Search Results

PHILADELPHIA (October 6, 2020)—Press Ganey has recognized Fox Chase Cancer Center with its 2020 Guardian of Excellence Award for providing outstanding clinical performance for patients in its outpatient clinics. “I would like to commend the Fox Chase Cancer Center Medical Group for its exceptional performance in the CGCAHPS survey, which led to this honor,” said Richard I. Fisher, MD, president and CEO of Fox Chase. “This kind of recognition is meaningful because it originates from feedback provided by our own patients.” Performance data comes the Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) survey, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through its Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The award honors organizations who continually perform in the top 5% for patient experience, engagement, or clinical quality performance throughout each quarter of the award year. At least 75% of the entire practice must meet the criteria in the national facilities database. CGCAHPS is a standardized tool that measures patients’ perception of care provided by physicians in an office setting. It is a sister survey to the more well-known HCAHPS survey, which focuses on inpatient hospital care. The current version of the CGCAHPS survey includes 31 core questions for patients and is viewed as the industry benchmark for patient assessment of healthcare providers. Press Ganey is an independent market leader in helping healthcare institutions measure patient satisfaction and better understand the patient experience. *** About Fox Chase Cancer Center

PHILADELPHIA (October 19, 2020)—Philadelphia magazine has named 72 Temple and Fox Chase Cancer Center physicians to its “Top Doctors in Cancer Care” list for 2020. Physicians on the list were nominated by their professional peers. “Temple Health is proud to have so many of its physicians across 25 different specialties selected for Philadelphia magazine’s ‘Top Doctors in Cancer Care,’ said Michael A. Young, MHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Temple University Health System. “Temple and Fox Chase Cancer Center physicians provide complete care from diagnosis through life after treatment for all cancers, and their representation on this list is further proof of the quality of care provided by our renowned clinical team.” “We are honored that so many of our Temple and Fox Chase physicians have been recognized in Philadelphia magazine for their expertise in cancer care,” said Richard I. Fisher, MD, president and CEO of Fox Chase Cancer Center. “Their outstanding work, particularly during these challenging times, reflects proudly on our institution and all who serve our mission of prevailing over cancer.” The Temple Health doctors on this year’s “Top Doctors” list represent the following 25 specialties: Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery; Radiation Oncology; Medical Oncology; Gynecologic Oncology; Breast Surgery; Urology and Urologic Oncology; Psychiatry; Pain Medicine; Pathology; Surgery; Hematology/Oncology; Pulmonary Disease; Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism; Otolaryngology; Cardiovascular Disease; Diagnostic Radiology; Gastroenterology; Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Dermatology; Vascular and Interventional Radiology; Urology; Colon and Rectal Surgery; Neurological Surgery; Plastic Surgery; and Nuclear Medicine. The 2020 “Top Doctors” are: · Abbas El-Sayed Abbas, MD, MS, FACS — Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery · Penny R. Anderson, MD — Radiation Oncology (FCCC) · Jessica R. Bauman, MD — Medical Oncology (FCCC) · Cynthia A. Bergman, MD — Gynecologic Oncology (FCCC) · Richard J. Bleicher, MD, FACS — Breast Surgery (FCCC) · Michael E. Bromberg, MD, PhD – Hematology · David Y.T. Chen, MD, FACS — Urology and Urologic Oncology (FCCC) · Emmie I. Chen, MD — Psychiatry (FCCC) · Christina S. Chu, MD — Gynecologic Oncology (FCCC) · Marcin A. Chwistek, MD, FAAHPM — Pain Medicine (FCCC) · Gary S. Cohen, MD – Vascular and Interventional Radiology · Harry S. Cooper, MD — Pathology (FCCC) · Paul G. Curcillo II, MD, FACS — Surgery (FCCC) · John M. Daly, MD, FACS – Surgery · Mary B. Daly, MD, PhD, FACP — Medical Oncology (FCCC) · Martin J. Edelman, MD — Medical Oncology (FCCC) · Hormoz Ehya, MD — Pathology (FCCC) · Cherie P. Erkmen, MD – Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery · Daniel D. Eun, MD – Urology · Jeffrey M. Farma, MD, FACS — Surgery (FCCC) · Richard I. Fisher, MD — Hematology/Oncology (FCCC) · Henry C. Fung, MD, FACP, FRCPE — Hematology/Oncology (FCCC) · Lori J. Goldstein, MD, FASCO — Medical Oncology (FCCC) · Richard E. Greenberg, MD, FACS — Urology and Urologic Oncology (FCCC) · Alan D. Haber, MD, FCCP — Pulmonary Disease (FCCC) · Michael J. Hall, MD, MS — Medical Oncology (FCCC) · Eman A. Hamad, MD, FACC, FHFSA – Cardiovascular Disease · Shelly B. Hayes, MD — Radiation Oncology (FCCC) · Enrique Hernandez, MD – Gynecologic Oncology · Stephen J. Heller, MD – Gastroenterology · Eric M. Horwitz, MD, FABS, FASTRO — Radiation Oncology (FCCC) · Karen L. Houck, MD, FACOG – Gynecologic Oncology · Stephanie A. King, MD — Gynecologic Oncology (FCCC) · Christian A. Koch, MD, PhD, FACP, MACE — Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (FCCC) · Benjamin Krevsky, MD, MPH – Gastroenterology · Alexander Kutikov, MD, FACS — Urology and Urologic Oncology (FCCC) · Jeffrey C. Liu, MD, FACS ­­— Otolaryngology (FCCC) · Christopher J. Manley, MD — Pulmonary Disease (FCCC) · Gina M. Mantia-Smaldone, MD — Gynecologic Oncology (FCCC) · Steven J. Mattleman, MD, FACC — Cardiovascular Disease (FCCC) · Michael J. Metro, MD – Urology · Barton N. Milestone, MD — Diagnostic Radiology (FCCC) · Juhi Mittal, MD – Medical Oncology · Curtis T. Miyamoto, MD – Radiation Oncology · Jack H. Mydlo, MD – Urology · Minhhuyen T. Nguyen, MD, AGAF, FACP — Gastroenterology (FCCC) · Rosaleen B. Parsons, MD, FACR, FSAR — Diagnostic Radiology (FCCC) · Sameer A. Patel, MD, FACS — Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (FCCC) · Roman V. Petrov, MD – Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery · Matthew M. Philp, MD – Colon and Rectal Surgery · Elizabeth R. Plimack, MD, MS — Medical Oncology (FCCC) · Joseph V. Queenan, MD – Neurological Surgery · Adam C. Reese, MD – Urology · John A. Ridge, MD, PhD, FACS — Surgery (FCCC) · Howard M. Ross, MD, FACS, FASCRS – Colon and Rectal Surgery · Stephen C. Rubin, MD — Gynecologic Oncology (FCCC) · Anthony F. Santoro, MD — Dermatology (FCCC) · Deric C. Savior, MD – Medical Oncology · Cecelia E. Schmalbach, MD, MSc, FACS – Otolaryngology · Elin R. Sigurdson, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS — Surgery (FCCC) · Mark L. Sobczak, MD, FACR — Radiation Oncology (FCCC) · Stacey Su, MD — Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery (FCCC) · Jeffrey L. Tokar, MD, FASGE, AGAF — Gastroenterology (FCCC) · Neal Topham, MD, FACS — Plastic Surgery (FCCC) · John M. Travaline, MD – Pulmonary Disease · Robert G. Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS — Urology and Urologic Oncology (FCCC) · Margaret von Mehren, MD — Medical Oncology (FCCC) · Michael W. Weaver, MD – Neurological Surgery · David S. Weinberg, MD, MSc — Gastroenterology (FCCC) · Stephanie E. Weiss, MD, FASTRO — Radiation Oncology (FCCC) · Jennifer S. Winn, MD, MS — Medical Oncology (FCCC) · Jian Q. (Michael) Yu, MD, FACNM, FRCPC — Nuclear Medicine (FCCC) About Temple Health Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $2.2 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH); TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Affiliates, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., TUHS’s physician practice plan comprised of more than 500 full-time and part-time academic physicians in 20 clinical departments. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. About Fox Chase Cancer Center The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center and its affiliates (collectively “Fox Chase Cancer Center”), a member of the Temple University Health System, is one of the leading cancer research and treatment centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence five consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship and community outreach. ​​​​​​​

PHILADELPHIA (October 14, 2020)—Fox Chase Cancer Center has been selected as the newest institution in The Melanoma Research Foundation Breakthrough Consortium (MRFBC). Founded in 2010, the MRFBC is a nationwide network of 21 centers of excellence in melanoma united to accelerate research and development of the most promising melanoma treatments. The MRF is the largest independent organization devoted to melanoma. “Our melanoma program at Fox Chase is thrilled to be joining the Melanoma Research Foundation Breakthrough Consortium,” said Jeffrey M. Farma, MD, FACS, co-director of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program and professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology. “This partnership will allow for increased research collaborations with world experts in melanoma to continue to make strides in discoveries with hopes to improve the quality of life and cure patients with melanoma,” he added. “The MRF eagerly welcomes Fox Chase Cancer Center as the newest member of its Breakthrough Consortium,” said MRF CEO Kyleigh LiPira, MBA. “Under the leadership of Dr. Farma, we anticipate Fox Chase to be an engaged and collaborative member site and a valued addition to this important research initiative.” She added that MRF has proudly supported the innovative research conducted at Fox Chase for many years and is confident this expanded partnership will produce even greater results and new breakthroughs for the melanoma community.

Identifying Path to New Therapies with Funding from National Institute of General Medical Sciences (Philadelphia, PA) – Each year, some 270,000 Americans die from sepsis, in which the release of normally helpful infection-fighting chemicals in the body triggers an unusually extreme immune response – powerful enough to cause life-threatening damage to blood vessels and organs. Risk of this severe response is increased in patients who experience abnormalities in heart function and a drop in blood pressure, or hypotension, despite treatment to keep blood pressure elevated. Researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM), led by Konstantinos Drosatos, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Center for Translational Medicine, the Center for Metabolic Disease Research, and the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple at LKSOM, previously found that heart dysfunction and hypotension in sepsis are closely associated with a molecule known as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Heart cells, when under stress, produce unusually large quantities of this peptide, which, in turn, acts to lower cardiac output, or how much blood the heart pumps in a given amount of time. How BNP is increased and whether it can be targeted with drugs to treat cardiac dysfunction and hypotension remains unknown. But now, with the help of a new two-year $750,000 grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), Dr. Drosatos and co-investigator and clinical lead Nina Gentile, MD, Professor and Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Emergency Medicine at LKSOM, plan to elucidate the link between BNP and severe sepsis. The research could lead to the discovery of new therapies to increase blood pressure and improve survival in septic patients. “With the support of NIGMS, we are now able to further our investigation into the role of BNP in sepsis and to determine how well BNP can be combined with other early manifestations of the disease to predict survival in sepsis patients,” Dr. Gentile said. “There are many variables that impact how sepsis manifests and how it affects individuals,” explained Dr. Gentile. To effectively study the role of BNP, the new project is broken down into two specific aims, investigation of the mechanisms that mediate BNP increase in the blood in sepsis and assessment of the role of BNP in reducing cardiac output and promoting hypotension in septic mice and patients. Dr. Drosatos will lead the basic research side of the project, while clinical studies will be headed by Dr. Gentile. The project marks an important next step in the team’s research into BNP and cardiac dysfunction in sepsis. In earlier work, Matthew Hoffman, an LKSOM MD-PhD student who previously worked in Dr. Drosatos’s laboratory, identified a signaling pathway in heart cells that is linked to increased BNP production and reduced cardiac output. In studies in mice affected by sepsis, the researchers found that activation of a protein known as cJun N-terminal kinase (JNK) increases BNP expression and contributes to cardiac dysfunction. Additional investigations in mice revealed that when BNP is neutralized or decreased by blocking JNK activation in the circulation, blood pressure stabilizes. In the truest sense of translational research, Mr. Hoffman will now take his findings from mice and work with Dr. Gentile’s clinical research team on the study of sepsis in human patients. BNP is a practical biomarker and potential therapeutic target in humans. “In patients, by inhibiting the activity of circulating BNP directly, it may be possible to alleviate septic hypotension and improve survival,” Dr. Gentile said. Dr. Gentile and Dr. Drosatos, along with cardiologists at Temple University Hospital, developed the clinical component of the research to include the measurement of laboratory markers in patient samples, as well as the use of noninvasive echocardiography in patients with sepsis of varying degrees of severity. “Our echocardiography method allows us to monitor subtle changes in the wall of the heart, providing a very detailed view of how the heart is pumping blood,” Dr. Gentile explained. The combination of highly sensitive echocardiography and BNP as a cardiovascular marker could be applied broadly to clinical assessment of sepsis, allowing doctors to quickly assess severity and better manage illness to improve patient outcome. “We are very excited about this collaboration with Dr. Gentile,” Dr. Drosatos said. “The medical school has vast although still unexplored opportunities for translational research. Therapeutic targets and biomarkers that we identify in animals can be readily transferred into clinical studies in human patients.” Both Dr. Drosatos and Dr. Gentile added that the new project also aligns with efforts at Temple to enhance translational research “from the lab bench to the hospital bed and back to the lab.” Such translational projects help expand the clinical research enterprise of the university, which is poised to become a front-runner in translational cardiovascular research. Learn more about Temple Health

Socioeconomic status and race could play a role in treatment decisions, according to new research. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the U.S. It’s also the most costly cancer to treat. Now, Jefferson researchers have shown that although the use of an effective and less expensive treatment is on the rise, some patients, specifically Black women and those without private insurance are offered the beneficial therapy less often. The findings pave the way for reducing healthcare costs and increasing patient satisfaction. “We have identified patient populations at risk of not receiving a beneficial and more cost-effective therapy,” says Dr. Alliric Willis, a surgical oncologist and associate professor of surgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) – Jefferson Health, who led the study along with his research team from SKMC and the College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University. “This research really illustrates that not all patients are being treated equally,” says Dr. Willis, who published the results online September 12, 2020 in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, also known as the Red Journal. Standard breast-conserving cancer treatment involves surgery followed by radiation therapy, which helps to lower the risk of cancer recurring in the treated breast. Traditionally, patients receive 25 to 30 daily radiation treatments over five to six weeks. In recent years, however, doctors have begun using an alternative radiation treatment plan known as hypofractionated whole breast radiation (HR). Patients should have access to all treatment options no matter their race, socioeconomic background or where they seek care. — Dr. Alliric Willis HR uses a higher radiation dose per treatment than the traditional regimen. The higher dose means patients require about half as many treatment sessions –15 to 16 treatments over three to four weeks – to achieve the same total dose. Compared with traditional radiation therapy, the approach is just as effective at reducing the risk of the cancer returning, more cost-effective and offers patients fewer side effects and better breast restoration outcomes following treatment. “Despite the fact that both patients and practitioners say they prefer hypofractionated radiation because of its efficacy and better cosmetic outcomes, HR use in the U.S., while increasing, has lagged for particular groups,” Dr. Willis says. To better understand who is at risk of missing out on the valuable therapy, Dr. Willis and colleagues turned to the National Cancer Database. The researchers examined data from nearly 260,000 early-stage breast cancer patients over 40 years old who were diagnosed between 2012 and 2016. All patients studied had received radiation treatment following breast conserving surgery. The researchers looked at demographics, tumor attributes and treatment facility characteristics between patients who received either HR or traditional radiation. The investigation revealed that HR use increased over the four-year study period, from about a quarter of eligible patients in 2012 to more than two-thirds in 2016. Despite the upward trend, the analysis uncovered marked disparities among those who received HR therapy. Patients who identified as white were most likely to receive HR, whereas HR use was lowest for African Americans, for example. “When we took all other factors into account, African American women were 15% less likely to be treated with HR than white women,” Dr. Willis says. “This demonstrates that even though treatment guidelines do not take race into account, race is a factor in breast cancer treatment.” Socioeconomic status also affected those who received HR therapy. Patients with private insurance were more likely to receive HR than uninsured patients or those on Medicaid, according to the study. In addition, patients who lived in zip codes with the highest income levels were 25% more likely to undergo HR than patients from zip codes in the lowest income category. Where patients sought care made a difference in their treatment, too. Treatment facilities associated with academic medical centers were twice as likely to use HR as community cancer or integrated network cancer facilities. “This tells us that there is a need to actively communicate information to healthcare providers about the spectrum of treatment options across all treatment facility types,” Dr. Willis says. Dr. Willis hopes that this research will shine light on treatment inconsistencies and motivate physicians to expand their treatment repertoire. “Patients should have access to all treatment options no matter their race, socioeconomic background or where they seek care,” he says. “Hopefully, our research will help to address gaps in provider education and extend this favorable treatment to all patients.”

Presented by Independence Blue Cross October 7, 2020 at 3 pm via @WTCPhila YouTube Channel Emcee: Cherri Gregg, Community Affairs Reporter KYW Newsradio Registration: http://ow.ly/Ql4z50Bm8EV 2020 Honorees: · Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement: Tom Leonard III, Chairman, Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP · Member Company of the Year: Philadelphia International Medicine (PIM) · Global Business Leadership Award: SAP Philadelphia, PA, September 21, 2020: The World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) is pleased to announce its 18th Annual World Trade Centers Day Awards, presented by Independence Blue Cross, and will take place virtually via YouTube @WTCPhila channel on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 3 pm US EST. KYW Newsradio Community Affairs Reporter, Cherri Gregg will be emcee. The World Trade Centers Day Awards is dedicated to recognizing the global achievement of the Greater Philadelphia region and to celebrate local business leaders who have made a significant contribution to regional and national economic growth through international trade. The event is in keeping with World Trade Centers Day, a day dedicated by the United Nations after the tragic events of 9/11 to celebrate the contributions to peace and prosperity made by World Trade Centers across the globe. The Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement honoree is Tom Leonard III, Chairman of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP. About Tom Leonard As written in Top 100 Magazine: Thomas A. Leonard has dedicated his career to the practice of law. With nearly 50 years of comprehensive experience in business and complex commercial litigation in both federal and state courts, he serves as both chairman of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell and HippeI LLP and chairman of the firm's litigation department. Tom's illustrious career has included the role of chairman of the disciplinary board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. A fierce litigator with an extensive appellate practice, he argues many cases in the appellate courts, including the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In 2019, he was named one of America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators. He also serves on the merit selection committee for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where he has been responsible for approving every federal judge who has been appointed throughout the past 25 years, and he has served on the magistrate retention committee for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Tom serves as president for the board of trustees for Roman Catholic High School and as a trustee on the board of trustees for Drexel University. Tom graduated from Roman and Drexel. Prior to becoming a trustee of the university, he served as a trustee of the Drexel School of Medicine. For his hard work and dedication, Tom has received numerous honors and awards. Tom has also been active in politics throughout his life, beginning as city controller for the City of Philadelphia. He has served as vice chairman of finance for the Democratic National Committee and he is the current chairman of an independent expenditure PAC, Pennsylvania Values. In Pennsylvania, he has chaired campaigns for president, U.S. senate, governor, and mayor, and he has served as a delegate for numerous presidential conventions. In 1996, he served as chairman of the electoral college in Pennsylvania. ​ The 2020 Member Company of the Year honoree is Philadelphia International Medicine (PIM). About Philadelphia International Medicine (PIM) Since 1999, Philadelphia International Medicine has been connecting patients and physicians from around the world with doctors and healthcare professionals from ten world-renowned Philadelphia-area medical centers in more than 100 specialties and sub which include: Jefferson Health, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, Magee Rehabilitation, Main Line Health, Nemours Hospital for Children, Rothman Orthopaedics, The Renfrew Center, Vincera Institute, and Wills Eye Hospital. The 2020 Global Business Leadership Award honoree is SAP About SAP SAP stands for Systems, Applications, and Products in data processing. Founded in 1972 in Walldorf, Germany, SAP has offices around the world. Originally known for leadership in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, SAP has evolved to become a market leader in end-to-end enterprise application software, database, analytics, intelligent technologies, and experience management. A top cloud company with 200 million users worldwide, SAP helps businesses of all sizes and in all industries to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and achieve their purpose. About World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia The World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia (WTCGP) is one of over 320 World Trade Centers in 89 countries around the globe. A non-profit and membership - based organization, the WTCGP accelerates global business growth for companies in Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey by providing customized, one-on-one trade counseling, market research, educational programs, trade mission support, business networking events, and powerful connections to customers and partners worldwide. Since 2002, the WTCGP has served as a catalyst for regional economic growth and job creation, helping area companies generate over $2B in incremental export sales, supporting over 26,000 jobs. www.wtcphila.org ###

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia in the elderly. Memory loss and difficulty thinking worsen progressively, with some patients eventually becoming delusional, disoriented, and vulnerable to mood swings and depression. Finding ways to slow or reverse this progression, or even prevent symptoms from developing in the first place, are major goals in Alzheimer's research. Now, thanks to a new $3.8 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, researchers at the Alzheimer's Center at Temple (ACT) will have an unprecedented opportunity to explore cardiovascular risk factors in Alzheimer's disease. The grant is the first major collaborative award for the Alzheimer's Center at Temple, which is poised to become a national leader in dementia research. “We are very excited to have the opportunity, through funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the development of Alzheimer's pathology,” said Domenico Praticò, MD, Scott Richards North Star Foundation Chair for Alzheimer’s Research, Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Microbiology, and Director of ACT at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM). “Vascular health appears to have an important role in Alzheimer's disease, but basic understanding of its impact has only begun to emerge.” Dr. Praticò and Silvia Fossati, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Associate Director of the Alzheimer's Center at Temple, will co-lead the basic research components of the project, which entail studies in cell and animal models. Dr. Fossati and William Zirker, MD, Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Crozer-Keystone Health, along with clinical outreach lead Laura N. Gitlin, PhD, FGSA, FAAN, Applied Research Sociologist and Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University, will explore clinical aspects of cardiovascular health and dementia in human patients. Jason Chein, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Temple University and Director of Temple's Imaging Center (TUBRIC), and Ingrid Olson, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Temple University, will carry out magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in patients. “By bringing basic research from preclinical studies together with clinical investigation, we can gain significant insight into how neurovascular dysfunction correlates with cognitive outcome in Alzheimer's disease,” Dr. Praticò said. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by the accumulation in the brain of harmful proteins, particularly amyloid plaques and tau tangles. The existence of damage to blood vessels in the brain, along with the presence of harmful protein deposits in Alzheimer's patients has raised new questions about relationships between cardiovascular health and cognitive health. A key question is whether vascular damage comes before or after the development of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain. Dr. Praticò and Dr. Fossati hope to answer this question by implementing a comprehensive approach that combines cell and animal models of Alzheimer's disease, as well as patient-oriented clinical research. These studies are expected to shed light on the effects of vascular function on neuroinflammation, the ability of neurons to communicate, and neurovascular integrity, and on the effects of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, on cognitive impairment. The researchers also plan to test a treatment in animals that could someday be used to protect against neurovascular damage and help prevent Alzheimer's disease in humans. In the clinical component of the project, the researchers will evaluate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and elevated levels of homocysteine in the blood, in individuals with normal cognitive function and in subjects with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Changes in MRI measures and blood biomarkers associated with vascular abnormalities in the brain will be examined in relation to cognitive outcome, which could yield new information about how cardiovascular risk factors contribute to progressive memory decline. With this insight, the researchers hope to identify readily available and effective preventative strategies for Alzheimer's disease that center on maintaining cardiovascular health. A fourth part of the project, co-led by Dr. Praticò and Patricia A. Joseph, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Human Services and Dean of Faculty at Lincoln University, is focused on training and education, with internship opportunities provided at Temple for minority undergraduate students from Lincoln who plan to pursue careers in Alzheimer's research and medicine. “We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the advancement of education for future researchers and clinicians in the field of dementia medicine,” Dr. Praticò added.

PHILADELPHIA (September 24, 2020)—In a study published today in the prestigious journal Cancer Cell, researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center showed how altering lipid metabolism may contribute to sustaining tumor growth in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The finding could help overcome a major problem in pancreatic cancer treatment resistance and metastatic spread, the researchers said. “The initial assumption was that if we block biosynthesis of cholesterol in cancer cells, that should prevent cancer development,” said Igor Astsaturov, MD, PhD, the study’s lead author and an associate professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase. But they were not able to prove the hypothesis, Astsaturov said. Instead, the researchers found something entirely unexpected. Typically, epithelial tumors, such as pancreatic, grow in clusters that mimic normal glands. When cancers become aggressive, they begin to grow in sheets resembling fibroblasts. This effect is known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is the hallmark feature of a subtype of pancreatic cancer known as basal. The complex, multifaceted investigation is the result of collaboration between Fox Chase scientists, including the first author, Linara Gabitova-Cornell, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in Astsaturov’s lab, and other collaborators across the United States. Other Fox Chase researchers included Edna Cuikerman, PhD, co-director of the Marvin & Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute; Carolyn Fang, PhD, co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program; Elizabeth Handorf, PhD, an associate professor in the same program; and Suraj Peri, PhD, an assistant research professor. Using mouse genetic models of pancreatic cancer, the researchers found that when cholesterol biosynthesis was blocked, the cancer switched its growth pattern and acquired the molecular features that changed it from glandular to basal subtype. “These basal tumors are inherently treatment-resistant and aggressive,” said Astsaturov. “We think that we’ve identified a new metabolic regulator that can promote the EMT and the basal conversion. This is a major obstacle for anticancer therapy that is responsible for chemotherapy resistance and metastatic spread.” When the researchers investigated why the phenotype switch occurred, they found that when tumors are deprived of lipids, they activate a transcriptional factor called SREBP1. Activated SREBP1 induced the expression of a secreted growth factor, TGFB1, a key mediator of the EMT, during which the epithelial cells lose their ability to adhere to each other and become migratory. Astsaturov said researchers investigated whether dietary factors or medications such as statins could be related to this change. “Working collaboratively, we found, quite disturbingly, that patients who take statins and have a lower level of blood cholesterol have a higher prevalence of the EMT cells in their tumors,” he said. “If someone has pancreatic cancer and low blood lipids due to poor nutrition, and takes a statin, this is not a good combination because it may promote the conversion to a more aggressive subtype of pancreatic cancer,” he added. Astsaturov said researchers are now beginning to look at a larger collection of human samples to determine how blood lipids correlate with a patients’ nutrition, medicines they are taking, and the percentage of EMT cells in their tumors. “Essentially, what we are looking for is whether there is an association between cancer aggressiveness and having poor nutrition, low blood lipids, high level of insulin, or anything that activates SREBP1,” said Astsaturov. The study, “Cholesterol Pathway Inhibition Induces TGFβ Signaling to Promote Basal Differentiation in Pancreatic Cancer,” was published in the journal Cancer Cell.

PHILADELPHIA (September 22, 2020) – Patients with cancer who have had prior radiation to the pelvic region often have very few treatment options if the cancer comes back or a new cancer is discovered in the same location. Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center have now shown that pulsed low-dose rate radiation for pelvic reirradiation was a safe treatment option that resulted in high rates of pain reduction. Pulsed low-dose rate radiation therapy (PLDR-RT) delivers conventional radiation doses in pulses of small doses with intermittent pauses, said Joshua E. Meyer, MD, associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology. Meyer was senior author of the study, which was conducted with a number of colleagues at Fox Chase, and the lead author was Jonathan Paly, DO, senior radiation oncology resident. “This technique has been around for about 15 years or so, but is not used all that commonly,” Meyer said. “The technique does require a bit of expertise in terms of the way the radiation is planned and delivered, and delivery requires more time. Delivery of PLDR-RT takes about three times as long as standard radiation.” Experts at Fox Chase have been employing PLDR-RT for more than 10 years in patients requiring reirradiation, but there were not any studies reporting safety and efficacy of PLDR-RT reirradiation to the pelvis. In the study, Meyer and colleagues looked at outcomes from patients who underwent PLDR-RT for cancers of the prostate, rectum, bladder, gynecologic cancers, or others. Twenty-three patients were treated with a curative intent and 15 were treated palliatively. At one-year, 59% of patients treated for curative intent had a clinical, biochemical, or radiographic response, and six of the 23 patients had no evidence of disease at their last follow-up. Among the patients treated palliatively, 61% had a clinical or radiographic response. Of the 50% of patients who reported pain at the local site before treatment, 68% reported an improvement in pain after PLDT-RT. About 5% of patients experienced grade 1 and 2 acute skin or soft tissue toxicity. The highest rates of toxicity observed were acute grade 2 genitourinary complications, which affected 21% of patients. Less than 8% of patients had a grade 3 toxicity. “There are more patients who benefit from retreatment now than there used to be, largely due to the fact that systemic therapy has improved in a number of disease sites and patients have a greater need for durable control,” Meyer said. “We always have patients on treatment with this technique in our department and it is reassuring to see that what we have been practicing is benefiting patients.” The paper, “Pelvic Reirradiation Utilizing Pulsed Low-Dose Rate Radiation Therapy,” was published in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology.

PHILADELPHIA - The Jefferson Headache Center in partnership with Ctrl M Health announced today the launch of a first of its kind innovative digital health and wellness platform for those who live with headache and migraine. Over the past year, the Headache Center, led by Director Dr. Stephen D. Silberstein, Professor, Department of Neurology, and Dr. William B. Young, Professor, Department of Neurology, shared its clinical expertise as well as its medical protocols, in Ctrl M Health’s design of an integrative program to address a pressing healthcare need for the chronic disease of migraine. Ctrl M Health’s digital platform focuses on promoting health and well-being through evidence-based programs, empowering users to integrate preventive strategies through self-management or in coordination with a physician. The platform includes a library of curated articles specific to headache and migraine, a mobile app delivering a personalized plan of physical, emotional and social support, and a line of evidence-based supplements specifically designed for the migraine community. “Research shows that lifestyle and behavior change strategies are powerful tools when living with migraine,” said Dr. Silberstein. “For some patients, they can be as effective as pharmaceutical treatments, but with few side effects. We have always recommended these strategies, but never had an easy way of delivering them to our patients. Ctrl M Health is a revolution in migraine care supporting our work with patients through safe and natural programs that are not bound by geography.” The program uses health psychology and pain neuroscience to provide evidence-based guidance on strategies to empower those living with headache and migraine to proactively engage in self-management in a variety of areas including sleep, nutrition, exercise, self-awareness and social connection. In addition, Ctrl M Health worked with the specialists at the Headache Center to develop dietary supplements designed based on the latest scientific studies. Migraine is the third most prevalent chronic disease in the world, and the second most disabling illness. Worldwide, it is estimated that one billion people live with headache and migraine, with 40 million of those in the United States. Currently, there are approximately 600 headache specialists in the United States, allowing for only a small percentage of those with migraine to access top level clinical expertise. "Supporting people who live with migraine headaches is an important example of how we must use innovation to provide continuous help anywhere," said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, president of Thomas Jefferson University and Chief Executive Officer of Jefferson Health. "The way to create this new ecosystem of health assurance is through creative partnerships between Jefferson and innovators like Ctrl M Health, so that people get support throughout their daily lives." Seeing the need for an accessible health and wellness program for the migraine community, William Gadsden, CEO, Ctrl M Health, started working with the Jefferson Headache Center to develop a public-private partnership to extend the Headache Center’s expertise to a larger audience. “We couldn’t have achieved this without the collaboration with the Jefferson Headache Center team, whose combined clinical experience and research serve as the backbone of our programs,” said Mr. Gadsden. “We have built Ctrl M Health to be synergistic with health care providers and to augment the care that they provide to their patients. Through our unique partnership with the leading comprehensive headache center we have democratized access to their healthcare expertise to more people than any ever before.” Ctrl M Health’s app is available through the Apple store, with an Android version in the works for December, 2020. About Ctrl M Health Ctrl M Health is an innovative digital health company focused on revolutionizing care for those living with headache and migraine. Their integrated health and wellness solutions provide digital and mobile access to comprehensive health management strategies delivering a comprehensive toolkit of integrative approaches to improve quality of life with headache and migraine.

Ten years ago, my life was forever changed by three words: “You have cancer.” Those words shocked my invincible-minded adolescence into reality. I was a 15-year-old sophomore in high school, and I was terrified beyond comprehension. I knew nothing about cancer, chemotherapy or what was about to happen to me. All I knew was that my life was involuntarily put on hold as I engaged in war with an enemy I never saw coming. With my entire world turned upside down and displaced within the confines of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, life seemed utterly hopeless. Amy, a Hematology/Oncology Physician Assistant, oversaw Manny’s treatment and always reminded him to “keep going.” As I set out on what would become 10 grueling months of chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, my fear and uncertainty was difficult to deal with. Despite the unwavering amount of support I received from friends and family back home, the reality was that my life was on the line every single day, and I felt so alone as a patient. That is until I met Dr. Hiro Kiguchi, a duPont resident physician who was on his inpatient Hem/Onc service for the month. Our meeting could not have come at a better time: I was about halfway through my chemo rounds, with no hair, little energy, and a beleaguered morale. At a point in time when I was receiving the roughest part of my treatment regimen, he went above and beyond to check in on me every single day including after his shifts! I was amazed with his compassion and how well we bonded, to the point where I inevitably looked forward to seeing him every single day. Then he revealed something shocking to me: “I’m a cancer survivor. I used to be a cancer patient just like you.” To this day I will never forget how his words made me feel. To know as a patient that the person taking care of you has been through similar experiences provides a comfort nothing else in the world could equal. For the first time since starting my journey, I didn’t feel alone anymore. Every ounce of doubt and fear I once had now gave way to hope and the confidence that I too could overcome my illness. In that moment I vowed that I would do everything necessary to make it out of the hospital alive – not for my sake, but ultimately so I could one day follow in Dr. Kiguchi’s footsteps and use my experiences to provide hope to my future cancer patients in their time of need. On December 7, 2010, I was declared “cancer-free.” A Survivor’s Path The initial uncertainty and fear I had felt at the beginning of my cancer journey had now been replaced by an unwavering conviction and determination to both reclaim my life and make my mission a reality, one day and one step at a time. When I entered treatment in March 2010, I was a sophomore and varsity cross-country runner with goals of becoming one of the best high school runners in New Jersey. Manny running track during the Winter 2010 season, days before his cancer diagnosis. After treatment, my focus was solely on getting back into shape as soon as possible in an effort to keep a promise I had made to my teammates and coaches during treatment – that upon my return, our team would win a championship. Within days of being released from the hospital, I was training again, with my head still bald, my central line still not surgically removed, and my desire to attain normalcy guiding my every step. The same applied to school, where upon my return it was suggested that I be held back and repeat my junior year since I had missed so much time as it is. But I refused to let cancer have its way. Against the medical advice of my doctors, I ran. Against the advice of my guidance counselors and teachers, I studied. Rest was not an option. Cancer, as I had experienced first-hand, was relentless. And so would I have to be if I planned to make good on everything I had decided to fight for. By the grace of God, I caught up in school and managed to graduate from Kingsway Regional High School alongside the very classmates who had supported me through treatment. Also in my senior year, our cross-country team not only won its promised championship, but by the end of the year and in my very last running season, I managed to beat all of my pre-cancer personal records and prove that I was a better runner than I had been before this journey had begun. Cancer, in forcing weakness upon me, had allowed me to discover my true strength. After high school, I went to Rutgers University – New Brunswick for college, where I participated in a rigorous pre-medical program and graduated cum laude in 2016. My medical school journey brought me to Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, which fatefully was affiliated with my “second home” of Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. As I spent 4 years learning to become a doctor, I also had the opportunity to rotate and work at duPont during my pediatric rotations. To be on the other side – no longer as a patient but as a provider – and work alongside the very doctors and nurses who saved my life was a heartfelt and meaningful experience that words will never be able to capture. Through cancer’s darkness I had discovered a light, one which had revealed the long path before me and given me the clarity and conviction necessary to overcome every challenge I faced along the way. A Survivor’s Inspiration Having cancer was one of the darkest chapters of my life. Admittedly, it was also the best thing that could have ever happened to me. Sure, I survived my own illness and walked away with a lifetime dedication to fight childhood cancer. But truth be told, my life has been most impacted by the incredibly brave and courageous children I have been privileged enough to meet along the way. When I attended Kay’s Kamp (Delaware’s pediatric oncology camp) as a summer camp counselor, the campers were an incredible sight: beaming with energy, smiles always at the ready, and resilient in nature. Their beautiful innocence and playful spirits were remarkable in the setting of cancer’s ever-present grip. When I got to treat patients alongside my oncologist Dr. Jonathan Powell, I witnessed how differently cancer affected each of their lives yet how fiercely determined they were to overcome their battles, their resolve to live never in question. And when I rotated on duPont’s Hem/Onc service during my third and fourth years of medical school, I experienced seeing a young boy consumed by neuroblastoma overcome all odds, hearing recently that he is cancer-free and back in school. Manny says Dr. Jonathan Powell is his greatest inspiration. Since beginning my mission 10 years ago, these children forever have been and will be my greatest source of inspiration. When I learned in March that I had officially matched for residency at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children – the very place where my life was saved – I knew it was in large part due to the impact they have had on me. Now as I return to my “second home” and work alongside the very people who saved my life, I vow to all of my patients and their loved ones – past, present, and future – that I will continue to pledge my life to this fight until the reality of childhood cancer is no more. Manny visited Dr. Powell to share the good news that he’d been accepted to medical school. “Children with cancer are like candles who accept the possibility that they are in danger of being extinguished by a gust of wind from nowhere and yet, as they flicker and dance to remain alive, their brilliance challenges the darkness and dazzles those of us who watch their light.” Dr. Manuel (Manny) Gonzales is a Sidney Kimmel Medical College resident at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children.

PHILADELPHIA (July 27, 2020)—In a recent review article, Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers outlined obstacles, research methods, and future treatment prospects for patients with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. VHL is a rare hereditary tumor syndrome that involves the abnormal growth of both benign and malignant tumors in various parts of the body, including the nervous system and internal organs. It occurs when an individual carries a germline mutation of the VHL tumor suppressor gene. The disorder usually presents itself in young adulthood and affects about one in every 36,000 people. “A consequent screening and timely preventive treatment of lesions are crucial for patients affected by VHL disease. Surgical indications and treatment have been evaluated and optimized over many years. In the last decade, pharmacological therapies have been evolving, but are largely still at an experimental stage,” the authors wrote. The paper reviews and summarizes for the first time the work that has been done for this syndrome, including research on oncological targets as well as manifestations and possible biomarkers, said Christian A. Koch, MD, PhD, FACP, MACE, director of the Section of Endocrinology in the Department of Medicine at Fox Chase. Koch worked on the paper with Alexander Kutikov, MD, FACS, chief of the Division of Urology and Urologic Oncology at Fox Chase. They collaborated with leading VHL researchers from facilities in Indiana, Belgium, and Germany, including lead author Sven Gläsker, MD, a neurosurgeon who serves on the clinical advisory council of the VHL Alliance. “The research we’ve done involved loss of heterozygosity studies, which means we looked at micro-dissected tumor tissue and compared it to a control sample from the same patient’s blood or normal tissue. From there we can figure out which germline mutation the patient has and how tumor evolution possibly occurs,” Koch said. The challenge then and now is for researchers to look at tissue and learn what to target in VHL patients by identifying precursor lesions that could potentially turn into tumors, he added. A thought leader in that work and senior author of the paper is Alexander O. Vortmeyer, MD, of Indiana University. The authors said agents, including sorafenib, thalidomide, HIF2α, octreotide, and immunotherapeutic approaches, are among some of the treatments that may seem promising, but more studies need to be done for safety and efficacy. “If you know the signaling pathways and genetic-accumulating mutations, then you can target them,” said Koch. “Otherwise, we do what we do now for Von Hippel-Lindau, which is try some other therapies and see what’s working, as reviewed in our paper by neurology resident Evelynn Vergauwen. I think this paper demonstrates that there is light on the horizon for Von Hippel-Lindau disease.” The review, “Von Hippel-Lindau Disease: Current Challenges and Future Prospects,” was published in the journal OncoTargets and Therapy.