Hope News

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 24 July 17, 2006

Robert Figlin joins City of Hope

Renowned physician to lead medical oncology division

Courtesy of UCLA

by Shawn Le

obert Figlin, M.D., will join City of Hope this fall as chair of the Division of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research, Figlin, the Arthur and Rosalie Kaplan Professor of Medical Oncology, will serve as associate director for clinical research.

reflects City of Hopes commitment to assembling the brightest minds in cancer research and care for our patients. We look forward to his leadership.

A national leader in genitourinary and thoracic oncology most recently at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Figlin assumes his post Sept. 1. Robert Figlin brings an exceptional breadth of cancer research, treatment and education expertise to City of Hope. He is highly regarded by patients, colleagues and students as a gifted scientist, compassionate physician and an outstanding educator, said Theodore G. Krontiris, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for medical and scientific affairs and director of the cancer center. Dr. Figlins appointment

Figlin is currently the Henry Alvin and Carrie L. Meinhardt Chair in Urologic Oncology and professor of medicine and urology in the departments of Medicine and Urology, divisions of Hematology/ Oncology and Urologic Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Robert Figlin He also is co-principal investigator of the UCLA Lung Cancer Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) and directs the SPOREs clinical trials core. His research interests include cell, immune, genetic

and targeted therapies in solid tumor oncology, with emphasis in renal cell carcinoma and thoracic oncology research. City of Hope has a welldeserved reputation for combining exemplary patient care and leadingedge research that advances the level of cancer treatment, said Figlin. I look forward to continuing to build upon City of Hopes strengths in translational research and bringing our research in cancer genetics and immunology directly into clinical practice to enhance our therapies. Figlin serves as chair of the UCLA Medical
See Figlin page 4

City of Hope to pursue ANCC Magnet hospital accreditation

by Steve Kirk Although nurses recognize City of Hope as a great place to work, the institutions nursing leadership team is committed to making it even better to keep attracting and retaining top nursing professionals, according to Larry Kidd, R.N., vice president of patient care services and chief nurse executive.
Darrin S. Joy

New campaign aims to bolster employee giving

by Lisa Lyons A new City of Hope employee-giving campaign, themed Hope Starts with Us, will kick off on campus on July 26. Its goal is to inspire and enable employees to commit their financial support to the institution. Organizers hope to increase the current participation level from 23 percent to 40 percent. For many employees, working at City of Hope goes beyond simply earning a living. Helping fulfill the institutions mission to fight cancer provides them with a sense of job satisfaction not present at many other organizations. Employee giving allows those sharing this commitment to extend it even further. Information about the campaign and enrollment forms will be sent to employees during the week of July 24. Select departmental representatives also will assist and encourage fellow employees to participate. Mary Anderson, director of employee giving, is spearheading the month-long campaign. Not only do we want to encourage those employees not currently in the program to join, but we want to publicly acknowledge those who have consistently contributed over the years, said Anderson.
See Giving page 2

Among efforts under way to elevate its status in the nursing field, City of Hope is pursuing accreditation with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) as a Magnet nursing hospital. A small percentage of the countrys health-care facilities hold this prestigious designation, which recognizes the highest levels of excellence in patient care through nursing services. Of the nearly 6,000 hospitals in the United States, 205 hold Magnet designation. Only seven facilities in California are part of this elite group: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; Childrens Hospital Central California; El Camino Hospital; Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian; Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla; UCLA Medical Center; and the UC Irvine Medical Center. City of Hope is in the top tier of medical centers nationally, and
See ANCC page 3

Magnet status will recognize the outstanding quality of City of Hope nurses.

City of Hope patients get a second chance at radiotherapy

by Alicia Di Rado Once upon a time, cancer patients could only undergo one course of radiation treatment for their disease and if the cancer returned, they were left with few other options. At City of Hope, patients already treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer may be eligible to receive radiotherapy again, through a clinical trial run by radiation oncologist Yi-Jen Chen, M.D., Ph.D. With the sharp-shooting were able to accomplish today, we can make sure to target only areas that are able to tolerate additional radiation doses, said Chen.
Alicia Di Rado

more precisely to tumors, allowing them to better avoid healthy-but-vulnerable structures such as the spine. That is especially critical during re-irradiation, because late-responding tissues must avoid extra radiation exposure.

tumor and many are in structurally difficult locations that make surgery impossible. Only about 10 percent of these patients are even suitable for surgery, Chen said. And only 10 to 20 percent of patients respond to chemotherapy. It is no wonder that the median survival for such patients is only five to six months, he noted. Oncologists may be able to use brachytherapy (radioactive seeds implanted at the site) for recurrent cancer, but that is more invasive than TomoTherapy, Chen said.

Times have changed.

Patients in the phase I trial receive radiation therapy once a day, five times a week for up to five-and-a-half weeks. They also receive an infusion of oxaliplatin, a type of chemotherapy, every two weeks to make the cancer more Called re-irradiation, the technique depends sensitive to radiations cell-killing effects. The on the bodys ability to renew and repair Yi-Jen Chen uses TomoTherapy to re-irradiate head and neck tumors. study includes head and neck cancer patients certain tissues rapidly, Chen explained. The technique is an important option because (except those with nasopharyngeal cancer) with Scientists recognize that some tissues in the body oncologists need more tools to fight head and neck squamous cell carcinoma not suitable for surgery. respond rapidly and effectively to radiations effects cancers. Besides surgery, radiation is often the firstChens collaborating investigator on the study is and recover quickly. These so-called early respond- choice treatment for this cancer, and frequently Stephen Shibata, M.D., associate professor of cures the disease when given as front-line therapy. ing tissues include skin and mucous membranes. But sometimes the cancers come back. These medical oncology and director of the But other tissues, called late-responding tissues, feel lasting effects from radiation and heal slowly. These tend to return in the same area as the original Gastrointestinal Cancer Program. include bone, nerve and certain soft-organ tissues. Every time we treat a patient with radiation, we have to respect tissue tolerance, Chen said. We know that tissue can only absorb a certain amount safely. We believe that in head and neck cancers, we have early responding tissues that can tolerate an additional dose. Chen first began exploring re-irradiation in the late 1990s while at UC Irvine, where he reported on a small series of cases using intensity modulated radiation therapy, known as IMRT. This type of therapy allows radiation oncologists to better control a varying radiation dose administered to the tumor site. Results were good enough for physicians to continue studying re-irradiation in the head and neck, as well as selected other sites. Today, City of Hopes advanced TomoTherapy systems take IMRT a step further because they enable physicians to sculpt radiation doses even

Giving: Campaign allows employees to invest in COH mission

Continued from page 1

Current participants will receive a lapel pin in their interoffice letter, while new members will receive a pin after the campaign ends. The campaign also will feature drawings for all participants, current and new, with prizes such as preferred campus parking, unrestricted movie tickets, gift certificates for retailers Sees Candy and Urban Retreat, as well as a variety of City of Hope-branded items. A campaign kickoff barbecue will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on July 26 in Heritage Park. Free burgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies and drinks will be provided, courtesy of sponsors Coca-Cola and First Class Foods. In addition, a pizza party will kick off the campaign at Development headquarters in Los Angeles on Aug. 2.

It has been a few years since we reminded our employees about the importance of participating in employee giving, said Diana Keim, senior director of annual giving. This campaign gives us an opportunity to express appreciation for the many ways that employees already contribute to City of Hopes success, and to explain how employee giving is a great investment in our mission. Anderson and Keim feel that employees can have a major impact on the external outreach campaign to local and national businesses and the community by demonstrating a commitment to City of Hopes mission in a significant way. More details about the campaign and weekly progress reports will be available to employees on the City of Hope intranet starting the week of July 24.

Physician investigator deduces anti-HIV drug might defeat fat cancer

Warren Chow, M.D., associate professor of medical oncology, is conducting a clinical trial that takes a unique and original approach to treating cases of liposarcoma, a cancer that develops in the fat cells. City of Hope treats close to 15 cases each year, and more than 1,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with liposarcoma annually. Most cases of liposarcoma occur in the abdomen or thighs, and treatment commonly includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Depending on the location of the tumor, though, surgery is not always possible. Chemotherapy has been shown to be effective for only about 40 percent of
3 H O P E N E W S
Markie Ramirez

by Shawn Le

liposarcoma cases, and many patients suffer recurrence despite therapy. Chow saw the benefits and limitations of current treatment options, then looked at treating liposarcoma from a different perspective. Patients with HIV infection taking HIV protease inhibitors may develop a condition known as lipodystrophy, in which the bodys fat is redistributed and can be lost, as a side effect, said Chow. I thought that effect might be useful against liposarcoma, which is an abnormal growth of fat cells. Chow was the first to propose the use of HIV protease inhibitors on liposarcoma, and is the first to conduct a clinical
See Fat page 2

Warren Chow

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ANCC: Medical Center is seeking Magnet accreditation to recognize outstanding nursing program
Continued from page 1

obtaining Magnet hospital status with the ANCC lets both nursing professionals and the general public know this, said Virginia A. Opipare, executive vice president and chief operating officer. This accreditation is a form of national recognition that we deserve, and we are committed to reaching this goal. ANCC accreditation holds numerous advantages. In addition to providing a statistically proven higher quality of care, Magnet-designated health-care facilities typically have very low vacancies for nurses and a turnover rate averaging less than 5 percent, said Kidd. Some even have a waiting list for potential hires. City of Hopes turnover rate for nurses now stands at around 6 percent, he said. A departing nurse can cost a hospital nearly $45,000, so nurse retention can wield a significant budgetary impact. Along with the reduced nursing labor costs, financial benefits add up in other areas, Kidd said. For example, one Veterans Administration hospital that invested $500,000 in ANCC accreditation documented savings of $14 million. Reductions in complaints and fewer lawsuits as a result of their improved patient outcomes were two of the major areas cited. Accreditation offers other advantages, too, Kidd said. It has been reported that health-care plans, insurance companies and regulatory agencies have high regard for ANCC designation, so a hospital holding it may be viewed more favorably, said Kidd. In addition, accreditation generally elevates the quality of staff. The best nurses seek out Magnet hospitals that will embrace them by providing a work environment that is and both supportive exemplary, Kidd said. Studies also show that having high-quality nurses on staff helps attract toprated physicians. This halo effect goes beyond the nursing services department and may permeate the Larry Kidd entire health-care team. Evidence of improved patient outcomes supports this conclusion, he said.
Markie Ramirez

ANCC surveyors then visit the site for up to three days. Once they complete their review, surveyors submit recommendations to the ANCC Board of Directors, who determine whether the institution will receive accreditation. After accreditation, the facility submits annual reports documenting ongoing maintenance of the standards. Redesignation visits then take place every four years.

To assist other California health-care organizations in preparing for the process, staff members of CedarsSinai Medical Center will host a Magnet hospital accreditation conference on their campus in West Hollywood, Calif., on July 21. Several City of Hope employees are now scheduled to attend. Further updates on efforts to attain ANCC accreditation at City of Hope will appear in future issues of Hope News.

Survivors art to adorn Womens Health Center

by Alicia Di Rado Fear, pain, joy, hope. Sometimes words are too weak, too inadequate, to express the emotions of a patients journey through cancer and only a paintbrush or pencil can testify to the cancer survivors experience. Members of City of Hopes Department of Nursing Research & Education know that all too well. part of the course, held in Pasadena, Calif., organizers exhibited gicle prints of 15 pieces of art created by survivors, family members and others immersed in cancer care. Starting July 17, five of the compelling pieces will be displayed at the Rita Cooper Finkel and J. William Finkel Womens Health Center on the City of Hope campus. The public exhibit will last at least two weeks.

The department last week offered its first course in the Cancer Survivorship It all started with a moving Education for Quality Cancer image from the collection the show include watercolors like Care Program, a National Prints in titled Waking Up. that recently appeared on this one, Cancer Institute-funded effort the cover of the American that supports important services for surveilJournal of Nursing. When Denice Economou, lance and follow-up for cancer survivors. As See Survivors page 4

Fat: Nelfinavir could be effective against some liposarcomas

Continued from page 2

trial. The National Cancer Institute is simultaneously conducting research into the use of HIV protease inhibitors to treat a variety of cancerous tumors, including lung and breast. Laboratory tests showed the HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir, made by Pfizer Inc. under the trade name Viracept, had the most potent effect on tumor tissues. To advance his research and test whether nelfinavir would be an effective treatment for liposarcoma, Chow submitted a proposal to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and was awarded a grant from the FDAs Orphan Products Development Grants Program for a three-year study. City of Hopes Office of Technology Licensing approached Pfizer about the clinical trial using nelfinavir to see if Pfizer was interested in donating drugs for the study. Our office has regular contact with pharmaceutical and biotech companies since many of City of Hopes scientists and physicians are conducting research using experimental cancer drugs, said Brian Clark, Ph.D., director of the Office of Technology Licensing, who led the

negotiations with the drug company. Pfizer recognized the merits of the study and generously donated nelfinavir for the trial. Chow is currently enrolling liposarcoma patients in a phase I/II clinical trial of nelfinavir for liposarcoma. The phase I trial will examine dosage and safety levels and, after results are analyzed, Chow expects to move on to the phase II efficacy trial. Were looking at any hint, any positive signal, that nelfinavir might have a benefit for patients with recurrent liposarcoma, he said. Chow also is conducting correlative research on surrogate markers in normal fat tissue. Patients enrolled in the clinical trial will undergo a biopsy of normal fat tissue. The investigators will examine the tissue to see how nelfinavir affects normal fat cells on the molecular level. Because serial biopsy of tumor tissues can be difficult, as they are often deep within the body, these molecular-marker studies will serve as a surrogate for what Chow believes is happening in the tumor. If a tumor is readily accessible, however, the researchers will try to rebiopsy while the patient is taking nelfinavir. These studies may help us determine who is most likely to benefit from treatment with nelfinavir, said Chow.
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City of Hope is at the beginning stage of the ANCC accreditation process, according to Kidd. The process typically lasts about three years. In coming weeks, members of nursing management and staff nurses will gather as a design team. Employees working in other health-care disciplines will participate, as well. A Magnet coordinator, who prepares documentation, tracks progress and maintains contact with the ANCC while the organization prepares for the validation site visit, is then chosen to lead the design team. After the accreditation application is filed, the submission of documentation of evidence of standards begins, a phase that the institution has 24 months to complete.
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Figlin: National expert will bring experience, help guide Cancer Centers clinical research activities
Continued from page 1

Institutional Review Board and as a member of the UCLA Human Research Policy Board. He is boardcertified in medical oncology and internal medicine, a fellow in the American College of Physicians and a member of many professional societies, including the American Urological Association and American Society of Clinical Oncology. An author of numerous studies published in journals such as the

Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of Clinical Oncology and Annals of Internal Medicine, Figlin also serves as editor for the peerreviewed Kidney Cancer Journal and Bladder Cancer Journal and is on the editorial board of Cancer Therapeutics and Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, among others. Figlin received his medical degree from the

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Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer, appeared on the cover of the July issue of Arroyo Monthly, a magazine dedicated to arts and philanthropy in the San Gabriel Valley. The cover story highlighted City of Hopes past, present and future and provided information on ways to support the institution. Several news outlets carried the June 19 Los Angeles Times article featuring Alessio Pigazzi, M.D., and City of Hopes robotic and minimally invasive surgery program, including: the Oakland Tribune on July 3, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on July 3, the Rapid City Journal on July 3 and The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) on July 10. The summer 2006 issue of CURE magazine featured Smita Bhatia, M.D., in an article about second cancers in pediatric cancer survivors. On July 6, an article on Jeffrey Katz of Orbitz in the San Francisco Chronicle mentioned his membership on the City of Hope Board of Directors. On July 1, the Orange Country Register ran an article about the 2006 Spirit of Life campaign honoring KB Homes Bruce Karatz.

Medical College of Pennsylvania, completed his residency in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and did his fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Geffen School of Medicine. He joined the faculty of UCLA in 1982 as assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology/Oncology and was appointed codirector of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centers oncology program in 1993. He also held the post of medical director of the Thoracic and Genitourinary Oncology Program in the Departments of Medicine, Surgery and Urology, and served as program director of Solid Tumor Development Therapeutics within Jonsson.

Survivors: Art on loan to COH

Continued from page 3

R.N., M.S.N. the courses project director learned that the art was part of an international competition sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, she contacted competition organizers, hoping that some of the pieces might be on exhibit nearby. To her surprise, Lilly offered to loan the prints for the survivorship course and related survivorship education efforts. Marcia Grant, R.N., D.N.Sc., director and research scientist with the Department of Nursing Research & Education and principal investigator of the program, believes the images provide unusual insight into cancer survivorship. This is a great project, said Grant, whose co-investigators include Betty Ferrell, R.N., Ph.D., research scientist in the Department of Nursing Research & Education, and Smita Bhatia, M.D., M.P.H., professor of pediatrics and chair of the Division of Population Sciences. The exhibition is called Lilly Oncology on Canvas: Expressions of a Womans Cancer Journey. For information about the art, go to www.lillyoncology.com and click on the Oncology on Canvas link. For information about the exhibit at the Cooper Finkel Womens Health Center, please call Cathy Cole, M.P.H., N.P., R.N.C., clinical nurse manager at the Breast Center, at 626-256-HOPE, ext. 60020.
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Calendar of Events
Monday, July 17
Noon to 1 p.m. Platt 3 Conference Room Seminar. Championing Health Equity: Building Community Capacity to Address Cancer Disparities, Kimlin Tam Ashing-Giwa, City of Hope Info: Amy Schad, ext. 64559

To learn about more City of Hope events, visit www.cityofhope.org/calendar.

Wednesday, July 19
3 to 4 p.m. Conference Room B Seminar. New Approaches for Tracking and Elucidating Viral-host Protein Interactions, Ileana Cristea, The Rockefeller University Info: Markus Kalkum, ext. 60131

Monday, August 7
Noon to 1 p.m. Needleman 1 Conference Room Seminar. Src/Stat Inhibitors and Other Novel Therapies in Melanoma, Adil Daud, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Info: Saundra Hilton, ext. 62737
Deadline for calendar submissions is noon on the Tuesday preceding publication. Three weeks advance notice is recommended. Timely submission does not guarantee items will be printed. Send calendar items to HopeNews@coh.org, or fax to Lorena Avila, Communications, at 626-930-5363. Submissions must include day, date, time, title, speaker first and last names and affiliation (if applicable), location and contact information (contact name, phone and/or e-mail). J02-12629.HopeNews.7/17/06.PM.2M

Thursday, July 27
Noon to 1 p.m. Platt 3 Conference Room Seminar. Intellectual Property at City of Hope: a Users Guide, Brian R. Clark, City of Hope Info: Chanel Parrish, ext. 65600

Tuesday, July 18
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Helford Hospital Main Lobby Hands-on-Harps Concert and Workshop Info: Jeanne Lawrence, ext. 63971

Next Issue: July 31

Darrin S. Joy, Steve Kirk
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Contributors: Laurie Bellman, Alicia Di Rado, Shawn Le, Lisa Lyons, Toni Pogue

Phone: 626-256-4673, ext. 62356 Fax: 626-301-8462 E-mail: HopeNews@coh.org

Hope News is written and produced by the Communications Group. Copies are distributed throughout the City of Hope campus. Permission to reprint articles with attribution is freely given.