When President Barack Obama called for a national moon shot to end cancer, the MD Anderson community and our patients cheered. For nearly 75 years, cancer has been our priority, and we are heartened to see it elevated to a true national priority.
Annual Report 2015 : Research
In the face of cancer
It’s a phrase that describes our patients, who, faced with a disease that is unpredictable and unforgiving, remain strong and determined. It describes our doctors, researchers, educators and staff, who are relentless in their drive to stop a plague that robs us all of friends, family and loved ones.
Tatiana Demus, osteosarcoma patient. Photo: Wyatt McSpadden
Tatiana Demus, 9
Osteosarcoma patient
When Tatiana Demus’ leg started to hurt, her parents assumed a minor soccer injury was to blame. But when the pain got worse, a trip to the doctor and ensuing medical tests revealed she had osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone cancer in children.
Tatiana was referred to MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital and placed on a lifesaving treatment plan: chemotherapy to shrink the cancer, followed by surgery to remove the tumor, then more chemo to kill any remaining cancer cells and minimize chances of the cancer coming back.
A year later, she’s finished with treatment and back in the game.
A straight-A honor student, Tatiana’s doing well and enjoying her favorite things: Reading, video games, Chinese noodles and taking care of her guinea pigs, Bambi and Smores.
To help patients like Tatiana win their battles with cancer, MD Anderson researchers are developing leading-edge approaches to outwit the disease and, when possible, prevent it altogether. At MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, studies are underway to:
- Identify the genes and chemical interactions that may lead to osteosarcoma
- Train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells
- Test an aerosolized, inhaled chemo for cancer that’s spread to the lungs
- Develop a blood test that detects cancer in its earliest stages
At the Children’s Cancer Hospital, more than 770 patients have contributed tumor samples to a biobank — a repository of biological samples that will be used to advance research that will help pediatric and adult patients alike.
To ensure MD Anderson remains a powerhouse of cancer research, a significant commitment has been made to explore, create and support all avenues of discovery. In the past five years, the institution has nearly doubled its support for research. Those investments are critical in order to improve the standard of care across many diseases. This steadfastness wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of donors and Board of Visitors members, and grants from the National Cancer Institute and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas — all of which drive the engine of the nation’s largest clinical trials program.
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Where rivers of research and clinical data converge into one pool
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center’s research.
Bottom line: Converting discoveries into new treatments at a faster rate
When a clinical trial for a new breast cancer drug launched recently, researchers estimated it would take at least two years to enroll the 20 patients needed to make the trial a success. However, within four months, half the patients had already enrolled — and the drug worked for all 10.
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A new clinic to identify and monitor those at high risk for developing pancreatic cancer continues to expand after opening last year.
We’re creating partnerships to detect a deadly cancer earlier
Building on MD Anderson research, a new company named Codiak Biosciences has formed to create therapeutic and diagnostic products using exosomes — small parts of cells that break away and float around the body.
Breast cancer screening guidelines aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution
It’s clear that breast cancer screenings save lives. But exactly when women at average risk of developing breast cancer should begin screening is much less clear.
