dr. Nowak’s total supportfrom the Charlotte GeyerFoundation to $69,000 for thisproject. Previous funding from theGeyer Foundation was instrumentalin Dr. Nowak receiving a larger,multi-year grant from the NationalCancer Institute to continue andexpand this research on specific skincancers.

Dr. Singh, Associate Member,Cancer Genetics, will use his grantto investigate the mechanisms bywhich mitochondrial dysfunctionleads to the onset of cancer. Thisresearch is hoped to provide keyinsights into the origins of humancancer, and the foundation for newtherapeutic approaches.

BUILDINGBLOCKS FORA CUREFoundation Grants Support Roswell Park Research

Upcoming Events & Benefits for RPCIShaken…Not Stirred Enter a world of intrigue and adventure, Saturday, January 28, at the All StarNight black-tie gala, “A License To Cure,” presented by HSBC and the RoswellPark Alliance at Buffalo’s Adam’s Mark Hotel. Sip martinis with Bond girls anddebonair secret agents. Enjoy casino games, Bond trivia contests for top prizes,and surprises galore! All Star Night awards, honoring a scientist, a volunteerand a nationally known celebrity for their work against cancer, highlight theevening. Tables are limited! Call 716-845-8788 for information aboutsponsorships or program book opportunities.

The Streets of San Francisco Challenge yourself for someone you love touched by cancer and enjoy abreathtaking ocean view in the same stride! Register today for Roswell Park’sTeam Cure San Francisco Challenge, taking place July 30, 2006. Let us trainyou to run or walk the San Francisco marathon, half-marathon or 5K race.The races include spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’sWharf, Bay Bridge, and more. Free training, airfare and accommodations areprovided. You provide the spirit and stamina, while raising funds for cancerresearch. Visit www.TeamCure.com for details.

Brush Strokes of HopeOrder all-occasion cards designed by Roswell Park’s talented pediatric patient-artists through The Paint Box Project! From birthday, thank you, and everydaygreeting cards, to jewelry, candles, wrapping papers and chocolates… you’ll besure to find the perfect gift for that special someone. Your purchase atwww.PaintBoxProject.com supports the hopes, dreams and wishes of cancerpatients, and RPCI’s driven pursuit of cancer cures.

Homeward BoundWatch for promotions throughout the winter about the Marrano Marc Equityhome sale benefiting Roswell Park research! Patrick Marrano, a member of theRoswell Park Alliance Foundation board, has called upon his subcontractorsand suppliers to build a house that will be listed on the open market, and soldto benefit Roswell Park. Sneak previews of the completed home will take placethis spring. All visitors will have the opportunity to take away prizes includingnew furnishings featured in the home!

Food and Fun for Kids’ Sake The Roswell Alliance and Hospice Buffalo are teaming up to present “KidsCook”– an evening of culinary delights to benefit Carly’s Club for Kids &Cancer Research in WNY and the Hospice Essential Care Program (servingfamilies battling critical pediatric diseases). Join sponsors Wegmans and Chef’son Sunday, April 2 (location to be announced). All young children are invited to interactive cooking stations, where they’ll strap on aprons to create deliciousentrees. Parents and non-foodies can sit back and enjoy food demonstrations by top chefs, fabulous entertainment and spectacular auction deals until theirbudding young chefs present their masterpieces!

P R E S E N T S

S P O N S O R E D B Y

2006

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Call 716-845-4444 or visit www.RoswellParkFoundation.org for details, or for additionalevents presented by Team Cure partners across Western New York.

Park significantly over the pastseveral years through sponsorship of The Paint Box Project card andgift program, and events such as All Star Night. But their full-circlemotives for giving reach far deeperthan the merits of being a goodcorporate citizen.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCES BUILD BONDSTed was introduced to Roswell Parkas a student, then as an employee.He credits a positive and enjoyablework environment for launching hiscareer in pharmacy.

Shortly after meeting Phil througha career move, the pair decided theopportunity to begin their owncompany was at hand. The rest asthey say, is history.

Upstate Pharmacy began in 1998with three employees. It has sincegrown into a $22 million companywith 45 employees.

“We never thought it would be thisbig—a lot of hard work and a littlebit of luck has rewarded us withsuccess,” said Kuzniarek.

He says the idea of a corporatepartnership with Roswell Park was a natural.

“Since working at Roswell Park andobserving the special needs of thepatients we administered to, it wasalways in the back of our minds to give back if we could,” said Ted.His mother’s own cancer diagnosisand treatment strengthened thatresolve. Then, when Phil wasdiagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2003 and received a bone marrow transplant at Roswell Park, his vision became even clearer.

PATHS TO GIVING Upstate’s history of giving withRoswell Park literally started withpaving stones, according to thebusiness partners.

“Our first donation, we bought acouple bricks gracing the hospitalentrance” said Ted. “Then when the opportunity to be part of theconstruction of RPCI’s new outsidegarden and park was presented, weagreed to finance the fountain—itwas our first big gift,” he exclaimed.

Phil recalls with pride how importantit was for a Roswell Park patientwho was planning to pop thequestion to his girlfriend in the park(now named for an anonymousdonor, Mr. “WJK”) to have thefountain running out of season—andthe effort that went into filling thefountain water in time for the“event” with help from localfirefighters and Roswell employees.

While Upstate Pharmacy’scontributions have grown over theyears, you won’t find either businesspartner looking for recognition.

“We don’t do it to promote ourbusiness, or to increase our presence in the community,” said Phil. “Wewant to do it, we feel the need to do it, and we will continue tosupport Roswell Park,” he said.

Roswell Park’s “Upstate”Ambassadors Give Back to Help Fight CancerFORMER EMPLOYEE AND CURRENT PATIENTSHARE THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESSES

Profiles in Giving; Upstate PharmacyProfiles in Giving; Upstate Pharmacy

by Carolyn Pawlowski

Personal and professional ties havewrought a fulfilling relationshipbetween best friends Phil Petoniakand Ted Kuzniarek of UpstatePharmacy Ltd. with Roswell ParkCancer Institute. Their successfulentrepreneurial enterprise has enabled them to support Roswell

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Today, Upstate annually supportsthe nurse practitioner and socialwork departments through fundsfor continuing education. Thecompany also purchases multipletables to support the Roswell ParkAlliance black-tie All Star Nightgala each year.

PAINTING A HOPEFUL FUTUREPerhaps the most colorful exampleof Upstate Pharmacy’s corporategiving philosophy in action is itsannual title sponsorship of ThePaint Box Project—RPCI’s now

year-round pediatric art projectformerly known as the RoswellPark Holiday Card and GiftProgram. Both Phil and Ted expressfeeling a strong connection to theyoung patient-artists.

“Some of the artists of The Paint Box Project are our patients,” saidKuzniarek, noting that Upstateregularly delivers medications toseveral Paint Box participants. “Ittouches you when children are sick.”

Petoniak added that the duo getsgreat pleasure from seeing smiles onthe children’s faces as they see theirdrawings come to life.

“The project has done a lot for thekids…it is a thrill for the artists tosee their cards in the catalog, andthey make the project. We justprovide the financial backing.”

TRANSFORMATIONSBoth Upstate partners plan tocontinue giving to benefit theInstitute’s patients through what has proven to be a quiet but steady leadership approach.

“We have a unique history withRoswell; as employee, patient,vendor,” explained Kuzniarek.“We’ve seen the transformation ofthe old hospital to the new. We havea different perspective. We are reallythankful that we are part of it.”

It is harder for Phil Petoniak to putinto words what Roswell Parkmeans to him.

“Personally, I might not be heretoday if it weren’t for my physician,oncologist and Roswell Park,” saidPhil, who recently paid tribute to thephysicians instrumental in his ownremission by inviting them to the AllStar Night gala.

“The staff at Roswell Park is a greatgroup of individuals whose goal it isto cure or lessen the effects of cancer.We are very fortunate to have it inour community.”

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Business partners Phil Petoniak, left, and Ted Kuzniarek, far right (shown here with 11-year-old Amanda Bentley at the fountain they donated to RPCI) continue to put patients firstthrough their charitable gifts.

“WE HAVE A UNIQUE HISTORY WITH ROSWELL…WE’VESEEN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE OLD HOSPITALTO THE NEW. WE ARE REALLY THANKFUL THAT WEARE PART OF IT.”

– TED KUZNIAREK

TO LEARN MORE ABOUTCORPORATE GIVING

OPPORTUNITIES BENEFITINGRPCI, CALL (716)845-1016.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S.POSTAGE

PAIDBUFFALO, NEW YORK

PERMIT NO. 61

Since the day we became America’s first cancer center, we’ve been driven by a single vision:To beat cancer. To banish it from our lives, from your life, and from the lives of your lovedones. Forever.

It’s why we offer the leading edge technology and personal care that make Roswell Parkone of the best cancer centers in America. And why your donations are critical to our fight.

Please make a gift today to help RPCI find answers, whileoffering hope to patients locally and across the world. Call

(716) 845-4444 or visit www.RoswellParkFoundation.orgto make a secure online donation. Every gift helps. And we need your continued support.