Discovery

UNT I L E V E RY C ANC ER I S C U RED

The Population Health Issue

WINTER 2019

FROM THE DIRECTOR

SKCC: Meeting the mission to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families

Karen E. Knudsen, PhD Enterprise Director Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

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s Enterprise Director of one of the 70 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers of excellence in the United States, it is my

belief that there is no greater purpose than improving the overall lives of the patients we serve. The immediate population served by the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) hails from nine counties across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, comprising a population greater than 21 independent U.S. states. Patients in this catchment area are diverse, and the cancer needs are significant. The high incidence of cancer in our region is compounded by health disparities—indeed, Philadelphia County was ranked again in 2019 as the least healthy county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Realizing these challenges, SKCC enhanced commitment in 2015 to understanding our population in greater depth, recruiting national leaders to study our unique population, and developing strategies that can reduce the cancer burden in our vast region.

This issue of Discovery provides just a glimpse into some of the accom-

plishments our Population Science group has achieved so far, as we improve understanding of cancer risk and increase awareness, education, and cancer prevention in our community.

Expertly led by our Associate Director of Population Science, Dr. Grace LuYao, the impact of the SKCC population health research team has been remarkable. SKCC is proud to be one of few NCI-designated cancer centers nationwide to earn the ranking of “Exceptional” in NCI’s assessment of Community Outreach and Engagement, and we are humbled by the comments in our latest NCI evaluation, declaring that SKCC activities have a “significant impact in implementing cancer risk and control discoveries into clinical practice.” While there is much yet to be achieved, we are proud to serve as national leaders in population health research and to join with our parent institution’s mission: To improve lives.

There simply is no higher calling. 

STAY CONNECTED TO THE SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AND FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

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www.kimmelcancercenter.org

facebook.com/sidneykimmelcancercenter

@KimmelCancerCtr

@sidneykimmelcancercenter

linkedin.com/company/skccatjeffersonhealth

sidneykimmel.cancercenter@jefferson.edu

CONT ENT S FEATURE ARTICLE

12 SKCC POPULATION HEALTH A Q&A with SKCC Associate Director of Population Science, Dr. Grace LuYao, and Dean of the Jefferson School of Population Health, Dr. David Nash

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POPUL ATION HEALTH Oncology Care Model

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Patient Assistance Program

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Prevention and Risk Behavior

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Disparities in the Community

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Digital Technology

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Prostate Cancer Study

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7 COLL ABORATIONS 8

FEATURED CLINICAL TRIAL

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NEW DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS

15 ACCOL ADES 16

SKCC ALL MEMBER RETREAT

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ASPLUNDH CANCER PAVILION

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SKCC NEWS OF NOTE

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WELCOME CENTER NEWS

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SURVIVOR STORY

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PHIL ANTHROPIC SUPPORT

News from our northern hub

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POPUL ATION HEALTH ONCOLOGY CARE MODEL

SKCC Reduces Cost of Care Through New Oncology-Specific Payment Model

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y 2020, U.S. medical expenditures for cancer are projected to reach at least $158 billion — an increase of 27 percent over 2010, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In order to further its goals of improved quality of care at the same or lower cost through an oncology payment model, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) launched the Oncology Care Model (OCM), its first oncology-specific alternative payment model.

practices have successfully engaged in value-based care. The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) is one of the centers that has found ways to overcome issues surrounding implementation. Valerie Csik, MRP, CPPS, Project Director of Practice Transformation, and Jared Minetola, ASA, MAAA, Senior Actuarial Analyst, recently presented on SKCC’s experiences with OCM at the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) OCM Collaborative Workshop.

OCM aims to provide higher-quality, more highly coordinated oncology care at the same or lower cost than Medicare. Under the OCM, practices have entered into payment arrangements that include financial and performance accountability for episodes of care surrounding the administration of chemotherapy to cancer patients.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is also partnering with commercial payers for OCM.

Csik and Minetola developed the Cost and Utilization Splicer (CUSp) to distill the claims data made available through the program and a scorecard to deliver provider-level feedback. CUSp is an analytics infrastructure that continuously updates based on internal and external data sources. For each cancer type, the CUSp tool provides data that are representative of cost opportunities by comparing the average actual episode cost per provider and the target episode cost provided by CMS.

The practices participating in the OCM have committed to “providing enhanced services to Medicare beneficiaries such as care coordination, navigation, and adhering to national treatment guidelines,” according to the CMS.gov website. Per CMS, there are currently 176 practices and 11 payers throughout the United States that are participating in the model.

Although the nationwide implementation of OCM has been challenging at times, a number of participating

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Performance metrics are gathered from EPIC, an electronic medical record system used within Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, from provider documentation and presented in a scorecard presented at the provider level. These tools in combination provide a framework for identifying cost drivers and setting targets for achieving improvement and savings in the OCM. “CUSp has become a tool for highlighting opportunities

Valerie Csik, MRP, CPPS Project Director, Practice Transformation Medical Oncology

and engaging in discussions about how to capitalize on opportunities to drive practice change,” Csik said.

“The OCM is a framework, but how we at Jefferson have chosen to utilize the data to drive strategy will determine our success in future payment models.”

Csik encouraged other OCM-participating practices to consider strategies for using the data to drive improvement strategies. “The OCM is a framework, but how we at Jefferson have chosen to utilize the data to drive strategy will determine our success in future payment models,” Csik added. 

POPUL ATION HEALTH PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Financial Counselor Creates Assistance Program for Cancer Patients

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or many patients and their families, the financial burden of cancer treatment can be overwhelming. Not having health insurance or being able to pay for medical care not covered by insurance can cause financial problems, as well as affect a patient’s access to medical care or quality of life.

The term financial toxicity refers to the financial burden a cancer patient faces related to the cost of treatment. One of the financial counselors at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC) keenly understands these issues, and as a result, helped create a program to assist those individuals struggling with the cost of treatment.

Angie Santiago, CRCS-I, Lead Financial Counselor for SKCC, helped create and implement the Oncology Patient Assistance Program at Jefferson. The program was conceived and designed as a service offering that concentrates solely on patient advocacy. It assists patients with the acquisition of supplemental financial coverage over and beyond what has been traditionally provided by the hospital’s business office.

“Our motivation to continuously expand our services is a result of the awareness and sensitivity of the financial toxicity of cancer treatment and its negative impact on our patients,” Santiago said.

Financial toxicity can even affect a patient’s adherence to treatment. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that many patients do not adhere to recommended prescription medications

to try to reduce costs. “Our mission is to ensure that our patients never have to decide between receiving treatment, having the ability to pay their bills on time, or even being forced to buy fewer groceries at the supermarket.”

For patients receiving chemotherapy infusions, regardless of where they Angie Santiago, CRCS-I receive their treatment, the Greg Garber, MSW, LCSW Director of Oncology Lead Financial program will proactively Support Services Counselor check their chemotherapy Medical Oncology Medical Oncology medical benefits to assess for patient assistance at various patient navigator networkprograms as well as Medicaid and/ ing meetings. In fall 2018, she gave or a charity care program. Santiago a lecture at the Vanderbilt-Ingram and her team have identified several Cancer Center on financial councancer-specific foundations, as well seling best practices and was an as patient liability, pharmaceutical, and invited expert for the Association of state programs that directly benefit Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) the Jefferson patient population.

Financial Advocacy Learning Lab at the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer “Angie and her team have Center at the University of Nebraska provided invaluable support to the patients and families we Medical Center. Santiago was also serve by proactively looking at selected to join the Financial Advisory ways to reduce, and at times, Network Committee of the ACCC.

eliminate many of the financial toxicities of cancer treatment.”

“Due to the support that patients receive through the program, they are now able to focus on receiving their care as opposed to the stress of how to afford their care,” Santiago said.

Santiago has worked in health care for almost two decades within patient access, revenue cycle, and financial counseling. She has presented on financial toxicity and related topics

“Angie and her team have provided invaluable support to the patients and families we serve by proactively looking at ways to reduce, and at times, eliminate many of the financial toxicities of cancer treatment,” said Greg Garber, MSW, LCSW, Director of SKCC’s Oncology Support Services.

“The SKCC’s Financial Advocacy/ Counseling Program is setting a gold standard nationally for its innovative approach to patient support.”  5

POPUL ATION HEALTH PREVENTION AND RISK BEHAVIOR

SKCC Researchers Receive NCI Funding to Reduce Health Disparities in Philadelphia

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ue to the increasing burden of cancer among U.S. adults and the greater understanding of how social and economic conditions influence the disease, healthcare organizations are beginning to study population-level indicators of cancer in greater depth.

Researchers at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC) recently received funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to embark on a year-long study to better understand the cancer prevention and risk behaviors of people who live in the five counties surrounding SKCC. “To reduce health disparities among residents, it is imperative that we understand the perceptions, priorities, behaviors, and needs of those who live among us, particularly those who are at a disadvantage to good health,” the researchers wrote.

A partnership with the Public Health Management Company (PHMC), a local health agency in Philadelphia, will allow the research team, led

by Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH, Associate Director of Population Science at SKCC, and Amy Leader, PhD, Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at SKCC and Associate Professor of Medical Oncology, Division of Population Science at Thomas Jefferson University, to survey 1,500 people who live in Philadelphia, Bucks, and Montgomery Counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, and Camden and Gloucester Counties in southern New Jersey.

Each person who is selected to

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be interviewed will be asked questions about their understanding of cancer, their thoughts about preventing it, any screening tests they have had in the past, and how they look for and find information about cancer. Additional questions about participating in clinical trials, getting a genetic test for cancer risk assessment, understanding palliative care, and using wearables for behavior modification will also be included.

The researchers hope to capture the voices of a wide range of the population and will pay specific attention to include members of the LGBT community, as well as those who are African American and Hispanic. Surveys will be conducted in English and Spanish and over the telephone (landline or cell phone) as well as electronically to reach a diverse group of respondents.

While studies have previously captured similar data solely from residents of Pennsylvania counties, this is the first population-level cancer assessment being conducted in southern New Jersey counties.

“To reduce health disparities among residents, it is imperative that we understand the perceptions, priorities, behaviors, and needs of those who live among us, particularly those who are at a disadvantage to good health.”

Data from the SKCC study will help researchers better understand the population living in the surrounding area so that cancer screening and

Amy Leader, PhD, MPH Associate Professor Medical Oncology Division of Population Science

support services can be tailored to the lives and experiences of these individuals. Analytic mapping techniques will allow the team to look at the data in a new way: visually, on a map, to locate gaps in services and knowledge.

The research will support SKCC’s multi-pronged strategies for improving cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, as well as lead to new collaborations between SKCC and residents in the Greater Philadelphia area.

“We are thrilled to be selected by the NCI for this highly competitive funding that will give us even greater insight into the needs and lives of the people we care for at the SKCC,” said Leader. 

COLL ABORATIONS

Jefferson-Color Partnership Provides Free Genetic Testing to All Employees

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n collaboration with the genetic testing company Color Genomics, Jefferson began offering its 30,000 employees the option to enroll in free genetic testing as part of its voluntary benefits program. The test will allow employees to learn whether they have changes in certain genes that may increase the risk of developing illnesses such as cancer or heart disease or influence medications’ effectiveness.

The goal is to promote a personalized approach to disease prevention and health management for employees, who will be able to use the results to work together with their physicians and create a personalized plan that increases the chance of prevention and early detection.

“There is a consumer revolution happening in many industries, but there seems to be a disconnect in adopting new, disruptive changes when it comes to health care, and Color Genomics is a great example of that,” said Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, President of Thomas Jefferson University and CEO of Jefferson Health. “Jefferson has an almost 200-year-old history. In using our tested knowledge while thinking like a start-up company by partnering with a cutting-edge genomics company, we can unlock the key to personalizing health care in a way that patients can make informed decisions.”

The test is a simple saliva test that analyzes 30 genes related to cancer risk, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, in

which a mutation can increase the likelihood of developing hereditary breast, ovarian, uterine, colorectal, melanoma, pancreatic, stomach, or prostate cancers. The test also analyzes 30 genes commonly associated with hereditary heart conditions such as cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, arteriopathies, and hereditary high cholesterol, which have actionable treatment plans. Additionally, the test analyzes 14

“The partnership between Jefferson and Color...brings the data/software solutions provided by Color together with two options for employees to access free genetic counseling.” genes that are associated with metabolism of common drugs that may help inform drug dosages, improve efficacy, and minimize side effects. The test also offers insights from participants’ DNA on an ongoing basis to help them learn more about common traits that are influenced by genes, such as alcohol flush and lactose intolerance.

“The partnership between Jefferson and Color is unique because it brings the data/software solutions provided by Color together with two options for employees to access free genetic counseling: Color’s board-certified, licensed genetic counselors

or the board-certified, licensed cancer genetic providers at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC),” said SKCC Enterprise Director Karen E. Knudsen, PhD. The genetic counseling component, which also comes with no out-ofpocket costs to employees, is critical, and something that sets the Color test apart from other popular at-home DNA testing services such as Ancestry and 23andMe. The results can be confusing, and speaking to a genetic counselor can help patients better understand their test results, answer any questions, and allay fears.

Additionally, the test is valid in a clinical setting, Knudsen explained. Genetic specialists usually re-order tests to double check the results of consumer test kits.

Regarding privacy concerns, Jefferson will not see employees’ genetic data, nor receive aggregate data about the employee population. All of the testing services, which are entirely optional, are provided through Color; no personal information about these tests will be shared unless the patient consents to disclose the information, in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the employees can decide when their samples are destroyed.

Employee interest has been even higher than anticipated.

Since the testing was offered in mid-October, nearly 6,300 employees have signed up thus far.  7

CLINICAL TRIAL NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA

SKCC-led Clinical Trial Testing Treatment for Indolent Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

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nvestigators at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC) are conducting a clinical trial testing a new, frontline treatment option for patients with follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma, two subtypes of indolent (slow-growing) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

NHL is the sixth most common cancer in the United States. It starts in white blood cells—lymphocytes—which are part of the body’s immune system. Follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma are both B-cell lymphomas, meaning they originate in the B-lymphocytes, or B-cells. B-cell lymphomas are the most common type of NHLs, accounting for about 85 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. Follicular lymphoma accounts for 20 to 30 percent of all NHLs, and marginal zone lymphoma accounts for about 8 percent of NHLs. There are three main types of marginal zone lymphomas: extranodal, or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT); nodal, or monocytoid B-cell lymphoma; and splenic.

This phase II, single arm, open label trial is looking at how well the combination of obinutuzumab (Gazyva) and ibrutinib (Imbruvica) work in patients with follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma who have not received chemotherapy.

Obinutuzumab is a monoclonal antibody, which may interfere with cancer cells’ ability to grow and spread. It is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be

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used in combination with chemotherapy to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and follicular lymphoma, a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Ibrutinib stops the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth, and is currently FDA-approved to treat CLL, small lymphocytic lymphoma, mantel cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, and Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

“The standard of care treatment of these indolent lymphomas is chemotherapy combined with a monoclonal antibody,” explained Sameh Gaballa, MD, the SKCC investigator leading this clinical trial and Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Bone Marrow Transplantation. “This clinical trial offers the option of a ‘chemotherapy free’ regimen for patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma or marginal zone lymphoma.”

“The standard of care treatment of these indolent lymphomas is chemotherapy combined with a monoclonal antibody.

This clinical trial offers the option of a ‘chemotherapy free’ regimen for patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma or marginal zone lymphoma.”

Eligible patients will receive ibrutinib orally once daily, which will be continued as long as the disease is not progressing. Patients will additionally receive obinutuzumab intravenously for seven cycles. Obinutuzumab is given on the first, eighth, and 15th day

Sameh Gaballa, MD Assistant Professor Medical Oncology

of the first cycle, then monthly for up to seven cycles. Responding patients will receive maintenance therapy after cycle 7 with obinutuzumab infusions once every two months for two years in addition to oral ibrutinib.

The study’s primary objective is to assess the efficacy of the combination of ibrutinib and obinutuzumab in chemotherapy naïve patients with newly diagnosed indolent lymphomas requiring treatment. The secondary objectives will be to assess both progression-free and overall survival rates in indolent lymphomas. Additionally, the researchers will assess the safety and tolerability of the combination therapy.

POPUL ATION HEALTH CANCER DISPARITIES IN THE COMMUNITY

SKCC Awarded NIH Grant to Study Prostate Cancer Disparities among African Americans

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idney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC) researchers have received a planning grant for Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) to Investigate Cancer Health Disparities (P20 grant) from the National Institutes of Health to study a “precision interception approach” to prevent prostate cancer progression among African American men.

Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH, Associate Director of Population Science, and Wm. Kevin Kelly, DO, Associate Director of Clinical Research, will be leading the research at SKCC. They will be working closely with colleagues from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., and the U.S. Department of Defense Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR).

According to recent statistics from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, prostate cancer accounted for 9.5 percent of all new cancer cases in the United States in 2018 and 4.8 percent of all cancer deaths.

It is the third most common cancer in the U.S. after breast and lung cancers.

However, African American men face both a higher incidence and mortality rate of prostate cancer. According to the SEER database, the number of new cases of prostate cancer per 100,000 men is 105.7 new cases in white men compared with 178.3 cases in African American men. Additionally, African American men die from prostate cancer at a rate more than double that of men of any other race or ethnicity.

This disparity is associated with multiple factors, including unequal access to screening and treatment, as well as biological differences in tumors that may affect prognosis Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH and treatment.

Kevin Kelly, DO Associate Director Associate Director The ability Population Science Clinical Research to predict Professor, Medical Oncology Professor, Medical Oncology Division of Population Science and monitor prostate cancer progres“By incorporating biomarkers, consion and provide better treatment textual variables, comorbidities, and options for African American men other factors into treatment strategies, is critical to reducing disparities. these innovative tools will improve The grant will allow the researchers to develop and implement tools that can “intercept” the development of castrate-resistant or metastatic prostate cancer and death from prostate cancer in African American men. The research team will develop innovative treatments and define new approaches for therapeutic intervention specifically focused on African American men, as well as identify subtypes and biomarkers of disease progression and response among these men. Their research will also focus on promoting and implementing these impactful approaches to identifying risk and treating prostate cancer among African American men in communities.

the management of prostate cancer and quality of life for countless African American men,” Lu-Yao said.

“This collaborative award is part of a major initiative at SKCC to end cancer disparities. Prostate cancer disproportionately affects men in the Philadelphia region, and SKCC is committed to eliminating the disparities in outcome for African American men. We are proud to work with Dana-Farber, Moffitt, and CPDR on this important mission, which will be of impact across the nation,” said Karen E. Knudsen, PhD, Enterprise Director of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. 

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NEW DEVELOPMENTS AWARDS AND HONORS EMAD ALNEMRI, PHD Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors

GRACE LU-YAO, PHD, MPH International Society of Geriatric Oncology 2018 Nursing and Allied Health Investigator Award

ADAM P. DICKER, MD, PHD Chair of the Radiation Oncology Panel of the American Society of Clinical Oncology-American Society of Therapeutic Radiation NCI Radiation Oncology Working Group

ANDREW CHAPMAN, DO Association of American Cancer Institutes’ Physician Clinical Leadership Initiative Steering Committee

GINAH NIGHTINGALE, PHARMD, BCOP International Society of Geriatric Oncology Nursing and Allied Health Governance Group

EDITH P. MITCHELL, MD Edith P. Wright Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., EPW Loving Hands 2018 Awardee AACR Cancer Health Disparities Research Scientific Review Committee

KATHLEEN SOLARI, RN, BSN, OCN Oncology Nursing Society 2019 Excellence in Radiation Therapy Nursing Award

NEAL FLOMENBERG, MD Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Inaugural Rudolph and Antoinette Roesler de Villiers’ Lifetime Achievement Award

AMY HARRISON, PHD Fellow of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine

SUZANNE BEERS Vice-Chair of the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers Board of Directors

GRANTS VERONICA RODRIGUEZ-BRAVO, PHD W.W. SMITH CHARITABLE TRUST Dissecting targetable DNA integrity checkpoints in prostate cancer

KAREN BUSSARD, PHD PENNSYLVANIA BREAST CANCER COALITION Osteoblasts are altered during metastatic breast cancer progression in bone

SCOTT WALDMAN, MD, PHD U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Oral GUCY2C ligand (linaclotide) blocks colorectal tumor progression in patients

HAIFENG YANG, PHD VON HIPPEL-LINDAU ALLIANCE Exploration of a systematic treatment to slow down or stop tumor growth with little side effects

ELDA GRABOCKA, PHD MARGARET Q. LANDENBERGER RESEARCH FOUNDATION GRANT Role of stress granules in the evolution of KRAS-driven tumors

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NEW DEVELOPMENTS DISCOVERIES OF NOTE Falchook G, et al., Alisertib in Combination With Weekly Paclitaxel in Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer or Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncology. 2018 Oct 18 [Epub ahead of print] Tao Z, et al., SMAC mimetic Debio 1143 and ablative radiation therapy synergize to enhance anti-tumor immunity against lung cancer. Clinical Cancer Research. 2018 Oct 23 [Epub ahead of print] Vahidnezhad H, et al., Phenotypic Spectrum of Epidermolysis Bullosa, the Paradigm of Syndromic Versus Non-Syndromic Skin Fragility Disorders. Jounal of Investigative Dermatology. 2018 Oct 27 [Epub ahead of print] Zeigler-Johnson C, et al., Performance of prostate cancer recurrance nomograms by obesity status: a retrospective analysis of a radical prostatectomy cohort. BMC Cancer. 2018 Nov 3; 18 (1): 1061 Vido MJ, et al., BRAF Splice Variant Resistance to RAF Inhibitor Requires Enhanced MEK Association. Cell Reports. 2018 Nov 06;25(6):1501-1510.e3 Borst P, et al., PXE, a Mysterious Inborn Error Clarified. Trends in Biochemical Sciences. 2019 Feb;44(2): 125-140 Paillard M, et al., MICU1 Interacts with the D-Ring of the MCU Pore to Control Its Ca Flux and Sensitivity to Ru360. Molecular Cell. 2018 Nov 15;72(4):778-785.e3 Lin R, et al., Systemic factors trigger vasculature cells to drive Notch signaling and neurogenesis in neural stem cells in the adult brain. Stem Cells. 2018 Nov 15 [Epub ahead of print] Vahidnezhad H, et al., Mutations in PLOD3, encoding lysyl hydroxylase 3, cause a complex connective tissue disorder including recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa-like blistering phenotype with abnormal anchoring fibrils and type VII collagen deficiency. Matrix Biology. 2018 Nov 18 [Epub ahead of print] Fong LY, et al., Human-like hyperplastic prostate with low ZIP1 induced solely by Zn deficiency in rats. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2018 Nov 20; 115 (47): E11091-E11100

Li Q, et al., Zebrafish Models of Ectopic Mineralization-The Paradigm of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2018 Nov; 138 (11): 2301-2304 Vahidnezhad H, et al., A CIB1 Splice-site Founder Mutation in Families with Typical Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2018 Nov 29 [Epub ahead of print] Yang J, et al., Murine-linked hydrocephalus is caused by hyperpermeability of the choroid plexus. EMBO Molecular Medicine.

2018 Dec 05 [Epub ahead of print] Dicker AP, et al., Intersection of Digital Health and Oncology. JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics. 2018 Dec (2): 1-4 Garg S, et al., Clinical Integration of Digital Solutions in Health Care: An Overview of the Current Landscape of Digital Technologies in Cancer Care. JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics. 2018 Dec (2): 1-9 Zeigler-Johnson C, et al., Racial and Ethnic Trends in Prostate Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Philadelphia, PA: an Observational Study. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 2018 Dec 05 [Epub ahead of print] Schiewer MJ, et al., PARP-1 regulates DNA repair factory availability. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 2018 Dec; 10 (12) Halabi S, et al., Overall Survival of Black and White Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated with Docetaxel. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2018 Dec 21: JCO181279 Man LC, et al., A learning community approach to identifying interventions in health systems to reduce colorectal cancer screening disparities. Preventive Medicine Reports. 2018 Dec; 12: 227-232 Huang J, et al., Adenovirus-mediated ABCC6 Gene Therapy for Heritable Ectopic Mineralization Disorders. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2019 Jan 10 [Epub ahead of print] Chua V, et al., Stromal fibroblast growth factor 2 reduces the efficacy of bromodomain inhibitors in uveal melanoma. EMBO Molecular Medicine. 2019 Jan 04 [Epub ahead of print]

Youssefian L, et al., A novel autosomal recessive GJB2-associated disorder: Ichthyosis follicularis, bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss and palmoplantar keratoderma. Human Mutation.

2019 Feb; 40 (2): 217-229

Eischen CM, et al., Smarcal1 and Zranb3 protect replication forks from Myc-induced DNA replication stress. Cancer Research. 2019 Jan 04 [Epub ahead of print]

Liu G, et al., Cellular Metabolism in Lung Health and Disease. Annual Review of Physiology. 2018 Nov 28 [Epub ahead of print]

Baybutt TR, et al., Advances in Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Therapies for Solid Tumors. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2019 Jan; 105 (1): 71-78

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FEATURE ARTICLE POPULATION HEALTH LEADERSHIP

A Question and Answer Session wit Drs. Grace Lu-Yao

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opulation science research aims to advance behavioral, social, and epidemiological sciences; cultivate new ways to improve the quality of cancer care; and reduce the burden of cancer in diverse populations.

Rather than have a stand-alone population science research program, SKCC established the TIPS (Transdisciplinary Integration of Population Science) mechanism, which functions across SKCC research programs so population scientists have a central role in cancer research across the continuum by working closely with basic and translational scientists and clinicians.

These investigators, which include SKCC consortium members from Drexel University and faculty from the Jefferson College of Population Health, leverage distinct research capabilities to reduce the overall incidence, burden, and mortality from cancer in the Greater Philadelphia catchment area and beyond.

The Jefferson College of Population Health, established in 2008, is

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dedicated to examining the policies and forces that define health and well-being of populations. Its faculty conduct research and engage in all aspects of public health, including healthcare quality and safety, health economics and outcomes, comparative effectiveness, and health services research, especially as it pertains to social determinants of health.

Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH, Associate Director of Population Science at SKCC and TIPS leader, and David B. Nash, MD, MBA, Founding Dean and the Dr. Raymond C. and Doris N. Grandon Professor of Health Policy at the Jefferson College of Population Health, discussed some of the innovative efforts at Jefferson focused on population science and cancer.

What makes Jefferson unique in regards to population health?

Nash: We have the first College of Population Health in the country. There are now at least 10 more colleges and

institutes and there are also 40 departments of population health in medical schools and other academic medical centers we are aware of. I think what makes us unique is first, having the college, and second, as it relates to SKCC, we share some faculty members that are doing research specific to cancer population health. It’s a great example of how within the academic pillar we are able to share research interests.

We are also working on the possibility of recruiting some new faculty together—the College of Population Health and the cancer center—and there is also an enterprise-wide effort to coordinate population health science, two very positive developments for the future.

How do SKCC researchers and initiatives contribute to the institution’s overall population health goals?

Lu-Yao: Many of our researchers are involved with community studies such

with SKCC Population Health Leaders

ao and David Nash as the Philadelphia Collaborative for Health Equity (PCHE), which is looking to bring the community together to work on cancer prevention, screening, and early detection. We know in the Philadelphia area the zip code difference can mean a difference in life expectancy of 20 years, so we have many studies that focus on health disparities.

We have programmatic grants from the NIH [National Institutes of Health] looking at prostate cancer disparities and NIH supplements looking at HPV vaccination access and uptake. We also have a [cancer center] P30 grant supplement to do the catchment health needs assessment, which is not limited to cancer patients; that is a needs assessment for the entire catchment area (see more on this grant on page 6).

Nash: SKCC is a leader in population health research as it relates to cancer with a special emphasis on prostate cancer in the African American community.

How is the Greater Philadelphia region uniquely affected by cancer and what are we doing to address cancer in the region?

Lu-Yao: In the Philadelphia area we face a much higher burden on prostate, breast, and liver cancers. We see significantly higher mortality than the national average and Pennsylvania as a whole, so we align our research program with these unique needs in the community. We have one of the

top prostate cancer programs in the country—actually there are only eight NCI [National Cancer Institute] prostate cancer programs of excellence—to address disparities. We have a programmatic grant from the NCI and a DOD [U.S. Department of Defense] grant to work with the community to address the cancer disparities issue.

The other thing is the latest trend in medicine, precision medicine. We are working with many parties using the big data approach on the integration of population science with basic and clinical data to determine, all the way down to the cellular level using genetic information, how to build a prediction model about who is likely to have cancer or see a progression of cancer so we can really have precision medicine—that is, the right medication to the right person at the right time.

“We are not just focused on curing cancer, but we are trying to heal the whole person. We want a person to not just survive cancer, but to thrive after cancer.”

And this is very unique at Jefferson: we have what is called precision nutrition. Preliminary data have shown that a change in diet or caloric restriction or reduction during treatment can boost the effects of radiation and chemotherapy treatment. We also are using a liquid biopsy technique to help us detect what the treatment response is so we can adjust the medication or treatment approach based on the liquid biopsy.

Another area of focus is survivorship. Many cancer patients can now live many years, so survivorship be-

comes very important. We are not just focused on curing cancer, but we are trying to heal the whole person. We want a person to not just survive cancer, but to thrive after cancer. We have established the Neu Center for Supportive Medicine and Cancer Survivorship, and we have many studies under that umbrella of supportive medicine and cancer survivorship. For example, we have funding from the NCI to look at music therapy for pain management and to deal with the overuse of opioids. We also are working on how we can help patients do a better job with medication management in order to reduce drug and related problems. We have also installed our own patient navigator system to support our patients throughout their treatment process and to provide them with financial assistance (see more on page 5).

Nash: Grace gave a great summary about not only basic research, which SKCC excels at, but I think SKCC has made a major national step with community engagement, especially with black men and then the follow-up that they’re able to do. Also, there is the special relationship that SKCC has with a national company called Lifeguard, where patients, doctors, and family members can all communicate online or on a cell phone about patient symptoms with instant feedback from care managers. I think what’s wonderful here is not only the strength in the basic science but also in the follow up in the community and in trying to raise all boats for everybody who suffers from cancer.  13

POPUL ATION HEALTH NEW HIRE

Digital Technology Expert Joins SKCC Population Science Program

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he Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC) recently welcomed Kuang-Yi Wen, PhD, as Associate Professor in the Division of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology.

“I call myself a ‘people engineer,’” Wen said. “I enjoy working with patients, families, and clinicians to understand their experience and develop solutions to improve the process. My current research focuses on leveraging eHealth/mHealth approaches to help cancer patients with treatment management and survivorship as well as smoking cessation.”

Wen’s research interests include identifying community-based interventions to improve breast cancer survivorship outcomes in Asian American women, implementing health information technologies in health care systems, and developing interactive electronic health communication systems to facilitate patient-centered care. One of Wen’s recent studies, which she presented at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, examined how text messaging might help women who have breast cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy cope with treatment side effects.

“We are very pleased to recruit an expert in using the latest digital health technology to empower patients,” said Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH, Associate Director of Population Science at SKCC. “The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and Jefferson Health aim to bring the latest science to patients.

By harnessing the power of digital

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technology, we can extend our reach to the communities we serve.”

Wen was drawn to SKCC in part due to Thomas Jefferson University President and Jefferson Health CEO Dr. Stephen Klasko’s vision about transforming health care so that care is available wherever patients are. “I want to be part of Jefferson’s revolution.”

She is also looking forward to working with the full spectrum of SKCC researchers from the laboratory and the clinic.

“I believe in team science, and given the strong research portfolios and resources at SKCC, I am looking forward to developing more translational collaborations with clinical and laboratory-based researchers,” Wen said. “I also want to build digitalized community outreach and education interventions into the Asian community, which is a growing population in the Philadelphia area.”

“I call myself a ‘people engineer.’

I enjoy working with patients, families, and clinicians to understand their experience and develop solutions to improve the process.”

Before coming to SKCC, Wen was an Assistant Professor for Cancer Prevention and Control at Fox Chase Cancer Center and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Center for Asian Health at Temple University. She received her masters and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in industrial and systems engineering before joining Fox Chase as a postdoctoral scientist. She is an associ-

Kuang-Yi Wen, PhD Associate Professor Medical Oncology Division of Population Science

ate editor of Translational Behavioral Medicine and a manuscript reviewer for many other peer-reviewed journals.

Wen has been recognized with numerous honors and awards throughout her career, including the American Society of Preventive Oncology Selected New Investigator Fellowship, as well as several fellowships from the National Institutes of Health, and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities Professional Development Workshop winning scientific poster.

Currently, Wen is completing an NCI R21 study that examines how to use social media platforms to disseminate smoking cessation messages among underserved pregnant and postpartum women. 

ACCOL ADES BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Award and Lectureship Honors Jeffrey L. Benovic, PhD

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he Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Jefferson established the Jeffrey L. Benovic Award and Lectureship in 2018 to honor Benovic’s contributions to the department and to the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) as a teacher, colleague, mentor, and leader.

Benovic is Thomas Eakins Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Associate Director of Education at SKCC. His scientific insights helped shape the understanding of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs)—cell surface receptors that play a role in many functions in the human body and are the target of about 30 percent of drugs currently on the market for the treatment of multiple diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular, and airway diseases, as well as various neurological and metabolic disorders. More recently, Benovic’s research has examined the mechanisms that regulate GPCR signaling, with a particular focus on the role of GPCR kinases and arrestins.

The recipients of the inaugural award and lectureship were Robert J. Lefkowitz, MD, James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry, Duke University Medical Center; and Brian K. Kobilka, MD, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Hélène Irwin Fagan Chair in Cardiology, Stanford University School of Medicine. Lefkowitz and Kobilka were jointly awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their studies of G-protein coupled receptors.

Benovic’s work in the field of GPCR

From left: Drs. Steven McMahon, Robert Lefkowitz, Jeffrey Benovic, Brian Kobilka, and Mark Tykocinski

biology accelerated as a doctoral and postdoctoral student in Lefkowitz’s lab at Duke University. During this time, Benovic elucidated the mechanisms that regulate GPCR desensitization with a primary focus on the beta-2-adrenergic receptor (ß2AR), which led to the discovery of the beta-adrenergic receptor kinase GRK2, an enzyme that phosphorylates the agonist-occupied form of the ß2AR. Benovic’s research has been funded through myriad grants and awards, including the MERIT Award and the Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Institutes of Health. He is rated one of the most highly cited scientists in biology and biochemistry.

In addition to his scientific work, Benovic leads the education and training programs at SKCC. He oversees the cancer center’s efforts to create an integrated and innovative career enhancement program that focuses on producing a pipeline of activities to

develop the next generation of cancer researchers and providing mentorship and career training. Benovic’s commitment to mentorship and education has been recognized with the Jefferson Postdoctoral Association Distinguished Mentor Award, the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Julius Axelrod Award in Pharmacology, and the Yun Yen, MD, PhD and Sophie Yen Faculty Award for Distinguished Training in Translational Research from the Jefferson College of Biomedical Sciences.

Benovic’s path toward scientific discovery began with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Penn State University. He then worked as a research assistant at Fox Chase Cancer Center before attending graduate school at Duke University. Prior to joining Thomas Jefferson University in 1991, Benovic was an Assistant Professor at the Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology at Temple University. 

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MEMBER RETREAT SIDNEY KIMMEL CANCER CENTER

SKCC Members Recognized at Annual Retreat

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n Jan 4, 2019, the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC) held its annual member retreat at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Every year, the retreat is a time for SKCC consortium members from the Jefferson Enterprise and Drexel University to get together for presentations, discussions, and collaborations.

This year, about 80 members attended the all-day event. Karen E. Knudsen, PhD, SKCC’s Enterprise Director, kicked off the retreat by offering highlights of the past year and sharing future priorities. Other cancer center leaders presented updates on each research program.

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The keynote speaker was Howard “Skip” Burris, MD, President of Clinical Operations, and Chief Medical Officer of Sarah Cannon, a research organization based in Nashville, Tenn. SKCC and Sarah Cannon recently formed a collaboration to advance clinical research through an expanded early-phase drug development program and investigator-initiated clinical trials.

The SKCC Member Retreat is also an annual opportunity to acknowledge the dedication of members with awards for their service. Congratulations to the SKCC members selected for 2018, who are listed below. 

Basic Research Award

Clinical Research Award

Population Research Award

Impact Award

Veronica RodriguezBravo, PhD

Matthew Carabasi, MD

Hushan Yang, PhD

Jeffrey Benovic, PhD

Outstanding Member Award

Clinical Champion of Philanthropy Award

Basic Research Educator of the Year Award

Clinical Research Educator of the Year Award

James Keen, PhD

Kevin Kelly, DO

Lucia Languino, PhD

Amy Leader, PhD, MPH

POPUL ATION HEALTH PROSTATE CANCER

Prostatectomy Plus Radiotherapy May Improve Survival in Some Patients

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igh-risk prostate cancer that has continued to grow but not yet metastasized is commonly treated with combination therapies. For the first time, researchers have shown that more patients live longer if treated with the combination of prostate removal plus radiation therapy.

“There’s a lot of debate about whether to remove the whole prostate and follow up with radiation therapy, or, as a second option, to spare the prostate and treat it using radiation therapy plus hormone-blocking therapy,” said senior author Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH, SKCC Associate Director of Population Science. “Our study suggests that removing the prostate followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with greater overall survival.”

The risks of prostate removal, or prostatectomy, include a higher chance of developing incontinence or erectile dysfunction. There are some risks associated with radiation treatment and hormone therapy, but they are less common and typically thought to have a lower impact on quality of life.

“Prostatectomy is an unpopular treatment,” said Lu-Yao. “Our study showed that only six percent of men with high-risk cancer were treated with it. It’s not just the risk of side effects. For some men, especially those who are not fit enough for the surgery, prostatectomy is not an option. However, this may be an option for some patients to reconsider.”

In the largest population-based retrospective study to date, Lu-Yao and colleagues examined the records

of 13,856 men in the Medicare-SEER registry diagnosed with locally advanced prostate cancer—cancer growth that had not yet metastasized to distant sites in the body. They compared patients treated with prostatectomy plus adjuvant radiation with patients treated with radiation therapy plus hormone-blocking therapy and found that 10 years after treatment, 89 percent of the prostatectomy plus radiation group was still alive compared with 74 percent in the radiation plus hormone therapy group.

“For high-risk prostate patients, we started the use of aggressive radiation therapy after surgery 20 years ago,” said Adam Dicker, MD, PhD, Senior VP and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology. “We recognized that it may have curative potential.”

“Our study suggests that removing the prostate followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with greater overall survival.”

“However, the proportion of men undergoing prostatectomy plus radiation therapy decreased significantly over time and there were trade-offs for the survival advantages,” said LuYao. Men who received the combination of surgery and radiotherapy had higher rates of erectile dysfunction (28 percent vs 20 percent) and urinary incontinence (49 percent vs 19 percent).

Another interesting finding was that slightly more than half of men diagnosed did not receive combination therapies. “Two modes of treatment are recommended by both U.S. and Euro-

Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, MPH Associate Director, Population Science Professor, Medical Oncology Division of Population Science

pean guidelines for cancer treatment.

It was surprising to see only 29 percent of patients received the recommended combination therapies, and as many as 20 percent are not getting any treatment six months after their diagnosis,” said Lu-Yao. “Our data can’t tell us the reason for this deviation from guidelines, and further studies are needed.

“One of the strengths of retrospective studies of patient data is that they reveal what happens in the real world, rather than the carefully controlled context of a clinical trial. Our data are revealing the real-world practice as well as some of the advantages and disadvantages of those medical preferences.”

The study was published in the journal Cancer.  17

ASPLUNDH CANCER PAVILION NEWS FROM THE NORTH

Hydrogel Barrier Available for Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation

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adiation oncologists at the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Abington-Jefferson Health are now offering men receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer the option of implanting a hydrogel barrier—the SpaceOAR Hydrogel—prior to treatment. The hydrogel acts as a spacer between the prostate and rectum, significantly lowering the dose of radiation the rectum receives.

Wayne Pinover, DO Associate Professor Radiation Oncology Asplundh Cancer Pavilion

Rectal complications following radiation therapy for prostate cancer can cause men to experience significant rectal pain, bleeding, and bowel dysfunction. This hydrogel barrier has been proven to decrease the risk for developing rectal complications.

“This new capability is part of the commitment from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center to bring advanced care into the community setting.

Patients have long benefited from

access to hydrogel barrier therapy in our Center City locations. We are enthusiastic about adding this option for patients in the Abington region,” said Karen E. Knudsen, PhD, Enterprise Director of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health.

“The hydrogel is injected during a minimally invasive procedure by the radiation oncologist just prior to the start of radiation therapy,” explained Wayne H. Pinover, DO, Radiation Oncologist at the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion. “Placement is typically well tolerated. The hydrogel remains stable for three months – plenty of time in which to deliver radiation therapy safely. It is then slowly reabsorbed by the body over the next three months, and is completely gone six months after insertion.”

For more information, contact the Asplundh Cancer Pavilion Prostate Cancer Nurse Navigator at 215-481-2800. 

Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center - Asplundh Cancer Pavilion

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NEWS OF NOTE UPDATES FROM THE DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

NCI Board of Scientific Advisors Appointment

Jefferson’s DICE Group Works with Patients on SKCC Website Redesign

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he Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) will soon be launching a redesigned website to give patients and their caregivers quick and easy access to important information.

The new website design will further strengthen SKCC’s reputation as a leading cancer research institution and is being created in partnership with The Digital Innovation and Consumer Experience (DICE) Group at Jefferson.

The redesign goes beyond updating text and replacing imagery.

The entire user experience was reimagined to help website visitors find exactly what they’re looking for as quickly and intuitively as possible: from answers to questions about their specific cancer type and details on their treatment, to physicians’ profiles and event listings at SKCC’s Cancer Support and Welcome Center.

To land on the design, DICE team

members first dug into the research.

Through several patient and caregiver interviews, they uncovered communication gaps in SKCC’s current web presence and identified users’ priorities. Overall, patients and caregivers said the abundance of information and the site’s academic tone left them confused. These observations helped the DICE Group envision a site with clearer navigational paths and more patient-centric language.

With these insights in mind, the DICE team built a prototype and again asked patients, caregivers, and stakeholders to review the new version. By watching the various audiences journey through the site in real-time, The DICE Group was able to better understand user behaviors, discover mistakes, and further refine the site concept.

The new website will be launching in Spring 2019.

Karen E. Knudsen, PhD Enterprise Director Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

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aren E. Knudsen, PhD, Enterprise Director of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC) has been appointed to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Board of Scientific Advisors (BSA).

The role of the board is to advise the NCI director and deputy director, as well as the director of each NCI division on a variety of matters concerning scientific program policy, and progress and future direction of extramural research programs. They make recommendations on research priorities conducted or supported by the NCI, which includes evaluation of NCI-awarded grants and cooperative agreements.

The BSA comprises 35 members who are appointed by the Director of the NCI and serve a term of five years.  19

WELCOME CENTER DIETARY SUPPORT

Dietitian Nutritionists Help Cancer Patients and Survivors Eat Healthy

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roper nutrition is essential for cancer patients during and after treatment; it can improve their tolerance and response to treatments and also helps them stay healthy afterward. At the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC), registered dietitians are available to provide patients and survivors with personalized and evidence-based medical nutrition therapy.

Heather Bell-Temin, RD, CSO, one of SKCC’s registered dietitian nutritionists, has been an oncology dietitian for more than 15 years and joined SKCC in the fall of 2017. Bell-Temin helps patients maintain a healthy weight to prevent gaps in treatment, unplanned hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life. She also helps to relieve patients’ concerns about diet during treatment. “Many patients are given so much advice regarding food and nutrition that they are often confused and fearful about food. I’m able to answer all those questions and give them some peace of mind,” she said.

Erin Laverty, RDN, LDN, has been working as a dietitian nutritionist in the field for two years and joined SKCC in late 2018. “The moment I started working in oncology, I knew I had found my niche,” Laverty said. “I feel so fortunate to work with such brave and resilient patients and families.” As an oncology-focused dietitian, Laverty finds that she wears many hats. She helps cancer patients avoid malnutrition during their treatment and helps them to manage treatment-related symptoms that may affect their nutritional status. She is also

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on hand to provide guidance to individuals who have finished treatment.

Both Bell-Temin and Laverty work closely with SKCC’s Cancer Support and Welcome Center, where they offer a variety of free educational sessions for patients, survivors, and their families throughout the year. In one recent session, attendees were able to learn about nutritional information based on cancer prevention guidelines and re-

ceive advice on which foods to eat and those to avoid during and after treatment. In another, attendees could take a “virtual tour” of a grocery store to find the best foods for a healthy plant-based diet. The dietitian nutritionists also offer healthy recipes for patients and their families to try at home (see sidebar).

For more information on SKCC’s dietitian nutritionists or to schedule a session, call 215-955-1800. 

Slow Cooker Quinoa Vegetable Soup Ingredients: 6 cups cubed butternut squash or sweet potato 1 medium onion chopped 1 (15oz) can fire roasted tomatoes 1 (15oz) can no salt added diced tomatoes 1 (15oz) can low sodium black beans (rinsed) 1 cup quinoa (uncooked) 5 cups low sodium chicken or bone broth Fiesta Lime Mrs. Dash seasoning or other spices and seasonings (to taste) Directions: Throw all ingredients except seasonings into slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 7-8 hours. Add seasonings during last hour of cooking for best flavor. Modify with vegetables or beans of your choice.

SURVIVOR STORY HEAD & NECK CANCER

Head & Neck Cancer Survivor Celebrates Family Milestones

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t all started with a little lump on her neck.

“I decided to ignore it,” said Sally Jo LaMont, a busy corporate social media trainer from Skippack, Pa. But when that little lump continued to grow over the course of three months, she sought the advice of an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist near her home, who put her on antibiotics.

As time went on, LaMont didn’t improve. In fact, she got worse and insisted the ENT perform a biopsy, which indicated tonsil cancer. After consulting with an oncologist at a hospital in Philadelphia, she was told her treatment would include three separate operations to remove the tonsils and various lymph nodes from two areas in the neck.

“That just didn’t feel right. I felt like I needed a second opinion,” she said. A friend recommended Joseph M. Curry, MD, at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health. Curry, in the Department of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery, examined LaMont and told her he could perform all three procedures in one surgery. She immediately knew Curry was “the one.”

“He instilled confidence that all was going to turn out fine,” she remembered. “I felt completely calm and was very optimistic about the outcome because of his attitude.”

On May 1, 2015, LaMont spent seven hours on the operating table as Curry

used robotic technology to remove the tonsils and lymph nodes from her neck, testing each one during the surgery to ensure he removed all of the nodes affected by the cancer. She made the decision to go home the next day, which she admits was probably not the best decision she has ever made.

“Post-surgery was not a fun experience,” she said, noting she was not fully prepared for the excruciating pain. But she had her husband, Bruce, and three of her four children at home to take great care of her—and she had a goal.

“Dr. Curry is a great guy—an amazing physician. He takes the time that I need to calm any fears that I might have. He’s very cautious and thorough.”

“I wanted to make sure I was well enough to get to New York and see my son ask his now-husband to marry him,” she said. “It was three weeks out… and by three weeks later I was able to see him pull out my father’s ring and propose. It was awesome.”

LaMont has been following up with Curry every three months for the past three years. But at her appointment in August, she was pushed to a six-month schedule.

“I’m going to miss him,” LaMont said of her decrease in visits. “Dr. Curry is a great guy—an amazing physician. He takes the time that I need

Sally Jo LaMont

to calm any fears that I might have.

He’s very cautious and thorough.”

At one point during the course of her follow-up visits, Curry thought he saw a spot on her lung scan. He immediately referred her to a pulmonologist. Fortunately, it was a false alarm, but LaMont appreciates the holistic approach among physicians, medical teams, and departments to treat the whole patient.

“I am cancer-free,” LaMont said.

And she credits the clinical excellence and kindness of the staff at Jefferson with her recovery. “The care I got here was exceptional—everyone seems very passionate about the work they do. They’re just great people.” 

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PHIL ANTHROPIC SUPPORT EVENTS

SKCC Inaugural Benefit Concert

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ore than 2,100 attendees enjoyed the inaugural SKCC benefit concert featuring RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles, a theatrical production that gives audiences the experience of seeing The Beatles live. The Barbara Ann Colameco (BAC) Cancer Transportation Fund and IBEW Local 98 were the lead sponsors of the event, which was held Nov. 17 at the new Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City.

Attendees included more than 200 cancer patients, survivors, and their families who were able to attend as guests of Jefferson, BAC Transportation Fund, and IBEW 98. 

Paige S. Tibbetts Legacy Fund Wine Tasting Event

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Barbara and Doug Tibbetts

arbara and Douglas Tibbetts recently hosted a wine tasting at the Oberod Estate in Wilmington, Del. The tasting was held in honor of their daughter Paige, who died from nonsmoking-related lung cancer in 2016. Proceeds from the event went toward the Paige S. Tibbetts Legacy Fund, which provides grants to eligible young adults receiving treatment at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. The fund’s goal is to provide patients with a financial bridge to their recovery. In total, more than 100 guests attended the event on Nov. 10, which raised just over $50,000 for Paige’s legacy. The Tibbetts plan to host this event annually with the hopes of growing support each year. 

To learn more about the many ways a gift today can have a significant impact on cancer breakthroughs, please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 215-503-7604.

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PHIL ANTHROPIC SUPPORT EVENTS

No Shave November at Boyds Philadelphia

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oyds Philadelphia hosted a No Shave November Shave Off on Dec. 8 to raise support and awareness for prostate cancer research, prevention, and education at SKCC. Boyds offered complimentary shaves at the event and donated a portion of the day’s sales to support the Prostate Cancer Program at SKCC. 

Top row, from left: Brian Costello, Andrew Curran, Matthew Huesser Bottom row, from left: Alex Gushner, SKCC Advisory Council Member Kent Gushner, and Colin Eisenberg

The Popper Project

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or her Bat Mitzvah service project, Jordyn Segal of Lafayette Hill, Pa., created “The Popper Project” to honor her late grandfather, whom she called Popper, by collecting money to purchase items for patients being treated in the chemotherapy infusion center. The items included puzzles, coloring books, and laptop tray tables, as well as gift cards to assist patients who have difficulty paying for prescription medications. Jordyn’s grandfather, Dr. George Dainoff, was diagnosed with advanced stage lung cancer in 2015, and treated at SKCC by Jennifer Johnson, MD, PhD. 

Jordyn Segal and family giving their donated items to Dr. Jennifer Johnson and SKCC Social Worker Lora Rhodes at the Welcome Center

13th Annual Pancreatic Cancer and Related Diseases Patient Symposium

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early 300 guests were in attendance at the 13th Annual Pancreatic Cancer and Related Diseases Patient Symposium on Nov. 10, 2018. Expert clinicians and researchers, including Charles J. Yeo, MD, the Samuel D. Gross Professor and Chair of Surgery at Jefferson, discussed the latest medical therapies and clinical trials, surgical options, and lifestyle changes for people affected by these conditions. Highlights of the event each year include a patient speaker and survivor photo. 

Attendees pose for a photo at the conclusion of the symposium

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233 South 10th Street Bluemle Building Room 1050 Philadelphia, PA 19107

UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL NCI Small Business Innovation Research 25 Symposium 12pm, BLSB 602

Men’s Health Event 30 5pm, The Prime Rib

MAY the Love-Night Out on the Town 11 Preserving Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT KIMMELCANCERCENTER.ORG

Save the Date • Tuesday, April 30, 2019 The Prime Rib 1701 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

5 – 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Registration and Charity Gaming

Dinner and Entertainment

Questions: Contact the Office of Protocol and Special Events at events@jefferson.edu or 215-955-9100.

Tickets and sponsorships available. For more information please visit Jefferson.edu/SKCCMensHealth

hosted by