NOV. 13, 2015
Local doctor leads research into new cancer treatments
Health Watch Brought to you by the staff & physicians of Scripps Hospital
N
ovember is National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, a time to take a closer look at what’s being done to address one of the deadliest forms of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 48,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015, making it the 10th most common cancer. However, more than 40,000 people in the U.S. are expected to die of the disease this year, making it the fourth most deadly type of cancer. Carmel Valley resident Darren Sigal, M.D., is a gastrointestinal oncologist at Scripps Clinic and a co-founder of Scripps’ Pancreas and Bile Duct Cancer Program. Dr. Sigal works with a multidisciplinary team of specialized physicians to help patients overcome their disease and also collaborates with fellow researchers locally and nationally to conduct clinical trials for new therapies. Dr. Sigal offers his insights into the field of pancreatic cancer treatment and research. Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat — why is this? First, it spreads early and the symptoms are quite vague: abdominal pain, sometimes jaundice, loose stools, bloating. As a result, even when we’ve removed the tumor and the patient has received chemotherapy, the cancer often comes back. Also, pancreatic cancer has a unique defense mechanism. It develops a scar, like a protective shell, which makes it difficult to get chemo to the tumor.
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perspective helps us give our patients a clear picture of their treatment options and also helps us identify opportunities to change course in treatment as needed. The group, which communicates daily on various patient care issues, includes myself and doctors Walt Coyle, Randy Schaffer, Jon Fisher, Warren Reidel and Ray Lin, along with nurse navigator Jane Williams. We are also part of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Team, which is a nationwide consortium of medical facilities conducting clinical trials. This is great for patients because they have access to the latest therapies. Scripps Clinic has a level of expertise you would normally find at a large university medical center. Looking ahead, where do you see promising developments? As recently as a few years ago, there were only a couple of approved drugs for pancreatic cancer, but there have been some real advances lately. In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a drug called Abraxane for metastatic, or late-stage pancreatic cancer. The one-year survival rate of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer has improved from 10 percent to about 30 percent, thanks to this drug. The combination therapy known as FOLFIRINOX is another option. In the past few years, a number of other new treatments have shown promise and continue to move forward. Scripps is currently taking part in a clinical trial for a new therapeutic called PEG-PH20. This is an enzyme therapy designed by a local company called Halozyme Therapeutics to break down the cancer’s protective scar. The idea is that, without the shell, chemotherapy could be more effective. Early results have been encouraging, but we still have a ways to go. There’s also an anti-inflammatory drug called Ruxolitinib, made by Incyte Pharmaceuticals. It’s thought that inflammation plays a big role in pancreatic cancer’s ability to resist chemo. This drug has already been approved for myelofibrosis and is approaching phase III trials for pancreatic cancer.
What’s happening now to help overcome these challenges? Scripps’ Pancreas and Bile Duct Cancer Program is a listed resource by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. We treat a lot of patients, participate in clinical trials and have special expertise when it comes to this disease. Our team is composed of physicians from several medical sub-specialties, in“Health Watch” is brought cluding medical oncology, to you by the physicians and radiation oncology, pancrestaff of Scripps Health. For as and biliary surgery, admore information or for a vanced gastrointestinal en- physician referral, call toll-free doscopy and transplantation. at 1-855-497-0866 or visit Having this comprehensive scripps.org/CNS.
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Business news and special achievements for North San Diego County. Send information via email to community@ coastnewsgroup.com. NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN The city of Del Mar is pleased to welcome Sheriff’s Capt. John Maryon to oversee law enforcement services for the cities of Del Mar, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and the unincorporated county areas including Rancho Santa Fe. Maryon previously served as the Sheriff’s Department’s homicide lieutenant. He replaces Capt. Theresa Adams-Hydar who will be handling internal operations within the Sheriff’s Department. Maryon has previous
experience working patrol, narcotics, and various roles in the Encinitas Sheriff’s station. DEL MAR BROKEN YOLK Del Mar welcomed a new Broken Yolk at 2642 Del Mar Heights Road, Del Mar with a ribbon-cutting Nov. 12.
BENEC NAMED OFFICE EDUCATION MANAGER ANNOUNCED MANAGER Coldwell Banker ResiColdwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Del dential Brokerage’s Southwest Region Mar office has named Paul welcomes Benec office manager. Georgia MurBenec was previously at phy as its new the Coldwell Banker Resieducation mandential Brokerage Newport ager. Murphy Beach office as assistant has more than branch manager and then 19 years of real interim manager. Georgia estate experiMurphy ence and was FIFTH-YEAR previously the CELEBRATION Advanced Brokers In- branch manager of Cold-
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well Banker Residential Brokerage Del Mar. Originally from Williamstown, N.J., Murphy has a bachelor’s degree in management with a concentration in marketing. SECOND DIRTY DOG The Solana Beach “Do It Yourself Dog Wash,” Dirty Dogs, opened a second location Nov. 7 at 112 W Plaza St., Solana Beach. The Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a ribbon-cutting at 5 p.m. Nov. 13 to kick off the weekend-long Grand Opening Weekend celebration. The festivities will include pet friendly activities, discounts on products and services, and free self serve baths all weekend long. Call (858) 755.3478 or email store112@dirtydogs. com for more information.
Chef duo comes to Chino Farms RANCHO SANTA FE — The Good Earth / Great Chefs series welcomes Russell Moore and Alison Hopelain for a signing of their debut cookbook, “This is Camino” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 15 at The Chino Farms, 6123 Calzada del Bosque, rain or shine. The event is free. Locally beloved and nationally acclaimed chef Russell Moore and his wife, restaurateur Allison Hopelain will be on hand, along with tasty bites inspired by the book, using seasonal Chino’s produce, music by Prai- Chef Russell Moore, pictured, will rie Sky, and a well-stocked sign books with his wife Allison pop-up pantry full of many Hopelain at Chino Farms Nov. 15. interesting new items for hol- Courtesy photo
Lucinda Ann Hudson, 63 Carlsbad November 5, 2015 Timothy Mayer, 67 Oceanside November 1, 2015 Donald Bewley, 63 Carlsbad October 30, 2015 Dolores Hamashin, 86 October 30, 2015 Oceanside
Daniel L. Spalding, 89 October 29, 3015 Oceanside Sylvia Elizabeth Jane Jones, 90 Oceanside November 1, 2015 Dolores Hamashin, 86 Oceanside October 30, 2015 Gene Fried, 77 Rancho Santa Fe November 1, 2015
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