UNC Lineberger
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UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center 25 th anniversary cancer LinesUniversity of North Carolina School of Medicine & UNC Hospitals – UNC Health Care 25TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE North Carolina: The State of Discovery in Breast Cancer Director’s Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for Clinical/Developmental: Projects that produce inno- 2 Message all women, and the leading cause of cancer death in women vative ideas for novel therapies or diagnostics. between the ages of 40 and 55. This year, a breast cancer will “I think the two most important features of the UNC be newly diagnosed every three minutes, and a woman will SPORE are depth and flexibility,” notes Bob Millikan, assoc- die from breast cancer every 12 minutes. It’s also a small ociate professor of epidemiology, and an investigator in two threat to men — almost 1,600 will develop the disease this SPORE projects.“Depth because we address breast cancer at year. With compelling statistics like this, it’s no wonder that researchers, clinicians and public health specialists at UNC and the Lineberger Center Making A are working diligently 3 Difference to find new ways of detecting, treat- Moving ing and prevent- 4 Science ing this disease. Their work be- gins with the National Cancer Institute-funded Specialized Smoke-Free Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Breast Cancer, Kids one of six in the country. Carolina Alamance, *Beaufort, 5 “The purpose of this SPORE is the integration of public Breast *Bertie, Chatham, health, clinical and molecular sciences to better investigate Craven, Durham, etiology, prevention and early detection in breast cancer and Cancer Study Edgecombe, Greene, to devise ways to reduce breast cancer mortality,” explains Counties & Harnett, Johnston, Jones, Shelton Earp, Lineberger’s director and the SPORE’s prin- North Carolina Lee, Lenoir, *Martin, cipal investigator. Moore, Nash, Orange, The SPORE has four components: Breast Cancer Pamlico, Pitt,*Tyrrell, Public Health Intervention: strives to increase the use Screening Wake,*Washington, of mammography in under-served African American populations Program Counties* Wayne and Wilson. Discovery Molecular Epidemiology: seeks to identify the environ- 6 mental and genetic causes of breast cancer many levels — social, behavioral, genetic, environmental — UNC Melanoma Gene Discovery: identifies new molecular markers and flexibility because we have been responsive to the needs of breast cancer that can be used for early diagnosis and of the North Carolina community in the design and imple- Team 7 treatment mentation of our studies.” continued on page 2 Profile: 8 Marci Campbell UNC Lineberger’s annual budget—from $1.7 million to Great $3.3 million per year, a 94 percent increase, moving us into the top 10 in core grant funding in the nation. Significant increases were given for: Clinical Research, to support development, evaluation News and monitoring of new therapies; UNC Lineberger’s plans for growth over the next five years Cancer Prevention and Control Research, to support received an enthusiastic response from the National Cancer population-based studies using molecular techniques to Institute. understand the interplay among genetics, environmental Improving The Center submitted its 1,283 page, five-year core grant exposures and lifestyle factors that may lead to cancer; Diagnostics proposal to the National Cancer Institute early last year, Basic Science Research, to develop animal models that 9 followed by a visiting team of 25 experts from universities mimic the development of cancer in humans so we can Lineberger and cancer centers across the U.S. to review our plan and its better understand cancer’s mechanisms and how best to financing. They recommended an extraordinary increase in Scrapbook target new therapies and preventive measures. the10 inside line up ... • Director’s knowledge offers the best oppor- Message tunities for combating a complex disease with substantial societal impact. Our partnership with the UNC UNC Lineberger is designated a Did you know that issue). Their collective wisdom produces School of Medicine, Hospitals and the Health comprehensive cancer center by the the nation’s old- state-of-the-art treatment in a supportive at- Care System provides patients with the National Cancer Institute. est public university mosphere: the best medicine and the best highest levels of expertise, experience, tech- Cancer Lines is a semi-annual also houses one of care. nology, and support. A visit to the NC publication of the UNC Lineberger the nation’s lead- Access. Sometimes even the best standard Clinical Cancer Center or anywhere in the Comprehensive Cancer Center, ing cancer centers? of care is not good enough. When this hap- UNC Hospitals and Health Care System The University of North Carolina With this special pens, our own teams of clinicians and scien- provides patients with all the resources and School of Medicine at Chapel Hill. issue of Cancer Lines, tists make available new and innovative thera- superb staff of an outstanding academic we invite you, our pies being tested in high-quality clinical trials. medical center. Dr. H. Shelton Earp, III, Director co-workers and col- Through these trials, our teams offer leading With the School of Public Health, the Dr. Joseph S.Pagano, Director Emeritus leagues, to learn edge treatment, diagnostic tools, and preven- School of Nursing, and others, we are finding Dianne G. Shaw, Director of more about how tion methods not available in many com- better ways to help people in communities Communications/Executive Editor Dr. H. Shelton Earp, III Margot Carmichael Lester, Editor the UNC Lineber- munity practices and hospitals. across North Carolina live healthily. We are ger Comprehensive Knowledge. UNC-Chapel Hill ranks in also using new approaches to study the pat- I Please remove me from your Cancer Center fights cancer in the clinic, in the top 15 universities nationwide in both terns of cancer in our communities and pre- mailing list the laboratory, and in our communities. biomedical and cancer research. UNC Line- dispositions to cancer in their families. These In the United States there are 6,021 hospi- berger researchers leverage substantial na- approaches will uncover important clues tals. Most, if not all, have cancer centers or tional support and their own intellectual about what causes cancer and what to do Name serve cancer patients. But, only 37 centers capital to develop novel ways to treat cancer, about it. nationwide, including the UNC Lineberger, find it early, or prevent it altogether. The con- This year the Cancer Center reaches its I Please add the following to the can call themselves National Cancer Institute stant interchange between our laboratory silver anniversary. Over the past 25 years, the Cancer Center’s mailing list. (NCI) designated Comprehensive Cancer scientists, clinicians, and public health prac- UNC Lineberger has grown from five to more Centers. titioners creates ideas and strategies admired than 200 faculty. Our members’ grant fund- NCI Comprehensive Cancer Centers are throughout the world of cancer research. ing has increased from $250,000 per year to Name national leaders. They combine high quality, What we learn today will help you and your more than $70 million per year. What was at technically advanced, and compassionate family tomorrow. first a small band of researchers has become Address patient care with outstanding research, com- Being an NCI Comprehensive Cancer a nationally recognized Comprehensive Can- munity service, and training. The UNC Line- Center helps us but, you are our greatest cer Center. Just last year, a rigorous National City, State, Zip berger keeps excellent company. Name a asset. We succeed because we are part of the Cancer Institute five-year review confirmed famous Cancer Center—M.D. Anderson, University and the UNC Health System. our excellence and continued promise by UNC Lineberger Fred Hutchinson, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Our 500 staff and 200 plus faculty mem- doubling our federal core support grant Comprehensive Cancer Center Dana-Farber, the Mayo Clinic. We are all NCI- bers represent more than 25 different de- funding. designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. partments concentrated in cancer research’s Yet, when all is said and done, without CB# 7295 And yes, our colleagues at Duke and Wake traditional home base in Health Affairs. the excellence, support, and resources of the School of Medicine University of North Carolina at Forest also share the designation, making That’s good, but we are working to extend University and the Hospitals, the UNC Line- Chapel Hill North Carolina and California the only states participation in Academic Affairs—psychol- berger could not have achieved all that it has Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295 with three such centers of excellence. ogy, computer science, chemistry, biology, and all that it hopes to accomplish. We are (919) 966-3036 This designation is great publicity, but information and library science, journalism, proud to be a part of the University of North http://cancer.med.unc.edu what does it mean for you? business, and many others. These faculty Carolina at Chapel Hill and the UNC Health Quality. At our Center, physicians, nurses, have much to contribute, and we are de- Care System. And, we want you to be proud other medical experts, counselors, and sup- veloping new partnerships and programs to of us. Printed on Recycled Paper port staff work together in multidisciplinary increase campus-wide participation