Cancer Research Institute Focus : METASTATIC CANCER
Age of Discovery continued
attempt to answer medicine ’ s most pressing questions . They adhere to the highest ethical standards and treat each patient who elects to participate in clinical trials with compassion .
Each year , Scott & White scientists publish many clinical articles in peerreviewed scientific journals . Funding from the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) has increased fivefold since the turn of this century .
“ It ’ s so rewarding to be in the field of medicine at this time , and explore areas of medicine that are uncharted , while continuing the foundation of work from scientists before us ,” says Richard Beswick ,
PhD , director of research at Scott & White Healthcare . “ We ’ re really advancing the legacy of those scientists , who have paved the way for future discoveries to unfold .”
A heritage of inquiry That legacy has roots right here at Scott & White too . Beginning with one of our founders , Arthur C . Scott , Sr ., MD , and his experimental work with an electric cautery known as a “ hot knife ” to treat cancer , Scott & White has been at the forefront of cancer surgery research . His work in 1933 led to the establishment of the first cancer center in Texas , at Scott & White .
Many people may be surprised to learn that the Scott & White campus in Temple , TX , is still a hotbed of research activity . “ We ’ re doing more research in Central Texas than any other hospital in the area ,” says Dr . Beswick .
Scott & White already has a national reputation for excellence in delivering healthcare , but scientists here would like to raise awareness of its impressive research programs among the broader medical community . “ That national , international prominence will require the excellence in care delivery to be combined with excellence in research ,” says Donald E . Wesson , MD , FACP , chief academic
Cancer Research Institute Focus : METASTATIC CANCER
It is hoped that someday when patients hear the words “ metastatic cancer ” they can take comfort in knowing that in many cases the cancer can be cured . Metastatic cancer is defined as cancer that has spread from its original site to other areas in the body .
Scientists and clinicians at the Scott & White Cancer Research Institute ( CRI ) are hard at work exploring ways to reverse metastatic cancer and targeting tumors to prevent them from metastasizing .
The work of Arthur Frankel , MD , executive director of the CRI and the Tula Lee Stone Centennial Endowed Chair in Cancer Research , focuses on patients with different types of cancers . They include melanoma ( skin cancer ), brain and spinal tumors , small cell lung cancer , sarcomas ( connective tissue cancer ), and breast , prostate and liver cancers .
At the Glenda Tanner Vasicek Cancer Treatment Center , Dr . Frankel ’ s team targets patients with chimeric antigen receptor ( CAR ) T cells on the surface of their tumors . A specific retrovirus is then injected into patients ’ white blood cells to attack their tumors . Dr . Frankel is collaborating with scientists at Baylor University in Houston , where pediatric patients with neuroblastomas , a common form of childhood cancer , already are benefitting . The team seeks to secure additional funding through the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas .
“ We hope to treat our first patients at Scott & White within a year ,” he says . “ The most important thing is that a breakthrough like this gives patients hope .” Scott & White also is working on future versions of CAR retroviruses to reverse other types of metastatic cancers .
6 THE CATALYST Spring 10 | sw . org