May 31, 2017:

Dustin Deming, MD, is a gastrointestinal oncologist at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC) and the William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital with subspecialties in the treatment of colon, rectal, and anal cancers.

Deming’s commitment to the field is no coincidence; his first-hand exposure to clinical oncology opened his eyes to opportunities to apply his lab science strengths. “I had thought I wanted to be a pathologist and focus mostly on basic science research, because I had kind of been a lab rat for the beginning portion of my career. Once I actually got into the clinic, I realized how exciting it was to be involved in many aspects of colorectal research: things as basic as drug discovery, or target-finding through early phase clinical trials and national phase two and phase three trials, and seeing patients in the clinic,” he said. “It has been really rewarding, because, I think, in each aspect, experience in the lab and experience in the clinic can really feed into each other.”
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May 26, 2017:

Lung cancer researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center have opened a clinical trial testing the effects of immunotherapy in combination with next-line chemotherapy in patients who experienced some benefit from immunotherapy before their disease worsened.

The single-arm phase II study, known as BTCRC-LUN15-029, will enroll about 35 subjects with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who were treated with a PD-1 (programmed death-1) or PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1) inhibitor and experienced either stable disease or a partial or complete response before their disease worsened.

The study is now open to accrual at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. Additional sites will open the study in the near future. Gregory A. Durm, MD, is leading the study, along with co-investigators Nasser Hanna, MD; Shadia Jalal, MD; and Lawrence Einhorn, MD. Read More

May 26, 2017:

A Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of durvalumab (MEDI4736) following multi-modality therapy in esophageal cancer.

The phase II study, known as BTCRC-ESO14-012, is currently open for accrual at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, the University of Illinois Cancer Center, the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa, Michigan State University Breslin Cancer Center, and the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Read More

May 22, 2017:

Across the Consortium is your chance to catch the latest news in Big Ten oncology as it happens each month. We handpick the breaking stories that keep you informed and inspired. This month’s edition highlights major breakthroughs in diagnostics, therapeutics, and discovery.  

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May 15, 2017:

Jatin Rana, MD

Investigator Spotlight

Jatin Rana, MD

Educational Background: BS from University of Michigan, MS from Wayne State University, and MD from Wayne State University

Research Interests: My primary interests both clinically and investigational is in gastrointestinal and breast malignancies. As a young investigator I’m excited to offer treatment opportunities through clinical trials for my patients. I am also involved in developing quality improvement projects to provide the best oncology care for our patients.

Fun Facts: I enjoy cooking/grilling.

I enjoy hands-on projects including fixing cars and working in the yard.

I was born in England.

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May 7, 2017:

The skin protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water and fat. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. It usually forms in skin that has been exposed to sunlight, but can occur anywhere on the body.

Skin has several layers. According to the National Cancer Institute, skin cancer begins in the epidermis (outer layer), which is made up of squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. You can learn more about skin cancer, including melanoma, from the National Cancer Institute.

May is Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month.  This month, the members of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium are raising awareness about strategies for preventing skin cancer, spearheading promising research, and even cycling to raise money for skin cancer research!
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