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New Brain Metastases Specialty Clinic
The
newest multidisciplinary clinic at UNC focuses on the unique
challenges of brain metastases. The goal of the Brain Metastases
Specialty Clinic is to improve outcomes, enhance quality of life,
and offer new therapeutic strategies for patients with brain
metastases. We are focusing this clinic on breast cancer brain
metastases with plans to expand our efforts to other tumors (lung,
melanoma) in the near future.
All
patients receive a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment by
our team of medical and radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons,
neuroradiologists and supportive care staff. The initial step in
our evaluation of these patients occurs in our Brain Tumor Board,
followed by simultaneous clinic visits by Drs. Carey Anders
(Medical Oncology), Timothy Zagar (Radiation Oncology) and Matthew
Ewend (Neurosurgery) in the N.C. Cancer Hospital.
For
patient referrals, call Lauria Themes at 919-843-8869, email
her, or fax 919-843-5016.
View website for more information.
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Ongoing
Clinical Trial Evaluating New Vaccine Therapy for Breast Cancer
 The UNC Breast
Cancer Program in concert with the UNC Lineberger Immunotherapy
program is recruiting patients with metastatic breast cancer to
enter an ongoing clinical trial evaluating a new vaccine therapy
for breast cancer combined with chemotherapy and
trastuzumab.
This
therapy combines a dendritic cell vaccination prepared from each
patient's own dendritic cells and pulsed with two different parts
of the HER-2/neu oncogene, given with vinorelbine and trastuzumab.
The dendritic cell vaccine is given by an injection under the skin.
The vaccine and the chemotherapy are given once every two weeks for
six treatments. This trial, which is sponsored by the Susan G.
Komen for the Cure Foundation, is for patients with HER 2
overexpressing metastatic breast cancer whose cancer has progressed
after at least one chemotherapy treatment and who express the HLA
protein HLA-A0201 for which they are prescreened. Both the
vinorelbine and trastuzumab can be given locally on the day prior
to vaccination each cycle.
Thus
far, encouraging results have been found for overall survival for
those patients who mount an immune response after
vaccination.
If you
are interested in learning more about the study or would like to
refer a patient, call Rachel Phipps, RN, study coordinator, at
919-843-7197 or email her.
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The Brain Metastases Specialty Clinic currently sees
Breast cancer patients with brain metastases at any point in their
course. The clinic is held on Wednesday mornings in the N. C.
Cancer Hospital's Radiation Oncology Clinic. View website.
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New Geriatric Oncology Specialty Clinic
We
welcome our new Geriatric Oncology clinic. The goal of the
Geriatric Oncology Clinic is to provide the referring clinician
with information focused on personalizing treatment for older
cancer patients who are candidates for chemotherapy, but for whom
there are concerns about treatment tolerance and potential
benefits.
The
Geriatric Oncology clinic is held on Mondays at the N.C. Cancer
Hospital Outpatient Clinic. Whenever possible, we will accommodate
requests for consultations at other times. We are accepting
referrals for solid tumor and hematological malignancy patients
aged 70 and over.
All
patients will receive a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment which is
the cornerstone evaluation of older adults. The assessment aims to
detect functional, cognitive and psychosocial impairments that can
increase the risk of adverse outcomes during cancer treatment. It
includes a detailed review of comorbidities and medications to
evaluate potential adverse drug reactions and polypharmacy risk.
To refer
a patient, call (toll-free) 1-866-869-1856
or 919-843-8442 or fax 919-966-0393.
View brochure for more information.
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