“Having university-level disciplines with clinical trials and technologies opens up huge opportunities for our patients,” Dr. Mann expresses.
approaches to minimizing side effects of cancer treatments are also among MCI’s varied projects.
Rodney P. Rocconi, MD USA Mitchell Cancer Institute
the country. “We think that prior efforts have been looking in the wrong place,” Dr. Rocconi reveals. “The basis for the study is the thought that most ovarian cancers might originate in the fallopian tube, and now we think we have found a fingerprint.”
“Having university-level disciplines with clinical trials and technologies opens up huge opportunities for our patients,” Dr. Mann expresses. He mentions CyberKnife, a noninvasive therapy that treats tumors with direct beams of radiation, as one such technology made available through MCI. “We’re not in competition,” he insists, describing his relationship with MCI. “Teamwork is the key to success, and MCI enhances everything we do.”
Dr. Rocconi explains that once the cancer-identifying proteins flow through the abdomen and reach the bloodstream, they are too diluted to indicate a problem—until the cancer has advanced. The apparent solution, therefore, entails different screening protocols (six have been patented so far) that many believe will become the worldwide standards. The procedure to screen a patient requires a sample collection similar to a Pap test; thus, routine exams would not change much for patients or physicians. “The beauty of the test,” Dr. Rocconi adds, “is that it is so simple.”
Working in concert with patients’ oncologists and primary care physicians, MCI’s professionals regularly provide consultations to doctors in their networks, whether they are part of the university or in private practices, to determine individual treatment plans. “Patients don’t have to participate directly in a trial to benefit from our resources,” Dr. Rocconi emphasizes. MCI further promotes knowledge sharing by hosting tumor conferences throughout the year. Attracting doctors from around the region, the conferences feature renowned researchers and specialists from all over the country. “We cover every type of cancer, from a multidiscipline approach.”
A number of gynecologic cancer studies are under way at MCI, including vaccine therapy to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer recurrence. Meanwhile, more than $1.5 million has been awarded to Dr. Ajay Singh, assistant professor of oncologic sciences, to advance pancreatic cancer research. Innovative
With the goal of attaining the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s designation as a comprehensive cancer center, the University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute has also developed research collaborations with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center. “UAB
has a long-standing tradition in research and cancer, one that spans decades,” says Dr. Rocconi. In addition to sharing expertise, the relationship also facilitates servicing a broader patient population. “This is a unique opportunity for us to address some of the biggest problems in cancer care, and much of that is getting state-of-the-art care to patients in need.” Patients at MCI have an entire team behind them every step of the way. Partnering with referring physicians throughout the Gulf Coast, MCI’s cancer researchers, physician specialists, patient navigators (who provide guidance and support), and many other healthcare professionals work together to offer a comprehensive package of advanced cancer treatment and prevention options that can make all the difference in conquering cancer.
USA Mitchell Cancer Institute
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