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Vanderbilt Opens New Cancer Center in Green Hills

August 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Vanderbilt Cancer Center in Green Hills, TN

Vanderbilt Cancer Center in Green Hills, TN

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) has opened a free-standing cancer clinic in the Green Hills neighborhood to give cancer patients more options for their oncology care.

VICC Green Hills provides many of the same services available at the main VICC campus, including access to board-certified cancer physicians and specially trained oncology nurses and pharmacists.

Patients can see an oncologist, have their laboratory tests performed and receive their chemotherapy all in one location.

Chemotherapy drugs are prepared onsite in the specially equipped pharmacy to reduce the amount of time patients spend waiting for drug infusions.

Patients who receive their care in the Green Hills facility are eligible for enrollment in clinical research trials available at VICC.

“At the new VICC Green Hills clinic we are providing the same high-quality standard of care that our patients have come to expect in all of our VICC cancer facilities,” said Michael Neuss, M.D., chief medical officer for VICC.

“We are committed to reaching out to a wider community so that we can bring our expertise and access to clinical research trials to patients in the most convenient setting possible.”

The new clinic was designed and built to be environmentally sensitive. The LEED-certified space is decorated in relaxing shades of blue and green with earth-tone accents and features a large, open waiting room, six patient exam rooms and 11 chemotherapy chairs.

The chemotherapy infusion area includes communal space as well as chairs with more privacy.
The clinic also features physician offices, team work rooms and a consultation room.

The light-filled clinic includes large banks of windows in the waiting areas, with patios on both sides of the building, which is located behind the Mall at Green Hills at 3810 Bedford Ave., Suite 100, near the intersection with Crestmoor Road.

Free parking is available in front of the Freeman Webb office building where the clinic is located.

In addition to VICC oncologists who are already seeing some patients at the Green Hills clinic, Vanderbilt has hired Hammad Rashid, M.D., as the first full-time hematologist/oncologist to join the Green Hills staff.

After receiving his medical degree, Rashid served his residency in internal medicine at a hospital affiliated with Cornell University in New York, and completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Rashid is board certified in hematology, oncology and internal medicine and was in private practice for several years in Ohio and Texas before joining the VICC faculty.

“Vanderbilt has a very strong basic science department and their clinical footprint has been expanding,” Rashid said. “I wanted to be part of that community of doctors who are at the forefront of clinical research, with national and international recognition, while still being able to see all kinds of hematological and oncological diseases.”

He is also pleased with the new clinic’s central location and easy parking access for patients.

“It is an ideal location that is very accessible for patients and it is not too far away from the Medical Center so patients who need other treatments, such as surgery or radiation therapy, can go back and forth,” explained Rashid.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (615) 936-8422.

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Vanderbilt Personalized Medicine Includes New Breast Cancer Tests

June 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) has launched a new line of mutation testing for breast cancer patients treated in its clinic just outside Cool Springs. Breast cancer patients will now have their breast tumor tissue tested for gene mutations important for treatment decisions. Information from genetic tests of a patient’s tumor will then be used to specifically match each patient to the best cancer therapies available, including drugs that are in early clinical trial testing.

Tumor mutation testing for breast cancer is the newest addition to VICC’s Personalized Cancer Medicine Initiative (PCMI) which was unveiled in the summer of 2010. The PCMI program started with routine mutation screening for all lung cancer and melanoma patients.

Dr. Carlos L. Arteaga

Dr. Carlos L. Arteaga

Research spearheaded by Dr. Carlos L. Arteaga, professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology and director of the Vanderbilt Breast Cancer Program, led to the new breast cancer testing initiative.

“We are screening for a PI3 kinase mutation panel, which includes multiple mutations within a number of genes in the PI3 kinase cancer survival pathway,” explained Dr. Carlos L. Arteaga.

When these mutations are present in the tumor they super-activate the PI3K pathway, making it easier for the cancer to withstand standard therapies, grow and then spread. Molecular alterations in the PI3K pathway occur in more than 30 percent of breast cancers and these mutations are more common in tumors that are positive for estrogen receptors (ER) or HER2.

Arteaga and investigators in his VICC research laboratory have been exploring the significance of the PI3K pathway for several years.

“Early studies suggest that when PI3K mutations are present in tumors that are ER positive or HER2 positive, those tumors are resistant to hormonal therapies and anti-HER2 therapies, respectively. In addition to the current standard therapy for ER positive and HER2 positive cancers, patients with the PI3K mutations may need additional drugs that inhibit this pathway and those drugs are now in development,” said Arteaga who is also the Donna S. Hall Professor in Breast Cancer Research at VICC.

VICC is enrolling patients in several clinical trials for drugs that block the PI3K pathway.

Ingrid Mayer, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine, and research fellow Justin Balko, Ph.D., Pharm.D., were also involved in the implementation of the new breast cancer testing program.

William Pao, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Medicine and director of Personalized Cancer Medicine at VICC, led the development of the molecular assays for the new breast cancer tests.

“The addition of mutation testing for a third form of cancer highlights Vanderbilt’s role at the forefront of personalized medicine,” said Pao.

“Some of the newest clinical research trials for promising new breast cancer drugs require knowledge of the patient’s PI3K status, so offering this test will allow us to add more patients to those clinical trials and provide them access to potential beneficial treatments.”

The latest information about the significance of PI3K mutations in breast cancer has been added to Vanderbilt’s www.mycancergenome.org website, under the supervision of Mia Levy, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Biomedical Informatics.

Other members of the VICC team involved in the new breast cancer testing program include Zengliu Su, M.D., Ph.D., Darson Lai, M.S., Ashley Lamb, PCMI program coordinator and Kimberly Dahlman, Ph.D., research instructor in Cancer Biology.

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Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Names Neuss CMO

March 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Dr. Michael Neuss Vanderbilt CMO

Dr. Michael Neuss Vanderbilt CMO

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) has appointed Dr. Michael Neuss as chief medical officer for its clinical enterprise, with a growing presence in the Cool Springs area.

A Duke-trained oncologist in practice since 1986, Neuss was, until December, the vice president of the largest oncology practice in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. He assumes the newly created position July 1.

Neuss will report to C. Wright Pinson, MBA, M.D., deputy vice chancellor for Health Affairs and senior associate dean for Clinical Affairs at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Jennifer Pietenpol, Ph.D., director of VICC.

He will also hold a faculty position as professor in the Department of Medicine’s Division of Hematology/Oncology.

“Breakthroughs in the care of patients with cancer will be possible only through the coordinated efforts of people working together,” Neuss said, noting that the collegial environment for which Vanderbilt is known was a major attraction for him.

“All the pieces necessary — the knowledge base, informatics tools, technical skill and caring of providers — really seem to be present in the Cancer Center. It is a great honor to join this team.”

Dr. Michael Neuss completed his medical degree, post-graduate and fellowship training at Duke University School of Medicine. In 1986, he joined Oncology/Hematology Care Inc. as its second physician.

The practice now includes 48 oncology specialists, 300 non-physician employees and a $200 million budget, with 15 locations in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. He has led technology and quality initiatives at each location.

On the national scene, Dr. Michael Neuss has been involved in several quality initiatives of the American Society of Clinical Oncology as well as an American Board of Medical Specialties project to define oncology episodes and a national panel defining quality oncology services for payers.

“In the face of health care reform, demonstrating value and outcomes will be an increasingly important aspect of what we deliver to our patients, referring providers and payers,” Pinson said. “Michael’s leadership, focus and experience will be critical as we move forward.”

Creation of this new role is vital to Vanderbilt’s ability to meet the demands for oncology care in the face of an aging population (average onset of cancer is age 67), a forecasted shortage of oncologists and increasing financial constraints.

“Michael will fill an important niche in providing physician leadership across the cancer clinical enterprise, which involves virtually every clinical department and division at the Medical Center,” Pietenpol said.

“In collaboration with his physician colleagues, Michael will develop strategies to assure clinical growth, on campus and in community settings.”

Neuss’ selection is the result of a lengthy national search that involved a search firm, consultation by veteran oncologist Joe Simone, M.D., and the leadership of VICC’s Clinical Enterprise Committee as well as Nancy Brown, M.D., chair of Medicine.

“Mike prioritizes quality patient care and understands our academic mission,” Brown said.

“The qualified candidates for this position are few and far between, and many National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers are searching for similar roles in the same talent pool,” Pietenpol said.

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Neuss and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center!

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Five Holiday Tips for Cancer Prevention

December 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The holiday season is an ideal time to resolve to live a healthier lifestyle, including adopting habits that may help prevent cancer, according to researchers at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). Instead of indiscriminately stuffing yourself with everything on the holiday table and then snoozing on the couch, there are healthier choices for a happy holiday season. Here are five suggestions that may improve your family’s health and reduce the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis in the future.

1 – Resolve to stop smoking.

Dr. David Carbone

Dr. David Carbone

“One of the best gifts people can give themselves and their family is to stop smoking,” said Vanderbilt’s David Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., Harold L. Moses Professor of Cancer Research at VICC. “Lung cancer kills more people than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined and tobacco use is the No. 1 cause of this form of cancer. This is a particularly important gift to your children, as ‘secondhand’ smoke is also a strong risk factor, and children of parents who smoke are more likely to start smoking themselves. ”

2 – Watch your weight.

While it is tempting to ignore the scales during the holidays, it can be difficult to take off those extra pounds later and being overweight can put you at risk for cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, excess weight causes the body to produce and circulate more of the hormones estrogen and insulin, which can stimulate cancer growth. Obesity has been linked to several forms of disease, including breast, colon and pancreatic cancer.

3 –Add some cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts or cabbage to your holiday menu.

Dr. Jay H. Fowke

Dr. Jay H. Fowke

Researchers with VICC and the Shanghai Cancer Institute in China have documented a possible link between a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables and a decreased risk for breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

“Cruciferous vegetables contain some compounds that may have a cancer-inhibitory effect,” explained Dr. Jay Fowke at Vanderbilt, Ph.D. and assistant professor of Medicine. “We were able to identify a group of women with a specific genetic profile who seem to particularly benefit from a high intake of these vegetables.”

Research by Vanderbilt’s Dr. Gong Yang, a M.D., MPH and research assistant professor of Medicine, found a similar protective effect against colorectal cancer among Chinese women who ate the most cruciferous vegetables.

4 – Substitute fruit juice, sparkling cider or water for alcohol.

Dr. Wendell 'Dell' Yarbrough

Dr. Wendell 'Dell' Yarbrough

“High consumption of alcohol over several years has been linked to a risk for head and neck cancer which is the fifth most common cancer in the U.S.,” said Dr. Wendell (Dell) Yarbrough at Vanderbilt,  M.D. and associate professor of Otolaryngology and Cancer Biology. “We encourage everyone to abstain from alcohol or drink in moderation to reduce their risk for this type of cancer.”

5 – Get some exercise.

After a big holiday meal, encourage family members to take a walk or engage in one of the new video games that require physical activity. Exercise has been linked to a reduced risk for several types of cancer. Physical activity may reduce your cancer risk by helping maintain your weight, and can also improve your hormone levels and the way your immune system works.

While adopting a healthy lifestyle won’t guarantee a cancer-free life, adopting these resolutions may improve your overall health and enable you to enjoy more holiday seasons with your family.

The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of two centers in Tennessee and 40 in the country to earn this highest distinction. Its nearly 300 faculty members generate more than $140 million in annual federal research funding, ranking it among the top 10 centers in the country in competitive grant support, and its clinical program sees approximately 4,000 new cancer patients each year. Vanderbilt-Ingram, based in Nashville, Tenn., recently joined with 21 of the world’s leading centers in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a non-profit alliance dedicated to improving cancer care for patients everywhere. For more information, visit www.vicc.org.

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