Past Issues – Page 2 – The Cancer Letter

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Issue 5 - Feb. 5, 2021

TCL47-05 (374 downloads)

Jill Biden signals White House resolve on cancer research: “This is the fight of our lives”
Jill Biden stopped by at NCI earlier this week to reaffirm the Bidens’ pledge to “fight cancer as we know it”—an early signal that cancer research is near the top of the national agenda at the Biden-Harris White House.
Guest Editorial
Building on the legacy of the Beau Biden Cancer Moonshot
In January, after tumultuous weeks filled with unprecedented political tension and rising COVID-19 infections across the nation, thrilling news arrived quietly in my email inbox: official notice of the Abramson Cancer Center’s five-year, $45 million Cancer Center Support Grant award from the National Cancer Institute, which had bestowed us with a merit rating of “Exceptional” Comprehensive Cancer Center last year.
Storytelling is a part of J Freireich’s legacy
J enjoyed explaining that the letter J in his name appeared in his birth certificate.
He had no idea why his mother, an immigrant seamstress at a Chicago sweatshop, put it there, but it was certainly not an abbreviation for an actual name, Jacob, for example.
Legendary MD Anderson faculty member Emil J Freireich dies at 93
Emil J Freireich, MD, a trailblazing oncologist who developed groundbreaking therapies for childhood leukemia and came to be recognized as a founding father of modern clinical cancer research, passed away peacefully in Houston at his beloved institution, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, on Feb. 1. He was 93.
An Appreciation
Ode to J
“On our best days, we could only wish to be what Freireich was on any one of his average days”
“Humans cannot live without hope. Hopelessness is the greatest trauma a person has to suffer.”—Emil J Freireich, MD
An Appreciation
J Freireich loved good science and a good fight
When I started my fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 1980, Dr. Freireich headed the Department of Developmental Therapeutics.
An Appreciation
J Freireich was one of the few oncologists to have developed a cancer cure
Emil J Freireich was a big man in stature, with a booming voice. He was one of the last of the 60 original members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Conversation with The Cancer Letter
For those watching The Crown:
Remember when Princess Diana raised money for Northwestern Cancer Center?
Twenty-five years ago, The Cancer Letter missed a big story.
In the Archives
Black History Month, the National Cancer Act—and opening up the archives
As the Cancer History Project gets underway, our archives are growing. Now featuring past issues of The Cancer Letter from 1973-2014 and The Clinical Cancer Letter from 1977-2014, the database is becoming a fun place to explore. Go ahead, do a search for your mentors, and unearth lost quotes from times passed.
In Brief
- Jeremy Rich named deputy director of research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
- Yen-Michael Hsu named director for cell therapy laboratory at UPMC Hillman
- Jeffrey Bradley named interim chair of Emory Department of Radiation Oncology
- ASCO 2021 annual meeting to be virtual
- Roswell Park, BMS Foundation create $3.3 million program to address cancer burden for native and rural communities
Trials & Tribulations
The Delaware experience:
Keeping in contact with those at risk is key to colorectal and breast cancer screening during COVID-19
COVID-19 continues to ramp on and has affected just about all aspects of the health care system in our country.
Clinical Roundup
- More than half of cancer survivors have underlying medical conditions associated with severe COVID-19
- Gene mutations linked to worse outcomes from leukemia in Hispanic and Latino children
- Queen’s leading new research aimed at improving outcomes for early-stage bowel cancer
- Yale Cancer Center researchers discover mechanism to overcome drug-resistance in B-ALL
- IU cancer center researchers discover how breast cancer cells hide from immune attack
- Fecal microbiota transplants help patients with advanced melanoma respond to immunotherapy
- Targeted RNA nanoparticle shows early promise as liver cancer treatment
- KEYNOTE-598: Keytruda + Yervoy did not improve OS, PFS in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Drugs & Targets
- FDA grants accelerated approval to Tepmetko for metastatic NSCLC
- Keytruda receives positive EU CHMP opinion for expanded approval in some cases of relapsed or refractory classical hodgkin Lymphoma
NCI Trials
NCI Trials for February 2021
The National Cancer Institute approved the following clinical research studies last month.
For further information, contact the principal investigator listed.

Issue 4 - Jan. 29, 2021

TCL47-04 (208 downloads)

Conversation with The Cancer Letter
Ed Kim tells us about building a $1 billion City of Hope campus in Orange County
In his previous job, in North Carolina, Edward S. Kim helped build a cancer program where there was none.
An Appreciation
Joe Simone, an oncologist, visionary of treatment guidelines, and author of maxims, dies at 85
In a succession of high-powered day jobs, Joseph V. Simone shaped modern oncology. Then, presumably at night, Joe did a little writing. “Simone’s Maxims” is his chef-d’œuvre.
St. Jude colleagues remember Joe Simone
Colleagues remember Joe Simone as a giant of clinical oncology, a polymath, a statesman of the cancer world, and “the ideal boss.”
Simone: A giant of clinical oncology research and a really good guy
On Jan. 21, when Joe Simone died at age 85, we lost a giant of oncology research, clinical translation, and policy.
Simone, the Mudjekeewis, the elder, the statesman of the cancer world
In American Indian mythology and medical practice, the Mudjekeewis (the Grizzly Bear), Spirit Keeper of the West and the Chief of the Council of all Spirit Keepers and Animal Totems, is a symbol signifying responsibility, resourcefulness, intelligence, wisdom, introspection, physical and spiritual strength, and expertise.
An Appreciation
Simone, oncology polymath and leader
Joe Simone was oncology’s polymath. Skilled and adept in patient care, scientific and clinical discovery, administrative leadership, education as well as mentoring to a generation of oncologists through his writings.
An Appreciation
“When you’ve seen one cancer center, you’ve seen one cancer center”
When we decided to write a book together about the history and impact of NCI-designated cancer centers since passage of the 1971 National Cancer Act, we both agreed that one of the first people we would interview was Joe Simone.
In Brief
- Craig Lockhart named chief of hematology and oncology at MUSC
- Terence M. Williams named radiation oncology chair at City of Hope
- Coalition of cancer organizations urges resumption of cancer screening and treatment during pandemic
- Coalition of cancer scientists create global initiative to evaluate genetic mutations
- NYU Dentistry receives $3.28M NIH grant for oral cancer pain research
- UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute receives $1M to pursue NCI designation
Trials & Tribulations
Tackling racial disparities through novel approaches to engage communities in research
Our nation’s NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers are charged with developing and leading cutting-edge research to reduce the nation’s cancer burden.
Clinical Roundup
- NCCN shares guidance for vaccinating cancer patients against COVID-19
- First mammography screening guidelines issued for older survivors of breast cancer
- Variation in tax rates and tobacco control measures produces variation in cancer deaths in 152 U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas
- Older minority cancer patients experience worse surgical outcomes compared to white patients with similar socioeconomic factors
Drugs & Targets
- Opdivo + Cabometyx receives FDA approval for advanced renal cell carcinoma
- European Commission approves Keytruda as first-line treatment in adult patients with MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer

Issue 3 - Jan. 22, 2021

TCL47-03 (203 downloads)

News Analysis
What to expect from Joe Biden
Cancer groups welcome a president who values science
Now that Joseph R. Biden Jr. is inaugurated and safely ensconced in the White House, cancer groups expect him to pick up where he left off as vice president four years ago—pursuing a sober and ambitious agenda for accelerating progress in cancer research.
Cancer groups expect bold moves reminiscent of the 2016 Moonshot as Biden tackles COVID-19, inequity, injustice
The Cancer Letter asked Bertagnolli, Goodman, Knudsen, Manocherian, Retzlaff, Sigal, and Hohman about their expectations of the Biden administration:
Sharpless employment status is unknown, but in previous transitions NCI directors have stayed on
On Jan. 20, as required, Ned Sharpless submitted his resignation letter to the outgoing administration. Other Trump appointees did the same.
Curran departs as chair of NRG Oncology
“It would be nice at least once in my life to have just one job”
Walter J. (Wally) Curran, Jr., has stepped down from his positions as NRG Oncology presiding group chair and as one of the three principal investigators of the NRG Oncology.
An Appreciation
Albert de la Chapelle, cancer genetics giant and a true gentleman, dies at 87
Albert de la Chapelle, a Distinguished University Professor at The Ohio State University and a giant in the field of genetics, died Dec.10, 2020, after a short bout of pneumonia while visiting his home in Finland.
In Brief
- Adekunle Odunsi named director of UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Joel Helmke named chief operating officer of Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Manmeet Ahluwalia named deputy director at Miami Cancer Institute
- Rachel Greenup named chief of breast surgical oncology at Yale
- George, Levine, Dai, Griffiths named to clinical research positions at Roswell Park
- AACR and MPM Oncology Charitable Foundation award three $400,000 cancer research grants
- ACCC’s Cancer Buzz Podcast receives award for best healthcare podcast
Funding Opportunities
SU2C announces $3.25 million in grants for head and neck cancer research
Stand Up To Cancer has announced $3.25 million in grants from four nonprofits to fund research to find new treatments for head and neck cancers.
Clinical Roundup
- Cancer-related suicide declined in the U.S. during the past two decades
- Pre-surgery chemotherapy is possible for early stage pancreatic cancer patients
- Study defines small-cell lung cancer subtypes and distinct therapeutic vulnerabilities
- GCI study of gynecologic cancers in Brazil finds most patients present with advanced disease
Drugs & Targets
- Enhertu receives FDA approval for HER2-positive gastric adenocarcinomas
- Darzalex Faspro receives accelerated approval from FDA for newly diagnosed light chain amyloidosis
- FDA grants Priority Review to Opdivo as adjuvant therapy resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer
- FDA grants Priority Review to Opdivo + chemotherapy as first-line treatment in metastatic gastric cancer, GEJC and EAC
- FDA updates vinca alkaloid labeling for preparation in intravenous infusion bags only

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