LUNG CANCER RESEARCHER CONDUCTS CLINICAL TRIAL for LIQUID BIOPSIES What Will Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Look the Time of Its Removal
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CONSULT A Newsletter for Medical Professionals FALL 2019 LUNG CANCER RESEARCHER CONDUCTS CLINICAL TRIAL FOR LIQUID BIOPSIES What will lung cancer diagnosis and treatment look the time of its removal. Back in the lab, Johann’s team like in the future? Look no further than the research at runs genetic sequencing on the tumor and re-grows it UAMS that is happening today. using different methods. Once the sample tumor is big “We’re coming into the long-promised ‘future’ of enough, the team tests individual existing drugs and cancer treatment,” said physician-scientist Donald J. novel combinations of existing drugs on the tumors to Johann Jr., M.D. “For the last 50 years, the holy grail find the most effective treatment. of cancer research has been being able to detect the The information is analyzed and stored so that if an presence of cancer with a simple blood test, known individual patient’s cancer comes back, the doctors will as a liquid biopsy, and treat cancer patients on an know the best therapies to use. The information is also individualized basis, which is precision medicine. compiled in large datasets so researchers can look for In pursuit of this quest, Johann was awarded $1.47 aggregate patterns and identify trends regarding which million from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) treatments work best for different types of tumors. to continue a clinical trial to develop a liquid biopsy The goal is for scientists to be able method for diagnosing and monitoring lung cancer. to genetically test a tumor to identify “Recent advancements in genetic sequencing the best course of treatment for technology, computational science and the ability to that individual manage massive amounts of data have made this type patient. of research possible,” he said. “The vision is to combine the power of these approaches with clinical knowledge to improve outcomes. This is the future of cancer medicine, and it’s all doable.” Johann is an associate professor in the departments of Biomedical Informatics and Internal Medicine in the UAMS College of Medicine. Biomedical informatics is a key part of Johann’s work. Its powerful computational methods allow him to process information on a large scale, looking for previously unrecognized patterns. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer- related deaths in the United States and the world, and the incidence in Arkansas has been higher than the national average for the past 20 years. Early stage lung cancer is treatable with surgery and chemotherapy and/or radiation, but the cancer often returns after two to three years and is deadly. Researchers like Johann believe precision medicine is key to changing these statistics. As an integral part of Johann’s clinical trial, UAMS surgeons provide samples of the tumor at (Continued on page 2) September 2019 Message from (Continued from page 1) Dr. Mette development of Dear Colleagues, liquid biopsies I’m happy to for cancer share that U.S. treatment News & World guidance and Report ranked less invasive UAMS Medical clinical care,” Center the No. 1 Johann said. hospital in Arkansas on its 2019-20 “We want to list. catch disease UAMS ear, nose and throat early and services ranked among the top 50 operate on nationwide, coming in at No. 42. it for cure, Meanwhile, UAMS cancer monitor it services were singled out as “high Donald J. Johann Jr., M.D., consults with members of his lab, from left, performing” on a national level, Meei Liu and Ikjae Shin, Ph.D. effectively, develop model and several other services and systems procedures were designated as Liquid biopsies are important effectively and then look at “high performing” regionally: colon because the average diagnosis potential therapies to see what cancer surgery, heart failure, hip for lung cancer patients is about would be the best treatment for replacement, knee replacement and age 70. Patients are often in poor each patient, instead of just giving lung cancer surgery. health in addition to battling everyone the standard treatment. For the 2019-20 ratings, U.S. cancer, and traditional invasive “The practice of clinical oncology News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide. biopsies can lead to complications is rapidly changing, and we need The Best Hospitals ranking or death. to be part of that and contribute. indicates quality complex care for Patients in Johann’s clinical trial When I came to UAMS, I believed challenging health conditions and give blood samples at multiple we should be able to do state- for common elective procedures. stages of treatment. The research of-the-art cancer research and “High performing” ratings designate team determines whether the treatment here. I’m proud to be specialty care that is significantly cellular material shed by tumors part of this science, the teamwork better than the national average, into blood can help doctors and potential for our patients.” as measured by factors such as detect cancer earlier and monitor Johann’s work on lung cancer patient outcomes, volume, quality patients during cancer treatments has been underway for three of nursing and other care-related to improve outcomes. Again, years. During previous phases, indicators. compiling big datasets plays a role. his team developed the advanced These rankings aim to offer The liquid biopsy part of bioinformatics and infrastructure at patients and physicians a resource Johann’s lung cancer work is also UAMS that are necessary to handle for making informed decisions supported by the Blood Profiling the large datasets involved in this about care. U.S. News found these Atlas in Cancer (BloodPAC), a research, and he brought firsthand programs to be special, and we nonprofit consortium for data knowledge of the latest molecular couldn’t agree more. sharing between stakeholders in technologies to UAMS. industry, academia and regulatory UAMS is working to achieve agencies with the goal of making National Cancer Institute (NCI) Best, liquid biopsies a reality. Designation for its Winthrop BloodPAC also supports liquid P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, biopsy clinical trials at Memorial which would benefit Arkansans Stephen A. Mette, M.D. Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with improved access to clinical Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for for prostate cancer, University trials and expanded access to Clinical Programs of Southern California for federal research funding. Research Interim Chief Executive Officer breast cancer, and University of like Johann’s is both part of that Chief Clinical Officer Pennsylvania for pediatric cancers. effort to gain designation and an University of Arkansas for Medical “The collaborative element example of what will be possible Sciences Medical Center to this is very important. We – on an even larger scale – once work with three very prestigious, designation is achieved. NCI-Designated Comprehensive For more information, visit Cancer Centers to accelerate the Cancer.UAMS.edu. ■ 2 Physician Relations News to Know: Updates from UAMS Physician Relations Pait reviews and discusses & Strategic Development Orthopaedics Sets Clinic for Michael Manley, RN, M.N.Sc. Upper Extremity Amputees the patient’s medical records, [email protected] Patients with amputations to radiological studies, imaging and their fingers, hands and arms can other information with the patient. Director receive care from a specialized To make a referral, call 501-686-5270 Melanie Meyer, M.Ed. physician, occupational therapist option 5. [email protected] and prosthetist all under one roof at the Orthopaedics Clinic on Guido J.K. Tricot, M.D., Ph.D., Manager Autumn Road. Returns to UAMS Carla Alexander, M.Ed. [email protected] Fellowship-trained upper Hematologist Guido J.K. Tricot, M.D., Ph.D., has returned extremity surgeons Mark Tait, Byron Jarrett to UAMS’ Myeloma Center. M.D., and John W. Bracey, M.D., [email protected] are part of the monthly clinic, When Tricot was first at UAMS along with from 1993-1997, Wendy Sheridan occupational he was intimately [email protected] therapist involved in Angela developing and pioneering the CONSULT Green and is produced by the UAMS Office Total Therapy an upper of Communications & Marketing extremity Approach and Physician Relations & prosthetist. to myeloma, Strategic Development. Together, they provide a level of consisting of upper extremity care unique in induction chemotherapy, stem Editor Arkansas. cell transplantation consolidation Amy Widner The clinic is for anyone with an and maintenance. This treatment upper limb amputation, including method was adopted worldwide Designer multiple fingers, partial hand, full and is responsible, together with Norma Edwards hand, below the elbow, above the introduction of novel drugs, the elbow and into the shoulder. for the greatly improved median Vice Chancellor for The amputation could be recent survival rate for myeloma, which Communications & Marketing or several years or decades in exceeds 10 years, with some Leslie Taylor the past. patients achieving cure. For more information, visit Go.UAMS. Tricot also served as director edu/AutumnRoad or call 501-526-1046. of clinical research for myeloma at UAMS from 2000-2007. UAMS Starts Digital Health To make a referral, call 501-686-7105. Program to Help Spine Patients Statewide Psychiatry Names New UAMS’ digital health spine Faculty, Medical Director clinic allows patients across Veronica Raney, M.D., has CONSULT Arkansas who have recently joined the Division of Child Quiz of the Month undergone spinal surgery or have Psychiatry’s Child Study Center spinal disorders or spinal cord as medical director, one of QUESTION tumors to get treatment close to several new faculty positions Your patient is a 36-year-old female home without having to travel to within the Department of recreational tennis player with elbow pain Little Rock to see a specialist. Psychiatry. radiating down the posterior aspect of The clinics are held through a Srini Gokarakonda, M.D., her forearm that has increased over the live video and data connection has also joined past two days.