V i r g i n i a
C o m m o n w e a l t h W I N TE R
PEOPLE
U n i v e r s i t y
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PLACES
Research for Life
PROGRAMS Faculty Spotlight 1
HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge 5
Excellence in Research 7
Around the Commonwealth 14
Contents WI N T E R
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Advance is published by VCU Massey Cancer Center, Office of Development and External Relations.
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E d it o r
Julie Dillon A S S I S T A N T E d it o r
Matthew Lovisa DESIGN
Literati
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CONTRIBUTORS
Alaina Farrish Jenny Owen John Wallace PHOTOGRAPHY
David Hunter Hale Fran Householder VCU Creative Services John Wallace CONTACTS
To contact the editor, subscribe to Momentum, our monthly e-newsletter, or for general questions about Massey, e-mail AskMassey@vcu.edu. To make contributions or inquire about ways to give, call (804) 828-1450 or visit www.massey.vcu.edu/givenow For cancer-related inquiries and free literature searches, contact our Patient Resource Libraries at (804) 828-8709. To make an appointment, call (804) 828-5116 or (877) 4-MASSEY.
www.massey.vcu.edu
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1 Massey Welcomes New 8 Sparks of Discovery Colleague of VCU
Philips Institute
2 Massey’s Research for COVER STORY
Life Campaign
inspiring investment in people, programs and places
5 HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge 6 Centerpieces
the latest Massey news
funding and other research achievements
1 2 Investments in Progress 1 Commonwealth 4 Around the 16 Special Events notable gifts
Breast Cancer’s a Witch; Key to the Cure; Massey Cancer Center 5k; HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge; Country Club of Virginia Pink Ribbons of Hope; Massey Opening Night Shopping Spree; Massey on the River; The Highlands-Massey Classic Dinner and Auction
O N T H E C O V E R : Suzanne Barbour, PhD, and Charles Chalfant, PhD, members of
Massey’s Cancer Cell Signaling Research Program. Rendering of VCU School of Medicine’s McGlothlin Medical Education Building.
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dvance is a publication for patients, friends, staff and supporters of VCU Massey Cancer Center, an internationally recognized center of research excellence. As a National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, Massey is dedicated to saving and improving lives of those affected by cancer through innovative research and compassionate care.
Faculty Spotlight Massey Welcomes New Colleague of VCU Philips Institute
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CU Massey Cancer Center joins colleagues at the VCU School of Dentistry in welcoming Iain Morgan, BSc, PhD, as director of the VCU Philips Institute and chair of the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology at the VCU School of Dentistry. The VCU Philips Institute is a newlyexpanded university-designated research institute housed within the VCU School of Dentistry. As director, Morgan will work closely with VCU Massey Cancer Center and will be responsible for promoting the existing research programs of the Philips Institute, which include cancer and infectious diseases as they relate to the oral cavity. Morgan, a native of the United Kingdom, completed his graduate studies in Glasgow, Scotland at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, a renowned UK-funded cancer research institute where he worked on papillomaviruses, major causative agents in several human cancers. Morgan then moved to the University of Glasgow,
where he established an internationally recognized group studying Human Papillomavirus (HPV) transcription and replication control. The ultimate goal of his studies was to develop novel therapeutics to intervene in the HPV life cycle to reduce disease burden from this pathogen and to increase understanding of cellular transcription and replication, key processes that often go wrong in cancers. Morgan will continue this important research at VCU. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Morgan’s expertise as part of Massey’s collaborative research,” says Gordon D. Ginder, MD, director of Massey Cancer Center. “The depth of knowledge he brings related to HPV will have significant implications within our existing research programs.” Morgan has also worked in the lab of Dr. Peter Vogt at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Southern California and made several key contributions in determining the mechanism of cell transformation of many oncogenes. After four
Iain Morgan, BSc, PhD years in Los Angeles, Morgan moved with Vogt to The Scripps Research Institute before returning to the U.K. to work for the leading U.K. biotech company, and then eventually returned to his roots at the Beatson Institute.
February 5 The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, Va. This year’s Women & Wellness speaker is Lee Woodruff, author of In an Instant and Perfectly Imperfect. Join us for an inspirational event that will support women’s cancer research at Massey. The 2012 event netted more than $170,000, bringing the event’s 17-year total to more than $2.2 million for women’s cancer research at Massey. To learn about how you can be involved in this signature event as an event attendee or sponsor, contact Stephanie Jenks at (804) 827-0642. For more information, please visit massey.vcu.edu/women&wellness
Winter 2013 • 1
Massey’s Research for Life Campaign:
Inspiring Investment in People, Programs and Places
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ore than 1.6 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year. While survival rates are on the rise, thanks to significant medical advances, cancer remains one of the most critical areas of need for scientific research. VCU Massey Cancer Center is a national leader in cancer research, designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for excellence in development and translation of scientific knowledge from promising laboratory discoveries into new treatments for patients. With this solid foundation and a growing faculty of collaborative, cross-disciplinary researchers, Massey is seeking to bring its research enterprise to even greater heights through the $100 million Research for Life Campaign.
The Goal “Research is the only true hope for saving and improving lives of cancer patients. Massey has a solid foundation, but we need to broaden and deepen our research operation,” says Gordon D. Ginder, MD, director of VCU Massey Cancer Center. This is the goal behind the $100 million Research for Life Campaign, the largest campaign in Massey’s history, and one that focuses on improving, extending and saving the lives of cancer patients through innovative research and exceptional cancer care.
“ Our success in this campaign will not only develop successful new treatment options for cancer patients here in Virginia, but will also enhance our role in leading and shaping the national and international efforts to defeat the many types of cancer.” — Gordon D. Ginder, MD, director, VCU Massey Cancer Center
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“ In some way, shape or form, Massey touches the lives of each and every one of us. We all have a stake in our own health and the health of our community— Massey Cancer Center is a big part of that.” — Becky Massey, co-chair, Research for Life Campaign
The Needs Research for Life will raise funds for three areas of focus:
People
Programs
$25 million
$50 million
• Recruitment of 35 new physician-scientists and scientific researchers, • Retain physicians and researchers whose work is among the nation’s finest, • Enhance Massey’s economic and intellectual contribution to Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Six new Massey investigator-initiated Phase I and II clinical trials — a 50% increase in the number of such trials, • Ensure adequate resources for research programs to help researchers obtain more national grant funding, • Establish unique award and incentive programs to foster interdisciplinary collaborations, • Expand Massey’s network of clinical trial affiliates throughout Virginia.
Places
$7 million • Fund the Massey Research Pavilion, two floors of dedicated research space in the new VCU School of Medicine’s McGlothlin Medical Education Building, • The two floors of dedicated research space and the shared resource laboratory will add 27,000 square feet of new research space to house Massey’s clinical research and administrative teams. This new space is crucial to the growth of our faculty and our programs.
Additionally, Massey is raising $18 million for annual operational support over the duration of the campaign through its strong annual and development events programs. continued on page 4 Winter 2013 • 3
Massey’s Research for Life Campaign continued The Importance “ The research being conducted at Massey saved my life, no question about it. That research and the clinical trial that came out of it would not have been available to me if it weren’t for the generosity of those who came before me. Supporting Massey ultimately saves lives— I’m proof of that.” — Roberta Richardson, survivor and clinical trial participant with Beata Holkova, MD
“Research for Life is a remarkable opportunity for our community to invest in Massey’s people, programs and places,” says Becky Massey, co-chair of the Research for Life Campaign. “In some way, shape or form, Massey touches the lives of each and every person in Richmond and really throughout Virginia. We all benefit from having this extraordinary institution available to us.” “Fundraising campaigns are an effort to channel philanthropic dollars toward a specific need or goal that is above and beyond the existing, ongoing needs of an organization,” explains C.T. Hill, co-chair of the Campaign. “Massey is fortunate to have an extraordinary base of very loyal, committed donors. Research for Life will energize those donors and inspire even more supporters to find ways they can help.”
Be Our Partner! With more than $75 million raised to date, Massey launched the campaign to the public on November 8, establishing the goal to raise remaining funds by June 2014. “Every dollar truly counts as we head toward this campaign’s finish line,” says Massey. “There are so many ways to give and get involved— from attending one of our wonderful events to simply clicking ‘give now’ on our Web site — it’s easy. The faster we raise funds, the faster cures will be found.”
“ We need the entire community to invest in this campaign however they can. There is no such thing as giving too little — every dollar and every voice counts. Cancer won’t wait and neither can we.” — C.T. Hill, co-chair, Research for Life Campaign
You can help! Learn more at www.massey.vcu.edu/ResearchforLife
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HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge
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ive Local. Give Local. These four words became the new mantra of the 2013 HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge as it kicked off on November 1, beginning six months of fund and friend-raising leading up to the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by MARTIN’S on April 13, 2013. The momentum for this year’s HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge has already begun with more than $60,000 raised to date, en route to the goal of $500,000 by April 13. Kaity Kasper, chair of the 2013 HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge is looking forward to bringing more support to the Challenge than ever before. “Our goal is to double our participants from last year to 3,000 and increase the teams that are part of the Massey Challenge to 200,” says Kasper. “To do this, we created an inspiring new video, we are planning to have local businesses host Massey Challenge events in the months leading up to the race, and we are creating a Richmond community-wide fundraising effort that will last six months.” Some new features to the HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge include:
Massey Mile For the first time ever during race day, an entire mile will be devoted to VCU Massey Cancer Center. The “Massey Mile” will be located between mile markers three and four on Monument Avenue and will feature a sea of yellow with hundreds of Massey supporters cheering on thousands of runners, as well as other fun features to create a festive atmosphere. This will be a central collection point for all things Massey, where runners, walkers and those cheering on the sidelines can convene before, during and after the race to help raise awareness for Massey with other supporters.
New Social Media
Christina Todd, Massey Challenge participant and 2013 committee member
Support the HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge January 9 Jumpstart Your Health Challenge at Ellwood Thompson’s Natural Food Market January 23 Massey Happy Hour at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar February 28 Laughs for Massey presented by West End Comedy/On the Rox April 3 Having Dinner with Massey at Arcadia For more details on the Massey Challenge community events, visit http://www.massey.vcu.edu/ massey-challenge.htm or call (804) 828-1451.
To kick off the six-month fundraising initiative, a new video showcasing Massey Challenge supporters and their reasons for “accepting the challenge” was unveiled. The five-minute video highlights different fundraisers and volunteers who have embraced the Challenge. The video is the centerpiece of the renovated run4massey.org website, where participants can track their individual or team fund raising, follow along with social media and read participant vignettes under the “Stories of Hope” section. The Massey Challenge Facebook page also serves as a central location for supporters and volunteers to discover community events, share stories and join the conversation.
Live Local. Give Local. In an effort to broaden the reach and expand community involvement in the Massey Challenge, local businesses are hosting Massey Challenge events and donating proceeds to Massey. Two fundraising events per month will add to the “Live Local. Give Local” mantra as nearby restaurants and businesses will host special nights where a portion of their proceeds will support the HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge.
Micah Wayland
Find the Challenge online! run4massey.org facebook.com/MasseyChallenge
Follow HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge Committee Chair Kaity Kasper’s journey through the Massey Challenge on her blog: twentyfivethousandonehundredfiftyone.blogspot.com/
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Centerpieces Physician-researcher Receives 2012 Alliance Research Grant
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Beata Holkova, MD
eata Holkova, MD, Massey hematologist-oncologist, Harrison Scholar and member of the Developmental Therapeutics research program at Massey, was recently awarded an Alliance Research Grant to support her work involving drug combinations to battle B-cell lymphomas. Holkova received the award for her Phase I clinical trial combining carfilzomib, a proteasome inhibitor, with obatoclax, a Bcl-2 Inhibitor, in relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphomas, which are resistant to conventional therapies.
Researcher Steven Grant Awarded Prestigious Appointment, Grant Funding
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assey researcher Steven Grant, MD, Shirley Carter Olsson and Sture Gordon Olsson Chair in Oncology Research, associate director for translational research, co-leader of the Developmental Therapeutics research program and member of the Cancer Cell Signaling program at Massey, was recently awarded with an appointment to a major cancer journal and continued financial support from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, in recognition of his world renowned research related to new therapies for hematologic malignancies. Grant began serving as deputy editor of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, the American Association for Cancer Research’s journal of drug discovery and development on August 1, 2012, and will continue to serve until December 31, 2015. “His appointment reflects his many achievements in moving promising new therapies from the laboratory to patients’ bedsides,” says Gordon D. Ginder, MD, director of VCU Massey Cancer Center.
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Welcome New Massey Members!
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assey Cancer Center research membership is open to research investigators, clinicians, cancer survivors, patient advocates and community leaders engaged in and/ or supportive of cancer-related research. Membership eligibility and privileges are defined by a candidate’s level of current cancer-related research activity. Please join us in welcoming the following new scientists as Massey Members: Annemarie Conlon, PhD, Cancer Prevention and Control program Gary Francis, MD, PhD, Developmental Therapeutics program Andrei Ivanov, PhD, Cancer Molecular Genetics program Christopher Lemmon, PhD, Cancer Cell Signaling program Huiping Zhou, PhD, Cancer Cell Signaling program
New Faculty
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CU and Massey welcome the following new faculty members:
Meera Pahuja, MD, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Care Kain Ding, PhD, Department of Radiation Oncology
Steven Grant, MD Grant was also recognized for his promising translational research by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which awarded him an additional two years of funding under its Translational Research Program. Grant received $200,000 to help support the development of novel therapies for leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Annemarie Conlon, PhD, Department of Social Work Michelle A. Proper, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology. .
Excellence in Research Winners
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assey’s annual Cancer Research Retreat was held in October, providing opportunity for investigators to share their research among peers. Three young investigators were awarded “Excellence in Cancer Research” honors. First place: Timothy P. Kegelman, a student in the MD-PhD program, presented an abstract that further defines the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving invasion in glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain cancer. Working with Paul B. Fisher, MPh, PhD, Thelma Newmeyer Corman Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and co-leader of the Cancer Molecular Genetics program at Massey, Kegelman identified a promising novel therapeutic target that could lead to antiinvasive treatment in this form of cancer. Second place: Jessie W. Yester, a student in the MD-PhD program, examined activation of novel effectors of Interleukin-1 (IL-1) signaling that are critical for inflammatory responses. With guidance from Tomasz Kordula, PhD, member of the Cancer Cell Signaling program at Massey, and Kuzhuvelil B. Harikumar, PhD, Yester identified the key components controlling a new pathway essential for development of so-called “sterile” inflammation. Third place: Vijay Menon, a PhD student, presented findings that suggest a longchain platinum drug halts the growth of colon cancer cells. Working with Nicholas Farrell, PhD, and Lawrence Povirk, PhD, both members of the Developmental Therapeutics program at Massey, Menon hopes this could lead to new therapies for this difficult to treat disease.
Left to right: Timothy P. Kegelman, Jessie W. Yester and Vijay Menon
Multi-Investigator Project Grants
T Mitchell Anscher, MD, Florence and Hyman Meyers Chair of Radiation Oncology, presented the Olubunmi Abayomi Brachytherapy Suite plaque to Olubunmi Abayomi, MD, in December.
Dr. Abayomi Retires
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lubunmi K. Abayomi, MD, is retiring from the Department of Radiation Oncology after 32 years of medical practice. At Massey, Abayomi was the consummate physician-educator, training a generation of radiation oncology residents in the art and science of brachytherapy and serving as a role model of professionalism for both his trainees and his peers. In recognition of his lifelong commitment to the teaching of brachytherapy, the brachytherapy suite will be dedicated the Olubunmi Abayomi Brachytherapy Suite.
his fall, Massey announced new funding available for promising research projects that involve multiple collaborative researchers. This funding will support multi-principal investigators research projects in order to encourage collaborations in cancer research and provide preliminary support to a team of two or more investigators that are expected to lead a multi-PI external peer-reviewed grant submission. The goal is to bring together investigators who are authorities in their respective areas of research, whose research is complementary and where both investigators are essential for the success of the project. Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $80,000 per year for up to two years after an application and review process by the director of the cancer center.
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Sparks of Discovery New Research on Employment-Based Insurance Sheds Light on Health Care Reform
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en with employmentcontingent health insurance (ECHI) who suffer a health shock, such as a cancer diagnosis or hospitalization, are more likely to feel “locked” into remaining at work and are at greater risk for losing their insurance, as compared to men who are on their spouse’s insurance plan or on private insurance plans. The study, published in the International Journal of Health Care and Economics, was led by Cathy J. B radley, MPA, PhD, RGC Professorship for Cancer Research and co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control program at Massey. The researchers used the Health and Retirement Study surveys from 1996 through 2008 to observe employment and health insurance status among 1,582 men. The results shed light on potential benefits and drawbacks of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
“With the passage of health care reform, the tendency of those with employment-contingent health insurance, as opposed to other sources of insurance, to remain employed following a health shock such as cancer, may be diminished slightly, along with the likelihood of losing health insurance,” says Bradley. “The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will provide an option to purchase affordable private insurance and eliminate pre-existing condition clauses, which would be helpful to someone who could no longer work.” The findings suggested that financial shocks are more likely to contribute to employment lock because adequate health insurance would be too costly under private plans. “Additionally, we found that men with access to their spouse’s plans were less likely to remain employed following a health shock,” says Bradley. “However, we found most respondents did not consider their
Cathy J. Bradley, MPA, PhD wives’ policy as a viable option for health insurance.” The researchers will continue exploring the relationship between health insurance and employment, treatment decisions and recovery from treatment, expanding their studies to women with breast cancer and several additional studies on these topics.
Scientists Develop Mouse Model That Could Lead to New Therapies for Liver Cancer
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Devanand Sarkar, MBBS, PhD
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esearchers at Massey have created the first mouse model to demonstrate the role of the cancer promoting gene, Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1), in liver cancer. Developed by Devanand Sarkar, MBBS, PhD, Harrison Scholar and member of the Cancer Molecular Genetics program at Massey, the mouse model represents a critical step in understanding the molecular mechanisms of liver cancer progression and could lead to novel therapies for the disease. The team confirmed that AEG-1 over expression significantly accelerated the
progression of liver cancer and also caused steatosis, or fatty liver, a mechanism that promotes inflammation and cancer progression. “This mouse model represents a breakthrough in our ability to test and translate our laboratory findings,” says Sarkar. “It moves us forward in the research process by allowing us to test a variety of compounds that could inhibit AEG-1 and prevent the development and progression of liver cancer.” Researchers plan to use the model to investigate fat metabolism as well as a variety of obesity-related diseases.
Research Breakthrough Could Halt Melanoma Metastasis
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n laboratory experiments at Massey, scientists have eliminated melanoma metastasis, the spread of this dangerous form of skin cancer from the original tumor to other parts of the body. The study, published online in the journal Cancer Research, was led by Paul B. Fisher, MPh, PhD, Thelma Newmeyer Corman Endowed Chair in Cancer Research and co-leader of the Cancer Molecular Genetics program at Massey. Fisher and his colleagues discovered that a protein known as Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) prevents the production of another protein known as melanoma differentiation associated gene-9 (mda-9)/syntenin, which has been shown to cause a series of chemical reactions that lead to increased metastasis. “Our findings represent a major breakthrough in understanding the genetic mechanisms that lead to metastasis in melanoma. Prior studies have shown that levels of mda-9/syntenin are e levated
Paul B. Fisher, MPh, PhD in a majority of cancers, including melanoma, suggesting that our findings could be applicable for a wide range of diseases,” says Fisher. Through their experiments, the scientists discovered that RKIP physically binds with mda-9/syntenin, preventing
mda-9/syntenin expression. This finding opens the possibility of developing small molecules that mimic RKIP to be used as drugs to treat metastasis in melanoma and other cancers. Fisher and his team are now pursuing this next phase of research.
Researchers Harness the Immune System to Improve Stem Cell Transplant Outcomes
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novel therapy in the early stages of development at Massey shows promise in providing lasting protection against the progression of multiple myeloma following a stem cell transplant by making the cancer cells easier targets for the immune system. Outlined in the British Journal of Hematology, the Phase II clinical trial was led by Amir Toor, MD, hematologist-oncologist in the Bone Marrow Transplant Program and research member of the Developmental Therapeutics program at Massey. The multi-phased therapy first treats patients with a combination of the drugs azacitidine and lenalidomide. Azacitidine forces the cancer cells to express proteins called cancer testis antigens, which the patient’s immune system cells, T-cell lymphocytes, recognize as foreign. Lenalidomide boosts the production of the T-cell lymphocytes, which will now recognize and attack the foreign cancer cells. Using a process called autologous lymphocyte infusion (ALI), T-cell lymphocytes, are then extracted from the patient and given back to them after they undergo a stem cell transplant. Now able to recognize the cancer cells as foreign, T-cell lymphocytes can potentially protect against a recurrence of multiple myeloma following the stem cell transplant. In total, 14 patients successfully completed the investigational drug therapy. “We designed this therapy in a way that could be replicated, fairly inexpensively, at any facility equipped to perform a stem cell transplant,” says Toor. “We plan to continue to explore the possibilities of immunotherapies in multiple myeloma patients in search for more effective therapies for this very hard-to-treat disease.”
Amir Toor, MD SPARKS continued on page 10
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Sparks of Discovery
continued Why Women Physicians Choose Academic Medicine
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oday, as many women as men attend medical school, yet only 35 percent of the approximately 125,000 medical school faculty members in the U.S. are women. A group of investigators led by Amelia Grover, MD, assistant professor in the division of surgical oncology at the VCU School of Medicine and a researcher at VCU Massey Cancer Center, interviewed 53 women physicians who had chosen careers in academic medicine. Published in Academic Medicine, the researchers identified five main themes related to why the interviewees had made the choices they did. The broad factors are:
Alex Krist, MD, MPH
Interactive Personal Health Records Increase Clinical Preventive Services
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atients who use an interactive personal health record (IPHR) are almost twice as likely to be up to date with clinical preventive services as those who do not. Published in the journal Annals of Family Medicine, the study was led by Alex Krist, MD, MPH, research member of the Cancer Prevention and Control program at Massey. The trial involved eight primary care practices and 4,500 patients divided into a control and an intervention group who were mailed invitations to use an IPHR. After four months, delivery of colorectal, breast and cervical cancer screening increased by 19 percent, 15 percent and 13 percent, respectively, among IPHR users and at 16 months, 25.1 percent of those who used the IPHR were up to date with all recommended preventive services, nearly double the rate of non-users.
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The IPHR used in the study addressed 18 services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force, such as weight and blood pressure checks, cancer screenings and immunizations. “Interactive personal health records allow patients to make informed decisions about their health care, and could have important public health benefits,” says Krist. The IPHR generated detailed personal messages that explained the prevention service, its importance, referenced relevant details in the patient’s history and automatically forwarded a summary to the patient’s clinician. The researchers have already developed a handbook for using patient-centered personal health records to assist more primary care practices in adopting interactive personal health records.
• Fit, defined as a sense of congruence between their lives and their careers • Aspects of the academic health center (AHC) environment, including intellectual stimulation, teaching, variety, training opportunities and lifestyle • The influence of people in their lives, including mentors and parents • Exposure to academic medicine • Interest in practicing clinical medicine These insights suggest steps medical schools and residency programs can take to introduce careers in academic medicine to their trainees. “This diversity better enables us to understand and help our patients, ask and answer research questions and teach the future generations of health care workers,” says Grover. Amelia Grover, MD
Scientists Devise New Strategy to Destroy Multiple Myeloma
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assey researchers are reporting promising results from laboratory and animal experiments involving a new combination therapy for the second most common form of blood cancer, multiple myeloma. The researchers, led by Steven Grant, MD, Shirley Carter Olsson and Sture Gordon Olsson Endowed Chair in Oncology Research, associate director for translational research, co-leader of the Developmental Therapeutics research program and member of the Cancer Cell Signaling program at Massey, discovered a dramatic increase in multiple myeloma cell death caused by a combination of the drugs obatoclax and flavopiridol. The study, published online in the journal Cancer Research, found that the two drugs worked together through different mechanisms to promote a form of cell suicide known as apoptosis. It was also discovered that flavopiridol, a member of a class of agents known as a cyclin-dependant kinase (CDK) inhibitors that block the growth of cancer cells, significantly increased the expression of apoptosis. The laboratory experiments were confirmed in animal models. “There is an urgent need for curative therapies for multiple myeloma,” says Grant. “Our hope is that this research will
Steven Grant, MD lay the foundation for new and more effective treatments for patients with multiple myeloma and potentially other blood cancers for which adequate therapies are lacking.” Next, the researchers plan to test other clinically-relevant CDK inhibitors in combination with obatoclax for multiple myeloma.
Scientists Discover Mechanism That Could Reverse Obesity
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n international team of scientists led by Massey researcher Andrew Larner, MD, PhD, Martha Anne Hatcher Distinguished Professor in Oncology and co-leader of the Cancer Cell Signaling program at Massey, has successfully reversed obesity in mice by manipulating the production of an enzyme known as tyrosine-protein kinase-2 (Tyk2). The scientists discovered that Tyk2 helps regulate obesity in mice and humans through the differentiation of a type of fat tissue known as brown adipose tissue (BAT). Published in the online edition of the journal Cell Metabolism, the study is the first to provide evidence of the relationship between Tyk2 and BAT, suggesting that Tyk2 could help protect against and even reverse obesity. The scientists were able to reverse obesity in mice that do not express Tyk2 by expressing a protein known
as signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (Stat3). Stat3 mediates the expression of a variety of genes that regulate a host of cellular processes. The researchers found that Stat3 formed a complex with a protein known as PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16) to restore the development of BAT and decrease obesity. “We discovered that Tyk2 levels in mice are regulated by diet. We then tested tissue samples from humans and found that levels of Tyk2 were more than 50 percent lower in obese humans,” said Larner. “Our findings open new potential avenues for research and development of new pharmacological and nutritional treatments for obesity.” There are two different types of fat, white adipose tissue (WAT) and BAT. WAT is the primary site of energy storage and BAT is responsible for energy expenditure in order to maintain
Andrew Larner, MD, PhD body temperature. Only in the last four years have scientists realized that BAT is present in adults and helps to regulate energy expenditure. “We’re hopeful this continued research will help lead to new targets to treat a variety of obesity-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” says Larner.
For additional details and more research news from VCU Massey Cancer Center, visit http://blog.vcu.edu/massey_news
Winter 2013 • 11
Investments in Progress Spotlight on Generosity
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(Left to right) Sture Olsson*, Dr. Shirley Olsson, Elis Olsson and Dr. Steven Grant. *deceased
Front row: Procter Fishburne, Gordon D. Ginder, MD, Eric Morales; 2nd row: Jay Carpenter, Jessica Dennis, Kenny Melvin; 3rd Row, Erin Gardner, Lucy Moore, Jessica Dennis, Sarah Cosse; 4th row: Courtney Matthews, Sally Ashby, Ashley Driscoll; Back row: Holly Roper, Dylan Erdle, Rachel Kaplan, Louis Walker, Chase Hill.
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tilizing the Glasgow Incentive, which allows investments of $500,000 or more for endowment to be drawn from the Glasgow Trusts in a matching amount, an anonymous gift from a Massey Cancer Center Advisory Board member’s family will be used to create four endowed chair funds at Massey. One of these chairs will be a $2 million endowed chair named the Gordon D. Ginder, MD, Chair in Cancer Research. The Elis Olsson Memorial Foundation made a commitment of $500,000 to Massey over five years that will be split equally between the Shirley Carter Olsson and Sture Gordon Olsson E ndowed Chair in Oncology and the Elis Olsson Endowment Fund in Oncology. These funds will support Steven Grant, MD, who currently holds the chair, and his team of researchers as they pursue implementation of multiple novel trial concepts. The gift and impact will be doubled through the Glasgow Incentive. The South Richmond Rotary Club recently created the Nelson L. Bennett, Sr. Fund to benefit cancer research at Massey. The SRRC has been donating to Massey for the past ten years and recently achieved their goal in naming the fund in memory of Nelson L. Bennett, Sr., a Richmond businessman, philanthropist and former Rotarian. The Massey Alliance presented a donation of $50,000 in September. The donation represents proceeds from the junior board’s fundraising efforts. The Massey Alliance will successfully reach their goal of donating $300,000 by July 2013, to support the Research for Life Campaign. The Massey Alliance has pledged an additional $250,000 to name a conference room in the Massey Research Pavilion in the new McGlothlin Medical Education Building.
Support Those Supporting Massey
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assey is pleased to welcome several new cause marketing partners. We are grateful for local businesses and individuals who raise funds and awareness through creative partnerships that allow the community to support business with those who share their interest in Massey’s mission.
Sedona Taphouse
(Left to right) Janice Radcliffe, George Emerson, Darlene Emerson, Tom Radcliffe, Gordon D. Ginder, MD
Goodwin Research Laboratory Wing Dedicated “The Highlands-Massey Classic Research Wing”
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embers of The Highlands, a large community in Chesterfield County, were honored at VCU Massey Cancer Center in recognition of more than $1.5 million raised over seven years through The Highlands-Massey Classic. In recognition of the efforts of the volunteer leaders of The Highlands and the significant funds raised, Massey dedicated a wing in the Goodwin Research Laboratory as The Highlands-Massey Classic Research Wing. The special presentation was made by Gordon Ginder, MD, director of Massey Cancer Center, and Becky Massey, co-chair of Massey’s Research for Life Campaign. “The level of support received from The Highlands community during the past seven years has been tremendous,” said Gordon D. Ginder, MD, director of Massey Cancer Center. “We appreciate the volunteers’ ongoing support and dedication to Massey’s mission.” The Highlands-Massey Classic first started in 2006 as a golf tournament event to benefit head, neck and breast cancer research and has also included a dinner and auction, holiday house tour and 5k run in the community. Fueled by more than 150 volunteers, The Highlands-Massey Classic has been embraced throughout the Chesterfield community as a way to join forces in the ever-important mission to find cures for cancer. The Highlands-Massey Classic is led by George Emerson, developer of The Highlands, who was successfully treated at Massey for squamous cell carcinoma of the throat in 2006. With help from volunteers and the community’s desire to raise funds for an important cause, Emerson used his personal experience at Massey to advocate for the tournament to benefit Massey’s research. “It has been gratifying to witness our friends and neighbors rally around Massey,” said Emerson. “We know we’re helping save lives and there’s nothing more important.”
On Monday evenings during the month of October, Sedona Taphouse held “Steak Out for Charity” nights to benefit VCU Massey Cancer Center and raised more than $1,100 for local research at Massey. Richmond Ford
Through two initiatives, Richmond Ford raised $4,000 for the VCU Massey Cancer Center. Richmond Ford donated $1 per new Facebook fan during a four week span and also donated $20 for everyone who attended their “Go Further with Ford Night.” Donlin’s Pottery & Gifts
Lin Hudson Emmett, a cancer survivor, and her husband are the owners and artisans behind Donlin’s Pottery & Gifts, located in Amelia County, where a portion of the proceeds benefit VCU Massey Cancer Center.
Lin Hudson Emmett, owner of Donlin’s Pottery & Gifts For more information, please visit massey.vcu.edu/giving-ways-togive-community-partnerships.htm
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Around the Commonwealth New Director for Massey’s Oncology Services in South Hill
P (Left to right) Crater Health District Director Dr. Alton Hart Jr., VCU Massey Cancer Center Associate Director Mary Ann Hager, Petersburg Mayor Brian Moore, Virginia Delegate of the 63rd District Rosalyn R. Dance, Petersburg Public Library Director Wayne Crocker, and Southside Regional Medical Center CEO Michael J. Yungmann
Massey Helps Bring Health Information Service to Petersburg Library
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he opening of the Petersburg Healthy Living and Learning Center at the Petersburg Central Library on October 1, 2012, has made current and trustworthy health information available to local Petersburg residents. The Center is the result of a partnership among the library, Massey Cancer Center and Crater Health District. The purpose of the Center is to help Petersburg residents find information regarding their health concerns, connect them to health resources within the community and provide credible information on a variety of health topics and local health resources for a range of literacy levels. Low literacy is associated with an array of adverse health outcomes and contributes to the complexities of understanding health information. The Center is designed to empower community members to be proactive in their health management by providing accurate and reliable health information. “As Virginia’s cancer resource, Massey is focused on reducing the incidence and death from cancer for the citizens
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of the Commonwealth,” said Mary Ann Hager, RN, MS, associate director, clinical services. “This is why we feel it is so important that Petersburg residents have credible and easily accessible consumer medical information to help them better manage their health.” The Petersburg Healthy Living and Learning Center will be staffed by specially trained librarians and health education specialists from each partner organization and is planning to form partnerships with local physicians who will be able to refer their patients for information. “By providing accurate and reliable health information to community members and by connecting them with local health resources, we hope to better educate the Petersburg public about their health,” says Wayne C rocker, director, Petersburg Public Library. “The library is a familiar and accessible location that already serves as an information hub for the community, so involving the library in this partnership makes sense.”
aul G. Goetowski, MD, serves as director of radiation oncology at Community Memorial Healthcenter (CMH) on behalf of VCU Massey Cancer Center, which is partnered with CMH to provide oncology care in the Southern Virginia region through VCU Medical Center (traditionally known as Medical College of Virginia (MCV)). He is also an assistant professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the VCU School of Medicine. For the past year and a half, Dr. Goetowski served as a staff physician at the Community Cancer Center of North Florida. Prior to that role, he worked as a radiation oncologist for six years at Carolina Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach. For the previous 13 years, Dr. Goetowksi led the Carolina Cancer Center in Aiken, South Carolina. During his tenure there, he developed the first stereotactic radiosurgery, prostate brachytherapy and clinical intravascular brachytherapy programs in the state, building the center into a major institution in the region and fully integrating its medical and radiation oncology services. Dr. Goetowski has extensive experience in treating multiple tumor types as well as in using radiation to treat several noncancerous (benign) conditions, including intravascular brachytherapy for cardiac stenosis, postoperative keloid treatment and graves orbital disease. CMH’s Solari Radiation Therapy Center is currently under construction and expected to open in the summer of 2013. Until then, Dr. Goetowski will see patients for consultation and followup visits in South Hill at CMH Cancer and Specialty Care and will provide their radiation therapy in Richmond at VCU Massey Cancer Center.
Massey Partners With Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center to Provide Radiation Oncology Care
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CU Massey Cancer Center will jointly provide radiation oncology services at a new cancer center scheduled to open in April 2013 at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center (SRMC) in Spotsylvania, Va., serving an area that has one of the highest rates of cancer in the state. The two organizations have partnered under an agreement between HCA Virginia Health System and VCU Health System, a component of the VCU Medical Center that delivers Massey’s clinical oncology care. “Massey is pleased to partner with SRMC to serve the greater Spotsylvania community,” said Gordon D. Ginder, MD, director of VCU Massey Cancer Center. “The addition of radiation oncology services there will offer more treatment options and will expand access to innovative therapies for area cancer patients. This partnership also presents another opportunity to make Massey’s research-backed patient care available to more Virginians.” The partnership with SRMC further extends the reach of Massey’s National Cancer Institute-designated research.
Massey currently has other clinical care partnerships in metropolitan Richmond, South Hill, Emporia and Kilmarnock and clinical research affiliations in Fredericksburg, Winchester, Lynchburg, Hampton Roads and Danville. The Spotsylvania cancer center is currently in development, and a ground breaking event was held on December 14 to celebrate the commencement of construction. The center, which will encompass 7,000 square feet and cost $7 million to build and equip, will feature a linear accelerator, a CT simulator and mobile PET/CT capabilities and is projected to have more than 4,000 patient visits in its first year. In addition to Massey radiation oncologists, the cancer center will tap the clinical expertise of medical and surgical oncologists from the Spotsylvania region, as well as other physician specialists who see cancer patients. “This partnership at SRMC’s new cancer center to deliver radiation oncology services presents a wonderful opportunity to jointly enhance cancer care in the region,” said John Duval, CEO of MCV Hospitals, a component of the VCU Medical Center.
Massey’s Thomas Palliative Care Program Awarded Advanced Certification for Palliative Care
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assey Cancer Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for its Thomas Palliative Care Program, making it the first and only accredited palliative care program in Virginia. Palliative care provides specialized, multidisciplinary care for patients with serious illnesses and addresses physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Massey’s palliative care program underwent a voluntary, rigorous on-site review and satisfied The Joint Commission’s palliative care-specific standards, which focus on patient and family-centered care in order to optimize the quality of life for patients with serious illness. “This certification affirms the clinical excellence of our palliative care program. We are the first in Virginia and one of only two dozen in the nation to receive this designation, and we couldn’t be more proud,” said Egidio Del Fabbro, MD, director of Thomas Palliative Care Program at Massey. The Joint Commission is a not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies health care organizations and programs in the United States and their accreditation and certification is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting certain performance standards. An integral part of Massey’s internationally award-winning palliative care program is the 11-bed Thomas Palliative Care Unit, which is the only dedicated palliative care unit in Central Virginia. The unit has been providing inpatient care
Thomas Palliative Care Program leadership includes (left-right) Clareen Wiencek, PhD, CNP, ACHPN, nurse manager; Eggidio Del Fabbro, MD, director; Patrick Coyne, MSN, APRN, clinical director. in a unique, home-like atmosphere since its opening in 2000. In addition to the inpatient unit, the Massey palliative care program offers supportive care outpatient clinics as well as a consult service for physicians throughout VCU Medical Center. The program also serves pediatric patients, providing consults for Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.
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Special Events
Massey Cancer Center 5k From left: (back row) Ashley Driscoll, Kaity Kasper, Cathy Spangler, Blair Fine, Jamie D’Orso (front row) Lydia Lutchenkov, Laura Boone, Lauren Kiger and Nancy Melton.
Breast Cancer’s a Witch
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ore than $5,500 was raised through the auction of creatively designed witch hats and a percentage of sales from Shops at 5807 during their annual benefit shopping event held in October.
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or the past 25 years, the College of William & Mary track and field team has annually hosted the Massey Cancer Center 5k. Charles Crone, emeritus member of the Massey Advisory Board, and his team of volunteers raised $10,000 in support of cancer research at Massey this October.
The Highlands-Massey Classic Dinner and Auction Key to the Cure
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ore than 400 attendees enjoyed a night full of fashion at this year’s Key to the Cure, held in October, which featured a brand new silent auction and fashion presentation to benefit women’s cancer research at Massey.
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elebrating another successful event at The Highlands-Massey Classic Dinner & Auction are (left to right) Darlene Emerson, George Emerson and Amy Emerson Smith.
Pink Ribbons of Hope
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he Pink Ribbons of Hope Golf Tournament at the Country Club of Virginia netted more than $30,000 for breast cancer research.
(Left to right) Massey Alliance board member Jay Carpenter, Paul Allen, Bernie Donnelly and William Massey, Jr.
Massey on the River
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ttendees of Massey Alliance’s Massey on the River had the opportunity this year to sign a tribute board in honor of a loved one. The event netted more than $51,000 as a signature event of Massey’s junior board, the Massey Alliance.
Massey Opening Night Celebrates Ten Years
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he 10th Anniversary Massey Opening Night Shopping Spree presented by The Pink Ribbon Boutique and Derriere de Soie at The Bizarre Bazaar® was held on November 28. With more than $105,000 raised for Massey and more than 1,600 supporters in attendance, the event was the most successful in its history—a celebration fitting for its milestone anniversary! Since its inception in 2002, the Massey Opening Night has become a beloved holiday tradition for hundreds across Richmond and beyond who gather for exclusive shopping, refreshments and holiday cheer, all to benefit Massey’s cancer research. Massey Advisory Board members Judy Turbeville and Judy Clough have provided invaluable leader ship for the Massey Opening Night throughout the years, having been involved since its inception. As they prepare to pass the reigns of chairmanship on, their contributions—particularly their efforts in fostering corporate sponsors and community partners—are celebrated. This year’s corporate sponsors of the Massey Opening Night were essential to
Judy Turbeville and Judy Clough the record-breaking success of the event. Sponsors of $1,000 and up included: Ball Office Products, Baugh Auto Body, Capital One, Davis & Green Electrical, Envirowash, HandCraft Cleaners, James River Heating and Air, Pearson Auto Group, Rainbow Station, MCV Foundation, Signs Unlimited, Smiles by Dr. Jill Bussey, and Vero Consulting.
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Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center P.O. Box 980214 Richmond, Virginia 23298-0214
Non-profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Richmond, VA Permit No. 869
Events Calendar January 24 February 5
Women & Wellness The Jefferson Hotel Keynote Speaker: Lee Woodruff For details visit www.massey.vcu.edu/women&wellness or call (804) 827-0642.
April 13
HDL, Inc. Massey Challenge Participate in the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k presented by MARTIN’S and use your run or walk to support Massey. Register or support a participant at www.run4massey.org. Join in the conversation at www.facebook.com/ masseychallenge
Massey Day on the Hill An opportunity to visit legislators and advocate on behalf of Massey Virginia General Assembly Building For more information, call (804) 828-1450
January 24 & 31
Learning and Practicing Mindfulness Downtown Richmond YMCA Join Dr. Jo Robins for two free classes on meditation to learn basic techniques and ways to reduce stress and improve health outcomes. For more information, call (804) 628-1550
February 24 – March 2
North American Open Squash Tournament Westwood Racquet Club, Richmond, Va. One of only seven elite level pro squash events in the world. For more details, visit www.naosquash.com or call (443) 622-0360.
For more details on these and other events, visit www.massey.vcu.edu/support or call (804) 827-9486. Follow Massey on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasseyCancerCenter.