BROADENING THE CONVERSATION ABOUT CANCER | WINTER/SPRING 2020 SHATTERING THE GLASS BEAKER Women Past and Present Have Played Key Roles at Fox Chase G43051_Forward Magazine.indb 1 2/25/20 10:16 AM FORWARD THINKING PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MAKING THE UNCOMMON COMMON or many of us, cancer is Chase a culture and a leader who something familiar. It has helped fuel their drive to contrib- touched us in some way, ute meaningfully to our under- whether personally, in our standing of cancer and to achieve families, or amongst our greatness through their own career Ffriends or colleagues. One might accomplishments. consider it a common thing, but to With the help of new drugs face it takes uncommon strength called immune checkpoint inhib- and exceptional insight. itors, we are seeing success treat- Fox Chase Cancer Center is a ing patients in ways we haven’t be- place where uncommon things fore. In these pages, we share how happen. Within our institution ongoing research is increasing our are people who are extraordi- knowledge of the complexities of nary—patients who carry on the human immune system and boldly through the seemingly im- how to harness its power to kill donors, and the entire Fox Chase possible and clinicians, scientists, cancer. In some cases, the positive family, and we look forward to and sta who do the exceptional to eects of immune checkpoint in- new collaborations on the hori- help them prevail. hibitor drugs last months to years. zon that will help us get closer to Our cover story in this issue There is still much work to do. more breakthroughs. Our story of Forward highlights the role of Right now, only a small number of continues. women in science, particularly patients’ cancers respond to such within our Center. In doing so, drugs, but the results give new it also showcases Fox Chase’s hope for the future. longstanding inclusion of dierent It is an exciting time for us at voices and new ideas in the pursuit Fox Chase. As we have done for of great science and medicine. decades, we continue to ask new These female trailblazers exercised questions, test new ideas, and dis- ingenuity and held close a dedi- cover new ways. We have tremen- Richard I. Fisher, MD cation to discovery, nding at Fox dous support from our patients, PRESIDENT AND CEO EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Joshua E. Meyer, MD Christopher W. McNichol FORWARD magazine is published twice a year for friends of Fox Chase Judith L. Bachman, MSN, RN, CNAA Associate Professor, Donald E. Morel, Jr., PhD Radiation Oncology Leon O. Moulder, Jr. Cancer Center by the communications Forward Chief Operating Officer department of Fox Chase. One of the WINTER/SPRING 2020 Donna L. Skerrett, MD Jennifer Barsky Reese, PhD Ryan O’Neill-Moon leading cancer research and treatment Director of Marketing centers in the United States, Fox Chase Patrick McGee LEADERSHIP Assistant Professor, Cancer Prevention FOUNDATION BOARD was founded in 1904 as one of the Editor and Control Program Amanda Purdy, PhD OF DIRECTORS nation’s first cancer hospitals, and Richard I. Fisher, MD J. Robert Beck, MD Director, Academic Affairs was among the first institutions to be Sarah Hughes President and Donald E. Morel, Jr., PhD Chair designated a National Cancer Institute Chief Academic and Administrative Officer Editorial Assistant Chief Executive Officer Rosalia Viterbo, MD, FACS, Louis E. Della Penna, Sr. Vice Chair Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Associate Professor, William J. Federici Fox Chase joined Temple University Health B&G Design Studios Jeremy Moore George Beschen Senior Director of Individual Giving Department of Surgical Oncology Richard I. Fisher, MD System in 2012. Design Senior Director of Edward A. Glickman Temple Health refers to the health, Brilliant Graphics Communications Richard J. Bleicher, MD, FACS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS Attending Surgeon, Lewis F. Gould Jr. education and research activities carried Printing Patrick McGee Lewis F. Gould, Jr. Chair out by the affiliates of Temple University Breast Cancer Program Leader Thomas W. Hofmann Publications Manager John M. Daly, MD Health System (TUHS) and by The Lewis Fox Chase Barbara Ilsen Katz School Temple University School Cancer Center Inquiries: Lisa Broida Bailey Mary B. Daly, MD, PhD Margot Wallace Keith Director of Donor Relations of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor Cover [email protected] Ronald R. Donatucci Geoffrey Kent controls the provision of health care. All William J. Federici Contributors: Carolyn Y. Fang, PhD Dan Levin health care is provided by its member Edward A. Glickman organizations or independent health care Jill Horne Coleader, Cancer Prevention Philip E. Lippincott and Control Lon R. Greenberg Solomon C. Luo, MD providers affiliated with TUHS member On the Cover: Chemist Mary Adelia Bennett (left) working in Kimberly D. Hagerich organizations. Each TUHS member Erica A. Golemis, PhD David G. Marshall organization is owned and operated a lab in 1935. Lori Rink (right), an assistant professor in the Thomas W. Hofmann Molecular Therapeutics Program, in her lab in 2019. Deputy Chief Scientific Officer Edward J. Roach pursuant to its governing documents. Larry R. Kaiser, MD Lindy Snider Anne Jadwin, MSN, RN, AOCN, NE-BC Margot Wallace Keith Thomas R. Tritton, PhD Chief Nursing Officer 333 Cottman Avenue, COLIN LENTON Robert H. LeFever Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497 Shawn Kleitz Solomon C. Luo, MD foxchase.org Chief Development Officer David G. Marshall 1-888-FOX-CHASE G43051_Forward Magazine.indb 2 2/25/20 10:16 AM ForwardWINTER/SPRING 2020 CONTENTS FEATURES 6 Shattering the Glass Beaker Women researchers have long played a key role at Fox Chase Cancer Center. As early as 1946, four of 10 laboratory heads were women. To this day, female researchers and physicians who bridge the gap between the laboratory and the clinic have continued to play a vital role. 14 Picking the Lock Cancer can evade the body’s immune system by tricking it into thinking that cancer cells are normal. A newer class of drugs called check- point inhibitors help the immune system overcome this deception and attack cancerous cells. The results have been impressive, but the drugs do not work for all patients. 18 The Unknown Patient When most people hear the words “breast cancer,” they think of women, not men. But even though they are far fewer in number, men do get breast cancer. The men who have struggled with diagnosis and treatment say it can be an 18 isolating experience. DEPARTMENTS 26 MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Feet First to Kick Cancer 2 FOCUS: Around Campus In 2009, a group of friends and sports enthusiasts Fox Chase Nurse Travels to Mozambique for started an annual kickball tournament to fund Volunteer Work | High School Students Create cancer research. Since then, the Kicking Cancer Art to Highlight the Cancer Journey of Patients Foundation has raised $375,000. 22 CLOSE-UP: Patient Perspective: 28 REVIEW: News of Note Faith to Fall Back On Special Events | Honors & Awards | Notable Angela Shammo found out she had breast cancer Accomplishments when she was 40 years old and the mother of four young children. But her faith and excellent 32 REWIND: Hugh Creech: A Fox Chase medical care got her through. Family Story Organic chemist Hugh John Creech came to Fox 24 CLOSE-UP: Faculty Perspective: Chase Cancer Center in 1945 and would go on to A Family of Physicians have a long, distinguished career in pioneering Mariusz Wasik grew up in Poland as the child of work developing and testing chemotherapy drugs. two physicians. He went to medical school, where His wife also worked at Fox Chase as a researcher, he met his wife, who is also a doctor. And one of and his son served as a medical oncologist at the CLINT BLOWERS CLINT his two daughters is a nurse practitioner. center. WINTER/SPRING 2020 FOX CHASE FORWARD 1 G43051_Forward Magazine.indb 3 2/25/20 10:16 AM FOCUS AROUND CAMPUS FOX CHASE NURSE TRAVELS TO MOZAMBIQUE FOR VOLUNTEER WORK lthough based in Philadelphia, Fox Chase Cancer Center has a global reputation, a fact borne out by its many partner- Aships with other cancer centers and researchers around the world. But that global reach also extends to vol- unteer work. Recently, registered nurse Dana Adamson traveled to Mozambique with a group of nurses to provide medical services. They traveled to Macadeira, a small rural community, with a group organized by Nurses for Africa, which is located in the “They were unable to give us anything back, so instead they prayed for us. It was extremely memorable.” — DANA ADAMSON, FOX CHASE REGISTERED NURSE United States but partners with Hands at Work, a local group of mission workers in Africa. The nurses hosted two days of clinics which involved vital signs, assessments, and wound care; people were also prescribed the community.” Fox Chase nurse Dana Adamson with medications by nurses from more On their other days there, some of the children she met on her volunteer trip to Mozambique. developed areas of Mozambique. Adamson said, the nurses did a During those two days they saw day of teaching for both the care over 700 people, Adamson said. workers, who are women in the were able to thank the care workers According to Hands at Work, community that take care of their in the community for their work there is “no shortage of challeng- own family plus other families, by giving them large bags of rice, es” in Macadeira. “Hunger and and the children. They taught two liters of oil, and a bag of salt, starvation are prevalent, as are hand washing, hygiene, nutrition, things that are extremely dicult the risks of HIV/AIDS and malar- wound care, seizure care, and for them to even purchase.