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Liver Cancer Research
Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths world-wide. Among the most intractable of cancers, it has a 5 year survival rate of less than 10% in the United States. It is both more common and more deadly in developing countries. Surgery remains the primary treatment. Other therapies may improve quality of life, but can have significant side effects and do not offer a cure.
The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation played a key role in establishing the Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program in 2005, which is now the leading center in the nation. Mount Sinai evaluates more new liver cancer patients than any other hospital in the US. Drawing on strengths both in treating patients and in basic molecular research, this program is focuses on “translational research” designed to move lab research into improved patient care. To this end, they have recently led the first randomized clinical trial of a targeted molecular therapy for liver cancer with positive results (Llovet et al, NEJM 2008). In 2009, they will lead four international clinical trials. Between 2006 and mid 2008, the program has generated over 30 publications. Dr. Josep Llovet is Director of Research of this group, and is also Professor of Research at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona.
The Mount Sinai Liver Cancer Program also leads the HCC Genomic Consortium, an international collaboration funded in part by SWCRF. (HCC is hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer). Other participants include Dana-Farber/MIT-Broad Institute, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona and National Cancer Institute of Italy. They have outlined a research program to identify the distinctive genetic characteristics of liver cancer in patients with Hepatitis C and cirrhosis.
SWCRF-funded “revolutionary” breakthrough in treating liver cancer and in methods of basic medical research Dr. Llovet led a team whose work produced a breakthrough in how medical research on any surgically-treated disease can be conducted. During all surgery at any hospital, tissue samples are taken from the patient. The samples are preserved using formalin and embedded in paraffin. These samples constitute a pool of potential research material collected over decades. Investigation into the genetic causes of disease is one of the most exciting areas in medical research today. It has not been possible to conduct genetic research on these samples because of the method of preservation. Dr. Llovet’s team developed a way to do genetic analysis on these preserved tissues, opening up great possibilities for a broad variety of research.
Dr. Llovet’s team used this method to identify a genetic signature that indicates a liver cancer patient’s prognosis, so that appropriate steps can be taken in higher risk cases, such as targeted surveillance programs and personalized chemopreventive therapy. This study was published in New England Journal of Medicine in October 2008.
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