A SPECIAL PUBLICATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE CANCER INSTITUTE OF NEW JERSEY NETWORK

Clinical Trial Could Improve Outcomes for Women with Advanced Stages of Breast Cancer

New Brunswick, NJ – Researchers at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey are investigating a new combination of chemotherapy drugs targeted at patients who have been diagnosed with previously untreated triple-negative metastatic breast cancer. Triple negative is a type of breast cancer that does not express estrogen or progesterone receptors or HER2 protein. Thus, standard treatments with hormone blocking agents and agents that target HER2 such as tamoxifen and the antibody herceptin, respectively, are ineffective weapons against this subtype of breast cancer. As a result, women with triple negative breast cancer have a shorter survival and identifying better combinations of chemotherapy and novel biologic agents that are effective in this disease is critical. Deborah Toppmeyer, M.D., director of the LIFE Center at CINJ and associate professor of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is the lead researcher on a clinical study which will examine how patients respond to treatment with a novel combination of three agents, doxil, carboplatin, and the anti-blood vessel (anti-angiogenic) biologic, bevacizumab. Extensive laboratory data suggests that the formation of new blood vessels plays an important role in the establishment of distant sites of breast cancer by providing nutrients needed for cell growth to reach a tumor. Bevacizumab has been found to interfere with the production of new blood vessels, thereby interfering with cell growth and survival at distant sites. Doxil and carboplatin have been found to prevent the growth of cancer cells by inhibiting cancer cell reproduction. The study seeks to determine the response of the patient’s tumor to this novel combination and to assess the side effects.  Women with the diagnosis of triple-negative metastatic breast cancer which has been previously untreated are eligible to take part in the study, although other criteria must be met. The study is part of the CINJ Oncology Group (CINJOG).

CentraState Offers Digital Mammogram and a Manicure

Freehold, NJ – CentraState's Women's Health Center will provide a gift certificate for a free manicure to every woman who comes in for a digital mammogram during October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women who have digital mammograms will receive a gift certificate for a manicure from Serenity Spa and Nail. In addition, every mammogram patient seen in October will automatically be entered into a raffle with prizes that include a BriteSmile gift package from Bear Brook Commons Dental Group, a gift certificate to Avanti Day Resort Spa, a facial from Raintree Salon by Cindy and a massage from Jon'Ric International Medical Spa. All mammograms are scheduled at the Women's Health Center at CentraState, offering technical expertise, customized health education and counseling services from a female staff. The Center provides a breast health specialist who is a public educator on breast diseases and cancer detection. In addition to mammography, the center also offers stereotactic needle biopsy, breast needle localization, and bone densitometry.

New Oncologist Joins the Cooper Cancer Institute

Camden, NJ - The Cooper Cancer Institute recently welcomed Priya Singh, MD, as an attending physician in the division of hematology/medical oncology.  She joins Cooper after completing her fellowship in medical oncology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.  Dr. Singh received her medical degree from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, N.J., and completed her internship and residency at University Hospital, in Newark. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology.  Dr. Singh has participated in several cancer research projects and has been published in peer reviewed journals such as the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Journal of Urology and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. As a new member of the division of hematology/medical oncology, Dr. Singh will focus her practice on the care of patients with malignant and benign hematomas and the full spectrum of solid tumors.