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Please note: This article is part of the Cancer Center's News Archive and is here for historical
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Of Interest
News
Your Needy Patients Can Get a Lift to U-M
If you have financially needy patients who require tertiary
health care, the University of Michigan Health System and
AirLifeLine are teaming up
to help them by offering free flights to Ann Arbor. AirLifeLine
is a national organization of private pilots who donate their
time and fuel to fly needy patients to medical centers. The
U-M is the only institution in the state teaming up with AirLifeLine.
Patients must live between 150 and 600 miles from the U-M
to qualify for the program. Pilots will transport ambulatory
patients in need of life-sustaining treatments, and their
family members to the U-M at no cost. Pilots are available
day or night to transport patients. They also will transport
human organs and time-critical medical cargo. AirLifeLine’s
850 pilots have flown more than 10,000 medical missions. They
are supported solely by donations.
Cancer Center Named Finalist in Quality Cup Competition
The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer has reached
the finalist level in the health category of the annual Rochester
Institute of Technology (RIT) and USA Today Quality Cup Competition.
This national award recognizes teams making significant contributions
to the improvement of quality products or services in an organization
by applying principles of quality management.
In preparation for opening a new outpatient facility in May
1997, the Cancer Center undertook a complete work redesign
of the structure and process for diagnosis and treatment of
cancer outpatients. Redesign concepts included the creation
of six physician-lead teams organized by cancer type, improved
throughput processes for infusion patients and the creation
of a clinic coordinator position to coordinate all scheduling
and customer service training for staff.
Prostate Cancer Genetics Project Continues Recruitment
Investigators at the University of Michigan Comprehensive
Cancer Center are actively involved in the study of the genetic
predisposition to prostate cancer. Research has shown that
men with first or second degree relatives with prostate cancer
may be at an increased risk for the development of this disease.
Analysis of some families with an excess of prostate cancer
has suggested that there may be a gene(s) inherited in an
autosomal dominant pattern that results in early-onset prostate
cancer. The first potential inherited prostate cancer susceptibility
gene, called HPC1 and located on the long arm of chromosome
1, was described in the fall of 1996. Last summer, data from
the U-M Prostate Cancer Genetics Project, lead by Drs. Kathleen
Cooney and James Montie, confirmed the contribution of HPC1
to prostate cancer susceptibility using an independent set
of families. This result was published in the Journal of the
National Cancer Institute.
To determine possible genetic causes of prostate cancer, the
Prostate Cancer Genetics Project is continuing to recruit
individuals and/or families with a possible genetic risk for
prostate cancer. This may include individuals with early-onset
prostate cancer (men affected prior to the age of 55 years)
and/or with other family members affected with the disease.
Patients may be enrolled without coming to Ann Arbor, and
the cost of enrollment will be covered by the investigators.
Participants in this study will be asked to provide medical
and family history information, to contact other affected
family members and to donate a small blood sample. DNA will
be extracted from whole blood and analyzed using a panel of
linked markers spanning the human genome with the goal of
identifying a gene(s) that is important in the development
of prostate cancer.
Clinical Trials
Randomized, open-label, multicenter study comparing
the safety and efficacy of Iodine-131 Anti-B1 Antibody to
unlabeled Anti-B1 Antibody for the treatment of chemotherapy-refractory
low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Seventy-eight patients will be randomized to receive Iodine-131
Anti-B1 Antibody (Arm A) or unlabeled Anti-B1 Antibody (Arm
B). Patients randomized to receive unlabeled Anti-B1 Antibody
may crossover and receive radiolabeled Iodine-131 Anti-B1
Antibody following progression of their lymphoma. Response
in both arms will be assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, and then
at 3-monthly intervals for up to two years.
Vaccine protocol for pediatric malignancies using
dendritic cells to generate immune response.
In the study’s first phase, dendritic cells are generated
and pulsed with autologous tumor and given in a series of
interdermal vaccinations. Chemokines (chemo-attractant cytokines)
then are delivered locally at the vaccine site by combining
dendritic cells with chemokine-secreting fibroblasts prior
to vaccination. Chemokines are essential for leukocyte trafficking
and inflammatory process, and appear to enhance dendritic
cell function. Eligibility criteria: recurrent neuroblastoma,
sarcoma or Wilm’s tumor; failed standard therapy; source
of autologous tumor; and good performance status. Exclusion
criteria: relapse at primary site for which radiotherapy and/or
chemotherapy are potentially curative; previous allogeneic
transplantation; or autoimmune disease.
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