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F A L L 2 0 0 7 |||||

Living withMelanoma

NVCI PhysicianScientist Brings New

Hope to Patients

Hope onWheelsNVCI ExtendsBreast CancerScreening and

Prevention Mission

NVCIGenetics

PowerhouseBattling Cancer atthe Cellular Level

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Dr. Sheri Holmen

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BreakthroughBreakthroughBreakthrough


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Dear Friends,

Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) enters its third year of operations with

remarkable achievements and ambitious goals designed to bring ever-new and

more research-based cancer therapies to Nevadans.

Trough June 2007, more than 3,750 patients have been touched by the

expertise of the dedicated, knowledgeable physician-researchers who are

calling Nevadaand NVCIhome. Patients are coming to the Institute from

across Nevada and from around the country. Similarly, the Institute continues

to attract talented and committed faculty from all over the world. We aremost excited that we are building our depth of specialties with new faculty

in the areas of melanoma (one of our states leading cancers), breast cancer,

population health and genetics. And, there are more to come.

Weve been proud to introduce researchers to Nevada by hosting several

scientific symposia, including the first international conference on radiation

biology, an area of research we hope to develop further through a collaboration

with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. We are also working to foster and

expand the role of nurses through a series of nursing scholarships made

possible by our collaboration with the Siemens Foundation. Additionally, weare paving the way for young people interested in pursuing careers in health

and science through an internship program. Other ongoing innovations

include bringing life-saving digital mammography to the community through

a custom-designed, state-of-the-art mobile digital imaging laboratory and

developing and introducing the newest therapies in the form of clinical trials.

All of this would not be possible without the support of the communities

we serve. We are excited, for example, about our collaboration with the

Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease, the University

of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Tis

partnership will enable the three entities to work together in a new Center for

Molecular Medicine in Reno.

NVCI is advancing in so many important ways. Yet, with all of these

achievements, we are reminded of the basics where there is life, there is hope.

Sincerely,

Nicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D., F.A.C.P. Sandra Murdock, FACHE, Dr.P.H.

Director Chief Operating Offi cer

Nevada Cancer Institute Nevada Cancer Institute

FIRST WORD

NEVADACANCERINSTITUTE.0RG

NVCI acknowledges the generosity of Greenspun Media Group in the production of this publication.

Main NVCI(702) 822-LIFE(702) 822-5433

New Patients(702) 822-5433

Development(702) 821-0014

Volunteers(702) 822-5433

Lance ArmstrongFoundationSurvivorship(702) 822-5218

Northern NevadaOffices:

Elko(775) 738-4673

Fallon(775) 423-7060

Sparks(775) 356-8800

WHOM TO CALL FOR WHAT:

NVCI DirectorNicholas J.

Vogelzang, M.D.

VOGELZANG,ALPO:BRANBROWN


3/36

FALL 2007 NEVADA CANCER INSTITUTE

BREAKTHROUGH

FALL 2007

VICE PRESIDENT OF

COMMUNICATIONS/

BREAKTHROUGH

EDITOR

Lisa Stark

NVCI CONTRIBUTING

WRITERS

Rod Drake

Hena Gomez

Lauren Knight

Jennifer McDonnell

Linda Stratton

Danette Tull

CONTRIBUTING

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Brian BrownPeter Harasty

Barry Johnson

Michael Plyler

Patrick Wirtz

COPY EDITOR

Rod Drake

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Suzan DiBella

MAILING ADDRESS

One Breakthrough Way

10441 West Twain Avenue

Las Vegas, NV 89135

GREENSPUN MEDIA

GROUP

CHAIRMAN

Daniel A. Greenspun

PRESIDENT

Michael T. Carr

EXECUTIVE VICE

PRESIDENT/CHIEF

OPERATING OFFICER

Daniel E. Aks

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

DIRECTOR

Deedy Palmer

CREATIVE DIRECTORScott Lien

ART DIRECTOR

Shannon Carpenter

8

ON THE COVER: Dr. Sheri Holmen photographed by Peter Harasty

2 MEDICINE CHEST

News, notes and the latest

happenings.

6 DAY IN A LIFE

Learn how Dr. Sheri Holmen

brings discoveries rom the

bench to the bedside.

8 RESEARCH &

DISCOVERIES

New equipment supportsresearch activities.

0 MEET THE DOCTORS

Dr. Karen Milligan brings

a special brand o care to

patients.

24 IN FOCUS

A wide variety o NVCI

services nurture patients.

26 NORTHERN NEVADA

Northern Nevadans

demonstrate the many ways

to support the ght against

cancer.

30 DONOR SPOTLIGHT

A caring couple, committed tophilanthropy and NVCI.

32 INSIDE NVCI

NVCI attracts staf rom across

the globe.

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

2 LIVING WITH

MELANOMA

Former TV reporter StaceyEscalantes story underscores

the importance o NVCI to

Nevadans.

6 CLINICAL TRIALS

SUCCESS STORIES

Innovative therapies renew

hope or NVCI patients.

20 GENETICS

POWERHOUSE

Drs. Hong Sun and Hui Zhang

bring world-class expertise to

NVCIs research team.

22 NVCI EXPANSION

New acilities will enhance the

Institutes clinical and research

capabilities.


4/36

2 BREAKTHROUGH NEVADACANCERINSTITUTE.0RG

Question:What weighs 17 tons, has six wheels and brings hopewherever it goes?

Answer: Its Nevadas newest weapon in the fight against breast cancer.

Hope Coacha custom-designed, state-of-the-art mobile

digital mammography laboratorywill soon be hitting the

streets and towns all over Nevada. Its purpose is to make

it easier for women to access the life-saving tools that help

detect breast cancer in its earliest stages.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in

Nevada. It is estimated that there will be 1,620 new cases of breastcancer diagnosed in Nevada in 2007. Approximately 300 Nevada

women with breast cancer succumbed in 2006.

If this disease is detected early, it is estimated that 95 percent of women

will survive five years beyond a breast cancer diagnosis. Mammographyscreening for women ages 40-49 can reduce mortality by 17 percent, and

for women 50 and older it reduces mortality by 30 percent.

Mammography can detect approximately 85 percent of breast

cancers and can detect it an average of one to three years before a

woman can feel a lump. It is clear that early detection and access to

current treatments can dramatically influence outcomes.

Te acquisition of the Hope Coach was especially important to

Nevada Cancer Institute, as research indicates that the incidence of

breast cancer in Nevada is significantly above the national norm and

that screening rates are significantly lower. Research also indicatesthat inadequate basic health literacy and insuffi cient knowledge of and

access to health screenings are barriers to optimizing early detection

and prevention.

Hope CoachNEW MOBILE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT TAKES MAMMOGRAPHY

ON THE ROAD FOR FASTER, EASIER ACCESS

STORY BY CLARK DUMONT PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER HARASTY

MEDICINE CHEST

{


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FALL 2007 3NEVADA CANCER INSTITUTE

Physicians and scientists from

around the world gathered in

Las Vegas recently to attend the

first international Conference on Normal

Tissue Radiation Effects, hosted by

Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI).

The conference provided a forum

for international and national radiation

biology experts to discuss the latest

developments in the field. Conferenceparticipants discussed a variety of

topics associated with the effects of

both low-dose and high-dose radiation

on normal tissue, according to NVCI

Deputy Director David Ward, Ph.D.

Low-dose exposure to radiation can

come from environmental sources or

from medical testing, such as CT or PET

scans, Ward says. High-dose radiation

is what cancer patients receive when

undergoing radiation therapy.

Given that 60 percent of cancer

patients receive radiation therapy,

the short- and long-term effects of

this treatment are of great interest

to us, Ward says. There are more

than 10 million people in the United

States alone who are cancer survivors.

Naturally, physicians and scientists are

working to learn how to diminish the

side effects of this therapy.

The conference attracted program

speakers from a number of prestigious

institutions and agencies in Europe,

Canada and the United States, including

the University of Pittsburgh; the

University of California, San Francisco;

Duke University; the Ontario Cancer

Institute; and the International AtomicEnergy Agency in Vienna.

This conference was a wonderful

opportunity for NVCI, Ward says. We

were able to exchange information and

theories with pre-eminent researchers

in this field from all over the world; they,

in turn, learned about Nevada Cancer

Institute and our research. Ward says

the conference, which he believes is the

first of its kind to be held, will now beconvened biannually in Las Vegas.

CONFERENCE ATTRACTSINTERNATIONAL EXPERTSON RADIATION BIOLOGY

ANevada Cancer Institute (NVCI)

physician researcher recently

received a patent for a drug

therapy he discovered with two former

colleagues. Dr. Nam Dang, NVCI chief of

Hematological Malignancies, was granted a

patent in April for a novel drug that targets

CD26, a protein that plays a significant role

in the growth of the rare cell lymphoma

as well as other cancers.

Our data demonstrate that by targeting

CD26, we can potentially prevent tumor

growth and possibly make the cancer cells

more sensitive to chemotherapy

in certain types of cancer,

Dang says, noting that the new

drug must be tested in clinical

trials before it is approved for

use. Te drug targets cancercells by using an antibody (a

specific protein) that seeks out

CD26, Dang says. Cancer cells

that have CD26 on them are

expected to be killed by the antibody drug

while other normal tissues will be spared.

Our drug is an example of targeted

therapy that searches out cancer cells

while having no effect on normal tissues,

Dang says, adding that only cancer cellsthat produce CD26 will be affected by this

therapy. Patients cancers must be screened

to determine if CD26 is present before such

a therapy would be administered.

Dang and his colleagues, Dr. Stuart

Schlossman, now professor emeritus at

Harvard Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,

and Dr. Chikao Morimoto, professor and

chairman of the Department of Clinical

Immunology at the University of okyo, are

looking forward to starting clinical trials on

the new drug in early 2008.

NVCI will be one of only a few major

cancer centers in the country to participate

in the trials, which will also explore whether

the drug is effective in the treatment of

other types of cancers that express CD26,

including mesothelioma and kidney cancer,

among others.

I am delighted to be able to give NVCI

cancer patients the opportunity to be

treated with a unique drug that may benefitthem, Dang says. Tis drug is the result of

my lifes work, involving more than 20 years

of research, so I find it truly exciting.

From Bench to BedsideDR. NAM DANG TO CONDUCT FIRST-IN-HUMAN

PHASE I CLINICAL TRIALSTORY BY SUZAN DIBELLA PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN BROWN

Dr. Nam Dang inhis laboratory.

Our drug is an example oftargeted therapy that searches out

cancer cells while having no effectson normal tissues. Dr. Nam Dang


6/36


MEDICINE CHEST

When youre treating cancer, time is precious, and

thats why Nevada Cancer Institutes (NVCI)

Information Technology system is designed to save

every second possible.

NVCI is one of the few cancer centers in the country where

data management systems are fully integrated. All key pieces of

information from medical records to billing details to clinical trials

data are fed into the other systems automatically. The results:

greater efficiency and better patient care.

Everything ties together, no matter where you are, no matter

what system youre using, says Richard Faircloth, NVCI chief

information officer. The central hub is the Electronic Medical Records

system; it is linked to all other NVCI patient care operations. For

example, if a clinical trials patient has a blood test, that test is

simultaneously ordered through the Electronic Medical Records

system and an external laboratory. The results of the test are

automatically sent back to the Electronic Medical Records system and

also to the Clinical Trials Office (CTO). Patients dont have to wait for

each department to deliver the data or enter it into its own system.

It allows our staff to retrieve information quickly and create

patient specific calendars, says Jennifer Hofecker, regulatory

coordinator for the CTO, where patients are treated with

developmental cancer drugs. The CTO recently received a new

software program that will streamline the process even more.

We can feel more confident about the information we are

submitting to the pharmaceutical companies because it keeps track

of data, such as adverse reactions, more accurately, she says.

The applications are also securely integrated for diagnostic

imaging, electronic billing, business systems and the NVCI and

Nevada Cancer Registries. Coming this fall, external pharmacies

will also be tied into the system. When an NVCI physician writes

a prescription, it will be filled automatically at the patients

preferred pharmacy.

Its amazing the amount of time we are saving by entering

data only once, says Siddharth Sharma, director of IT ApplicationSystems Support. We are doing our best to make it totally

automated for the user. And that means reduced risk of error as

well. A patients contact and demographic information is entered

only once at registration. He or she receives only one identification

number throughout his/her care at NVCI.

If your information is integrated into every system, its going

to be there, and its going to be correct, says Joe Gandiosi, NVCI

director of IT Operations.

Most important, all information is protected. Patient records cant

get lost because they are electronic, and they are always backed up,

Gandiosi says.

Nevada Cancer Institutes (NVCI) Just Move It campaign is

already making a difference in the lives of American Indians

across the state of Nevada.

Te campaign is part of a national program created by

Indian Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control to promote

physical activity among American Indians. NVCI adapted the programto include an additional goal: increasing cancer awareness.

NVCI launched the Just Move It campaign in the Summer of 2006

with the Las Vegas Paiute tribe. Following the success of that pilot

programand with the support of Nevadas tribal communitiesNVCI

launched Just Move It in six more American Indian tribes throughout

Nevada this summer.

NVCI has partnered with Nevada tribes to provide the program

as an opportunity for tribal communities to make an active choice

to change unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, says Patient Navigator/

American Indian Liaison Barbara Lawson-Risso, who leads the NVCIcampaign and coordinates its cancer education workshops. Its been

a rewarding process. Our ultimate goal is for the tribes to sustain their

physical activities and for NVCI to provide programming in all of

Nevadas 26 tribes.

Te campaigns statewide goal is to increase the physical activity

levels of 2,200 American Indian participants. Already more than 350 of

Nevadas American Indians have enrolled in the program.

Te seven Nevada tribes that have joined the campaign include the

Las Vegas Paiute, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Duckwater Shoshone ribe,

Battle Mountain Band, Elko e Moak ribe of Western Shoshone and

the Wells Band.

Sponsors of the program include the National Indian Health Board,

National Congress of American Indians, National Diabetes Program,

NVCI and Nike, which is providing equipment at wholesale cost.

Just Move ItCAMPAIGN HELPS NEVADAS AMERICANINDIAN TRIBES BECOME MORE ACTIVESTORY BY JENNIFER McDONNELL

Children from the Las Vegas

Paiute Tribe participate in

physical activity through

the Just Move It campaign.

IT Saves TimeSYSTEM ENSURES GREATEREFFICIENCY AND ACCURACYSTORY BY LINDA STRATTON


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W

hen Siboney Zelaya was just 8 years old, her best friend

Nicole died from leukemia. Te loss was devastating

to her, but out of the tragedy young Zelaya found

meaning: She so admired the nurse who had cared for

Nicole that she knew it was her destiny to join the profession of nursing.Decades later, Zelaya has dedicated her life to the pursuit of this

passion. Being able to serve others is what drives me, she says. I

enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that at the end of the day I have done

something good for someone and made a difference in someones

life. Tis commitment, along with her knowledge, compassion

and professionalism, make Zelaya an ideal recipient of the Siemens

Oncology Scholarship, an award given to four Nevada college students.

Tree of the scholarships are for nursing students and one is for

students in the basic sciences.

Te scholarship is sponsored by Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI)and Siemens, one of the worlds largest electronics and engineering

companies. Founded nearly 160 years ago, the company is a leader in

the areas of medical, power, automation and control technologies. Te

scholarship was established through the Siemens Foundation, which

provides nearly $2 million in college scholarships and awards each year

to talented high school students in the United States.

Siemens made a four-year, $100,000 commitment; NVCI

conducts the competition, selects the winners and provides a

40-hour volunteer

experience that allows

the scholarship winners

an opportunity to

observe oncology

research and nursing.

Along with Zelaya,

this years winners

include Gayla Preece of Elko; Debra Dannog, currently employed by

NVCI as an oncology nurse; and Andrea Jydstrup. Jydstrup is the

recipient of the John R. Murren, M.D., Scholarship, established in honorof NVCI founder John R . Murren, who succumbed to melanoma in

December 2005.

All of the winners exemplify the best qualities in the professions of

nursing and research, NVCI Chief Nursing Executive Cheryl Martin,

R.N., M.S.N., says. We are thrilled with the caliber of the recipients

and their drive to excel.

Zelayas ambition, guts and determination have helped her

overcome a cultural barrier that might have prevented someone less

dedicated from pursuing her dream. In her hometown of Lima, Peru,

Zelaya grew up in an environment where women were encouraged tomarry and have children rather than pursue a career. But Zelaya held

tightly to her aspirations. She defied the societal norm and set out to

reach her goals.

Tese experiences shaped the person she is todaypassionate, driven

and persevering. After she finished high school, Zelaya and her family

moved to the United States. Zelaya put herself through college, working

three jobs while earning her bachelor of science degree in nursing at the

College of New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York.

In addition to working and going to school, Zelaya also managed

to find time to volunteer, something she admired in her two heroes,

Florence Nightingale and Mother Teresa. Tey were both educated

and well-situated socially, yet they chose to help the poorest of the poor,

Zelaya says. o me, this is what nursing is all about.

Already a practicing nurse when her family moved to Las Vegas,

Zelaya recognized a need in her profession for greater education of

young nurses. Zelaya is a natural teacher, instinctively instructing

other nurses on the floor. She enrolled in a masters program at the

University of Nevada, Las Vegas, (UNLV) with the goal of teaching

nursing someday.Part of her personal mission is to recruit young Hispanic women to

the nursing profession, especially those, who like herself, may not have

been encouraged to pursue a career. She enjoys mentoring these students

and hopes to instill in them a standard of excellence. A good nurse is

compassionate, empathetic and knowledgeable, Zelaya says. Good

nurses treat every patient with respect and as a unique human being.

Te Siemens scholarship is for $5,000 and will pay for Zelayas

tuition and books in her final semester at UNLV. Her next goal is to earn

a Ph.D. in nursing and go into education and curriculum development.

Tere are no words to express my gratitude for the scholarship,Zelaya says, but the sparkle in her eyes speaks for her. I am extremely

grateful to Siemens and Nevada Cancer Institute for helping me reach

my dream.

A Passion for NursingSCHOLARSHIP ENABLES STUDENTTO FOLLOW DREAMS

STORY BY LISA STARK

S

BONEYZ

EL

AYA:FRANC

S

GEORGE

Nursing student

Siboney Zelaya is one

of four recipientsof NVCIs Siemens

Oncology Scholarship.

Tere are no words toexpress my gratitude forthe scholarship. Siboney Zelaya


8/36

As a researcher who spends most of her time in the lab, Sheri Holmen, Ph.D., has

little interaction with patients. But there is one case that is always with her.

Sheris mother, Faye, has battled cancer four timesbreast cancer twice, lung

and skin cancer once each. Her mothers struggle is what first inspired Holmen to study

the disease and still motivates her today.

Chemotherapy can bring people to the brink of death, Holmen says. My goal is to

help develop more targeted drug therapies that wipe out cancer cells but leave healthycells unscathed, which would mean less suffering for the patient.

At Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI), Holmen and her team identify proteins that

develop from genetic mutations or mistakes in skin cancer cells. Tese proteins can then

be targeted with drugs that will shut them down. Holmens lab is the bridge between basic

science and the clinic.

We ask questions with practical applications in mind, Holmen says.

Holmen first fell in love with science in her 10th grade biology class, thanks to a

teacher who inspired her. Te subject also suited her competitive personality.

I wasnt always the smartest one in the class, but I was the most determined, Holmen

says. I love a challenge.

After graduating with a B.S. and M.S. in biomedical science from Western Michigan

University, Holmen earned her Ph.D. in tumor biology at the Mayo Clinic College of

Medicine. She went on to serve as a Pfizer postdoctoral fellow of the Life Sciences

Research Foundation at the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI).

But Holmen became restless, seeking a faster way to bring her research directly to

patients. She found that way at NVCI, which had initiated more than 50 clinical trials

in just two years, compared to only one at VARI. Te opportunity to pursue her dream,

plus her admiration for NVCI Director Nicholas Vogelzang, M.D., convinced her to

make the move.Dr. Vogelzang is one of the most respected leaders in the oncology world,

Holmen says. I knew I would learn a great deal working with him, and I have not

been disappointed.

Holmen arrived at NVCI in January 2007 and immediately made an impact by

obtaining the Institutes first grant awarded by the National Institutes of Healthan

impressive achievement, especially given the current federal research funding climate.

What I love about my research are the discoveriesthe one day out of many

when you identity a new mechanism or find the answer you have been looking for,

Holmen says.

Holmens vision and NVCIs vision are one and the sameto bring new therapies fromthe laboratory bench to the bedside as quickly as possible.

Te research I am doing in the lab doesnt mean anything if we cant bring these

discoveries to patients and to future generations, Holmen says.

All in a Days WorkNVCI RESEARCHER TRANSLATES DISCOVERIES

INTO THERAPIES FOR PATIENTS

STORY BY LISA STARK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER HARASTY

DAY IN A LIFE

6 BREAKTHROUGH


9/36

7NEVADA CANCER INSTITUTE

Dr. Sheri Holmen,

assistant member

of the Drug

DevelopmentDivision


10/36


Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) is employing some of the most sophisticated technology

available in the fight against cancer. Four state-of-the-art, computer-driven instrumentswere recently purchased by NVCI with funding assistance from the Nevada State

Legislature. he equipment will aid researchers in the laboratory in a number of ways.

ARCTURUS LASER CAPTURE MICROSCOPE

Tis complex microscope is the first of its specific type in the world. It enables researchers to isolate a

particular cell (such as a tumor cell) from a tissue sample for more precise study.

Using either infrared or ultraviolet light, the microscope can cut out a particular cell and capture it.

A special dye is used to locate what type of cell is sought, and the laser capture microscope isolates it from

other tissue sections of either normal or a mixture of normal and cancerous tissue.

After cutting the cell out, the machine uses heat supplied by the laser to adhere the captured individualcell to a thin plastic strip, moving it from the glass slide.

Tis process is important because there is significant heterogeneitymeaning to consist of dissimilar

or diverse constituentsin cancer tissues. Tis technique allows the separation of specific cell types, which

Building the ArsenalFOUR NEW INSTRUMENTS STRENGTHEN NVCI RESEARCH EFFORT

STORY BY ROD DRAKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN BROWN

RESEARCH & DISCOVERIES

Pathology Research

Assistant Zaida

Alipio with the iCYT

cell sorter.


11/36


can then be used in either biochemical or

genetic studies.

IKONISCOPE

Tis fully automated microscope system,

one of only 10 in the world, is used for rare

cell detection or to analyze special genetic

characteristics of cells or tissue samples.

Te microscope can be loaded with up

to 175 slides to minimize time and effort,

searching each slide for a programmed

target. Tis automated analysis decreases the

time it takes NVCI staff to find a definitive

diagnosis and reduces technician burnout.he Ikoniscope helps researchers find

extremely rare tumor cells circulating in

a patients bloodstream. he number of

circulating tumor cells can potentially

indicate the aggressiveness of the cancer,

so it is particularly useful for clinical trials.

By checking the blood before and after

administering a new drug, researchers

can see how the cells respond and, thus,

how effective the drug proves in battlingcancer. In future studies, the genomic

composition of cells can be analyzed by

the Ikoniscope scanner.

Te Ikoniscope has an interesting feature:

Any software defects can be repaired online

by the manufacturer in New Haven without

having to go back to the shop.

THE ICYT CELL SORTER

his state-of-the-art laboratory

device examines blood cells or tumor

cells in blood or any body fluid. A blood

sample is passed through a tiny tube,

and the instruments sorter creates

microscopic-sized drops (tiny blood

samples) from the flow. he micro

drops are then passed under a laser that

shines on the stream, searching for a

drop with a specific dye-tagged cell in

it. Upon spotting it, the instrument adds

an electric charge to the cell, which then

moves it to a catch basin, where all of

these types of cells are collected.

Tis device sorts extremely largequantities of cells with great speed and

accuracy. It can read 300,000 cells a second,

or 18 million per minute. Tere are only 15

instruments of this type in the world.

One use for this equipment at NVCI

is to examine blood samples to detect

and identify leukemia cancer stem cells

so that researchers can work to engineer

proteins that will shut down the growth

of these stem cells. he goal is todevelop new therapeutic treatments that

will prevent leukemias from recurring

months or years later.

THERMO FINNIGAN ORBITRAP MASS

SPECTROMETER

Tis mass spectrometer identifies

proteins and peptides based on their

massesand it does so with incredible speed

and accuracy on a subatomic level.

he machine can measure the atomic

mass of biological molecules in complex

mixtures. (Cells can contain 20,000-30,000different proteins.) It can also shed light

on potential changes on each protein that

can rapidly alter how the cell functions

and replicates itself. NVCI researchers

examine the characteristics of these

proteins and peptides to determine what

clinical trial drugs will be most useful to

fight cancer cells.

Tis particular device is often referred

to as the Ferrari of mass spectrometersbecause of its high-tech operation and

abilities. Tere are only six of them currently

in use in the world.

Lab Technician

Jason Gonzales

and Medical

Technologist Beth

Grobaski with the

Ikoniscope.

Histology &

Immunohistochemistry

Supervisor MarkTarango with the

Arcturus laser capture

microscope.


12/36


STORY BY LISA STARK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARRY JOHNSON

TakingCare

of HerPatientsDR. KAREN MILLIGAN JOINS

NVCI TO STRENGTHEN BREAST

CANCER PROGRAM

With her warm blue eyes and sweet southern

charm, Karen Milligan, M.D., personifies

the image of a caring doctor. She exudesempathy, compassion and sincer ity. alking

with her, you immediately sense the deep

connection she has with her patients.

Tey are the reason I am here, Milligan explains. Growing up

in Wilmington, North Carolina, Milligan always knew she wanted

to become a doctor. She admired the dedication of her father,

erry Stewart, M.D., a community obstetrician/gynecologist still

practicing today.

During her residency and fellowship programs, including the twomonths she trained at Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI), Milligan

received rave reviews for her patient care skills. But that was only part

of the reason she was recruited for a faculty position at NVCI.

Dr. Milligan is what we call a triple threat, NVCI Director

Nicholas Vogelzang, M.D., says. She sees patients, conducts

research and is heavily involved in our Outreach & Educationprograms. One program in particular that Milligan is

excited about is the Hope Coach, a high-tech, mobile digital

mammography lab traveling to women all across the state

(see story page 2). he Hope Coach taps into two of Milligans

greatest passionsminority and rural populations gaining better

access to treatment and screening, and her commitment to

community involvement.

It is extremely exciting and daunting what Dr. Vogelzang has

envisioned for me, Milligan says with a smile. I couldnt do all of thisanywhere else. It is an awesome challenge.

Milligan joins the breast cancer team of NVCI Chief of Clinical

Oncology Phillip Manno, M.D., and NVCI Director of Radiation

MEET THE DOCTORS

Dr. Karen

Milligan

considers her

interactions with

patients and

their families to

be the best part

of her job.


13/36


KAREN MILLIGAN, M.D.

VITAL STATISTICS

Family:Husband Michael

Milligan, M.D., a sports

medicine fellow at

University of Nevada

School of Medicine, treats

UNLV athletes

Education Highlights:

University of North Carolina

at Chapel Hill, Brody Schoolof Medicine at East Carolina

University, Internal Medicine

Residency at University

Health Systems of Eastern

Carolina/Pitt County

Memorial Hospital, Fellowship

in Hematology Oncology at

University Health Systems of

Eastern Carolina/Pitt County

Memorial Hospital

Research and Clinical

Interests:Barriers to

accrual to clinical trials for

breast cancer in minority

women. Targeted therapies

in breast cancer

Favorite TV Shows:I am a

CSIfan. I love the science

in the show. I also like the

medical dramaHouse

. Themain character does things

you would never do, but he

comes up with the answer.

Im also an HGTVjunkie.

Duke or Carolina? I was

born in Durham, but Im a

Tar Heel all the way. I bleed

Carolina Blue.

When I Am Not Working:

I am sewing. Right now Iam working on window

treatments and bedding for

my new home.

My Motivation: Giving total

care to my patients

My Dream for Nevada

Cancer Institute: To help

build a state-of-the-art

breast cancer program

that includes all aspects oftreatment experience

of Clinical Oncology Research Anita

Pomerantz, M.D. his trio provides the

best in research-based, clinical care to

NVCIs breast cancer patients.

As she settles into her new Las

Vegas home, Milligan sat down with

Breakthrough Editor Lisa Stark to share her

thoughts on her decision to specialize in

breast cancer, her desire to reach out to the

communitys doctors and her long-term

dream for NVCI.

You say being a doctor is your only

true calling and that you have never

considered any other profession. What

do you love most about the job?

he best part of my job is the

continuity with the patients and

families. You follow them through thecourse of their disease, and you can have

a real impact on their lives, no matter

what the outcome is. I get attached to

my patients. I find something to connect

with them so they are more than just

Patient X.

What are the most diffi cult aspects of

oncology care?

Te hardest part of the job is tellingpatients bad news. You never learn the

right way to do it. I hold hands with

them, I cry with them and I try to comfort

them any way that I can. On the academic

side, keeping up with the research is also

a challenge. Our field is so dynamic and

things change on a daily basis.

You had many other job offers both

in private practice and in academic

medicine. Why did you choose this

position at Nevada Cancer Institute?

I trained for two months at NVCI

during my fellowship, and that experience

opened my eyes to the wide array of options

offered here. At NVCI, clinicians have

unparalleled access to Phase I clinical trials.

I relish the chance to bring cutting-edge

therapy to my patients. I felt joining NVCIwas a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at a

place where exceptional patient care and

academic pursuits are melded together.

Why did you decide to specialize in

breast cancer?

It may sound simplistic, but being a

woman, I understand what these women

are going through. I can help them accept

the disease, including the changes in their

physical appearance. I am also fascinated

by the new research and the new standards

of care emerging in this field.

You have done a lot of research in the

area of minority women and access

to clinical trials for breast cancer

treatment. Why do you feel that this is

such an important issue?

Back home in Greenville, North Carolina,

we had large rural and minority populations,

much like we do here in Nevada. We need

to reach these communities and give themaccess to preventive screening and clinical

trials. Tese populations are also not well-

represented in national clinical trials, so it

is hard to determine what treatments work

best for them.

Why have you made it a priority to reach

out to community doctors in Las Vegas?

I think establishing a strong relationship

with the community doctors is a key todeveloping a good program. I am looking

forward to getting out and meeting with the

primary care physicians and oncologists. I

want to let them know that we are here as

a resource for their patients and that we are

available to consult with them.

What is your long-term goal for Nevada

Cancer Institute?

My dream is to develop a cutting-edge,

comprehensive breast cancer program that

embraces the multi-disciplinary approach

employed at NVCI. Tis program will

include a breast cancer pathologist,

radiation oncologist, medical oncologist,

radiologist and a surgeon so that, as a

team, we can work through every patients

case from the first step to the last step.

Tis way, every patient would have adiverse group of educated, experienced

medical minds focused on his or her

cancer, ensuring the best care possible.


14/36


On June 22, 2005, television reporter Stacey

Escalante was working a story in the bustling

KVBC-V newsroom when she received a phone

call that changed her life.

Te voice on the other end of the line

confirmed that she had malignant melanoma and

that she needed treatment right away. She had cancer, and it was serious.

Te following weeks were a nightmarish whirlwind of activity.

Like many other Nevadans at that time, Escalante went out of state

for treatment. Tis took her away from her husband and two smallchildren2-year-old Will and 6-month-old Gabriellaat a time when

their love and support were so critical to her recovery. Her story

underscores the reason why Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) was

created: to enable Nevadans to receive research-linked, patient-

centered medical care in their home state.

wo years later both Escalante and NVCI have come a long way.

Escalante is cancer-free, out of the television news business and

actively involved in educating kids about melanoma awareness. She

is also a patient at Nevada Cancer Institute. NVCI has grown into an

academic medical center of excellence, recruiting esteemed faculty and

researchers from other prominent cancer centers around the country.

One recruit who has special significance to Escalanteas well as

the hundreds of other Nevadans diagnosed each year with melanoma

arrived at NVCI this summer. After more than two decades at the

Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Wolfram Samlowski,

M.D., joins the NVCI faculty as the Head of the Section of Melanoma,

Renal Cancer and Immunotherapy. His successful recruitment is a

major milestone for the Institute.

Wolf has an international reputation as one of the originalmedical oncologists to work on immunotherapy for renal cancer

and melanoma, NVCI Director and melanoma survivor Nicholas

Vogelzang, M.D., says. We are thrilled to have him join our team.

Melanoma is the fastest-growing cancer in the United States,

killing one American almost every hour. Currently, white Americans

have a one-in-64 chance of developing melanoma in their lifetime. It

is the most common cancer in young adults ages 20-35.

At NVCI, these statistics hit close to home early on. NVCI

Founder John R. Murren, M.D., died of melanoma in December

2005. His commitment and vision still guide the Institute today; his

memory strengthens the resolve of NVCI faculty and staff who are

dedicated to finding new and better ways to conquer the disease.

OUT OF THE BLUE

As a television news reporter and the mother of two young

children, Stacey Escalante was extremely busytoo busy, in fact, to

worry about the funny-looking spot growing on her back, let alone

find time to see a doctor about it.

Finally, at the urging of her husband Matt, Escalante made an

appointment with a dermatologist. Despite being a self-admitted sun

worshipper for most of her teens and 20s, Escalante, 34 at the time,

made her first visit to a dermatologist.

Te next few weeks were a blur. First, a biopsy indicated

malignant melanoma. Te surgery that followed revealed that the

melanoma had spread from her lower back to a lymph node in her

groin. Her diagnosis was now Stage III malignant melanoma.

With no research-based cancer institute care available in Las

Vegas, Escalante and her family made the diffi cult decision to uproot

their lives and have her seek treatment at the John Wayne Cancer

Institute in Santa Monica, California. She was also treated at Te

Angeles Clinic & Research Institute.Escalante had a second, more invasive surgery during which

doctors removed the cancer from the lymph node in her groin. She

LivingwithMelanoma

STORY BY LISA STARK

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF RENOWNED PHYSICIAN SCIENTIST

WOLFRAM SAMLOWSKI, NEVADANS NO LONGER HAVE TO TRAVEL

OUT OF STATE TO ACCESS NEWEST TREATMENTS

PHOTO:BRANBROWN


15/36

Melanoma survivor

Stacey Escalante with

her son, Will, and

daughter, Gabriella.

Her story underscores the reason whyNevada Cancer Institute was created.


16/36


spent seven weeks recovering at her parents home in Los Angeles,

lying on her back with her leg elevated 23 hours a day. Matt and

the kids came to visit on a few weekends, but each goodbye was

devastating to Escalante.

When they had to go back home, I was so sad that my heart

physically hurt, Escalante recalls. If this happened today and I was

being treated at NVCI, I could be with my kids. I could read my son a

bedtime story and give my daughter her bottle. It would have been so

different and so much less daunting.

TWO YEARS LATER

As a result of her surgeries and two years of immunotherapy,

Escalante is now cancer-freeand as busy as ever. She speaks at Clark

County schools about melanoma awareness. Tis spring, she testified

before the state legislature in Carson City on behalf of a bill aimed at

making sun safety a part of the states educational curriculum.

As for her medical condition, Escalante stays on top of her

cancer as a patient at NVCI. Prior to the arrival of Dr. Samlowski,she was a patient of Phillip Manno, M.D., chief of Clinical

Oncology, who also has expertise in melanoma treatment. She

looks forward to having both doctors involved in her care.

When NVCI opened I was so excited, Escalante says. Tere is a

certain aura of professionalism. You have every confidence that you are

getting the best care possible. Nevadans are lucky to have a place like this.

BIG CATCH FOR NVCI

Step into Dr. Wolf Samlowskis offi ce and you see stacks of

unpacked boxes. After spending more than 20 years at Huntsman

Cancer Institute, he had plenty of belongings to move. Along

with those boxes, Samlowski brought his research and expansive

knowledge of melanoma and immunotherapy to NVCI and Nevada,

a state in dire need of his expertise. Nevada ranks seventh in the

nation for incidence of melanoma and 11th in mortality rates.

Samlowski was attracted to NVCI because of its robust clinical

trials program and the opportunity to do translational research,

which means physician researchers are able to bring the newest

discoveries from the lab to the clinic.

NVCI values clinical trials of promising new drugs, Samlowskisays. Equally important is the Institutes ability to streamline the

process and bring these agents to patients in a timely fashion.

Dr. Wolf Samlowski

brings more than 20

years of expertise

in the research

and treatment of

melanoma to NVCI.

PHOTO:BARRYJ

OHNSON


17/36


For all of his innovative discoveries and scientific creativity,

Samlowski is an old-fashioned straight shooter. He possesses the

toughness and conviction needed to fight an elusive, diffi cult-to-treat

disease. Although he is quick with a joke, his determination is apparent.

When I first started treating malignant melanoma 20 years ago,

it was hopeless once it had spread to vital organs, Samlowski says.

Now, 5 percent of these cases are curable. In two years I believe the

cure rate will be 10 percent. I like a challenge, but I also like to win.

Tis is a hopeful challenge.

TREATING MELANOMA

Samlowski commends Escalante on her efforts to educate people

about melanoma, noting that early diagnosis can save a patients

life. If confined to the primary site, melanoma is almost 100 percentcurable. If it has spread beyond the primary site, there are two

standards of care after surgical removal of the growth: chemotherapy,

which is generally not very effective, and immunotherapy, which

activates the bodys own immune system to fight the disease.

As one of the pioneers in the field of immunotherapy, Samlowski

treats his patients with Interferon Alpha and Interlukin-2 (IL-2).

Only a small percentage of patients respond, but those who do

respond dramatically. Unfortunately, the treatment often comes with

many grueling side effects. Samlowskis lab is working on developing

drugs to counteract these side effects.Samlowski is most excited about an emerging type of

immunotherapy involving two CLA-4 antibodies. wo of these

drugs are currently in clinical testing but are not yet approved by the

Food and Drug Administration. Tese antibodies have demonstrated

the ability to produce long-term responses or remissions in 10-

15 percent of patientsa substantial percentage given the largely

ineffective past performance of melanoma treatments.

I am highly enthusiastic about the potential of these two

antibodies, Samlowski says. I have had outstanding results, plus the

treatment produces relatively few side effects.

Tese CLA-4 antibodies are currently being tested in clinical

trials. Tanks to Samlowskis presence, NVCI will soon be one of

only four sites in the United States offering one of these trials.

WORDS OF WISDOM

wo years after her initial diagnosis, Escalante has learned to

live with melanomawith an emphasis on live. Spending time with

her family is still her biggest joy; her son Will is now 4 years oldand daughter Gabriella is 2 years old. Escalante has a new job as a

publicist for a public relations firm but still finds time to speak at

schools about melanoma; she also serves on the advisory committee

for the Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation. Additionally, she is

training for the Phoenix Marathon in January.

I dont just live my life. I truly love it, Escalante says. I am trying

to do everythingI pack it in, and I dont miss a moment. As for

Samlowski, he looks forward to many exciting collaborations with

his new colleagues at NVCI. He is also cautiously optimistic about an

improving prognosis for patients.We are making tremendous progress in understanding

melanoma and developing new agents that show promise in

controlling it, Samlowski says. We are providing hope to patients

who were previously told they had none.

CHARACTERISTIC

expanding or enlarging quickly

Melanocyte Melanoma

Epidermis

Dermis

SubcutaneousTissue

NORMAL MOLE MELANOMA SIGN CHARACTERISTIC

Asymmetry

Border

Color

Diameter

when half of the

mole does not match

the other half

when the border

(edges) of the

mole are ragged or

irregular

when the color of

the mole varies

throughout

if the moles

diameter is larger

than a pencils eraser

THE ABCs OF MELANOMA

A

B

C

D

EPhotographs Provided Courtesy of National Cancer InstituteIllustration Right: KO Studios, Steve & Myriam Oh

Evolving


18/36

STORY BY LISA STARK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANCIS GEORGE

NEVADA PATIENTS RECEIVE INNOVATIVE THERAPIES

AND AID CANCER RESEARCH

When Dr. Sunil Sharma dreamed

of building a clinical trials officeat Nevada Cancer Institute

(NVCI), his vision was humble yet

incredibly important.

Sharma, who serves as NVCI chief of Gastrointestinal

Oncology and of the Clinical Phase I Unit, hoped to

bring newer and better treatment options to cancer

patients in Nevada.

Clinical trials offer patients innovative therapies resulting

from the latest discoveries in cancer research. Tey provide

patients with the most promising experimental treatments;during these trials, researchers carefully monitor participant

progress to evaluate the therapys effects. For this reason,

clinical trials are not only extremely valuable to patients, but

also vital to cancer research.

Prior to the creation of NVCI, there were no Phase I

clinical trials available in Nevada. (Tese are the first studies

in humans to evaluate a given treatment.) Patients had to

leave the state to access these novel drugs or other therapies.

All of this changed when NVCIs Clinical rials Offi ce

(CO) opened nearly two years ago. If numbers define

their success, then Sharma and his team have achievedand

surpassedtheir goals. In that time, more than 400 NVCI

patients have signed on to participate in clinical trials. Te

offi ce has opened 64 trials, including 24 Phase I trials. More

than 15 percent of NVCI patients have enrolled in clinical

trialsfive times the national average.

Although these statistics are impressive, they tell only

part of the story; the people behind the numbers offer the

most compelling case for clinical trials. NVCI patients arebenefiting from these trials in a myriad of ways. Miracle

cures are still the exception, but many patients find they

have gained more and better quality time with the people

they love. Teir stories demonstrate not only their clinical

progress but also their personal journeys of commitmentand courage: Tey take a leap of faith when they try new

treatments that may or may not improve their conditions.

Yet, they know that they are contributing to scientific

discovery and helping future generations.

At NVCI, there are many clinical trials success stories of

hope and triumph. Here are four that touched our hearts.

JOHN MATTESON

Back in 2001, doctors told John Matteson that he had

three months to live. Matteson suffers from mesothelioma,an often fatal cancer sometimes linked to asbestos exposure.

ypically, mesothelioma is hard to diagnose and even

harder to treat.

Yet, here he is, six years later, defying the odds and still

going strong. Te feisty 80-year-old works out every morning

for 75 minutes. And he doesnt let cancer get the best of him.

My motto is, I have cancerso what? Matteson says.

Matteson first heard about NVCI after reading an article

inBreakthrough Magazine about ravis Bales, a young

mesothelioma patient who was seeing NVCI Director

Nicholas Vogelzang, M.D. He learned that Vogelzang was a

leader in the field of mesothelioma research and treatment.

rue to his pioneer spirit, once he arrived at NVCI,

Matteson embraced the idea of enrolling in a clinical

trial. Since February, he has been on a Phase I rial,

CBP501, sponsored by the Japanese pharmaceutical

company CANBAS. Sharma is also the principal

investigator for this trial. So far, the results have been

very positive, showing a 13 percent reduction in the sizeof Mattesons tumor.

For me it was an easy to decision to go on a clinical trial,

Matteson says. Te way I see it, what do I have to lose?

Clinical rialsSuccess Stories



19/36

Mesothelioma survivor

John Matteson works

out every day for 75

minutes. He is enrolled

in a Phase I clinicaltrial at NVCI.


20/36

AFRIQUITA PETERSON

Afriquita Peterson is an NVCI veteran. She has been a patient

at the Institute since August 2005. In that span she has been on two

clinical trials, both successful at stabilizing her kidney cancer.

Before coming to NVCI, Peterson was told by her doctor that

she shouldnt seek any more treatmentthat she was going to die

of cancer anyway. After her experiences at NVCI, Peterson has a

more optimistic outlook.

My mother died at 97, the 78-year-old Peterson says. Dr.

Vogelzang promised me I would reach 97, too. He gives me hope.

Peterson is currently enrolled in a Phase III Novartis rial,

RAD001-2240. She has been on the trial since January, which is

a major achievement given that many patients are removed from

trials after six to eight weeks if the disease progresses.

Tey are the best people in the world, Peterson says of theCO staff. I get healing hugs from Karen and Christine (CO

Clinical Research Assistants Karen Welborne and Christine Zades).

Tey are my guardian angels.

EVARISTO MEZA

Evaristo Meza has cancer of the salivary gland, which has

spread to his liver and a lung. It is a very rare cancer with no known

standard of care.

Sharma first treated Meza in February 2007, recommending the

same trial he prescribed for Mattesonthe CANBAS Phase I rial.

Te results are encouraging. Mezas disease is stable and

throughout treatment, he has been able to continue working at hisjob as a cook at Sams own Hotel & Casino.

It is important to recognize that even stable disease is a victory

when you are battling this kind of cancer, Sharma says.

Meza speaks very little English, but he shared his thoughts on

his clinical trials experience at the Institute through NVCI Data

Manager Jackie Osorno.

Te clinical trials offi ce staff has treated me so well, Meza says.

All I can do now is wait and see what happens. I am grateful for

NVCI and the chance to participate in a trial.

ARTHUR DUFORE

In the fall of 2006, Arthur Dufore was grasping for a lifeline. His

metastatic prostate cancer had spread to his lung and abdomen. His

previous doctor had told him he had nothing left to offer.

Tat infuriated me, Dufore says. I thought, what am I

supposed to do now?

Rather than just give up, Dufore sought a second opinion at

NVCI. He met with Vogelzang, also a noted prostate cancer expert,

along with Sharma. Tey explained to Dufore that he had many

options on various clinical trials. For Dufore, hope was alive.

Sharma enrolled Dufore in a Phase I Novartis rial, LBH 589

A2101, and his response was dramatic: A 40 percent decrease in

tumor activity was noted.

Dufores treatment was so successful that Sharma presented

an abstract about his case at the annual meeting of the American

Society of Clinical Oncology. Because of the success of the drug in

Dufores case and others like his, Novartis is re-opening the trial for

further investigation.

Its hard for me to believe that little old me was presented as acase study, but it makes me feel great to know I am helping future

generations, Dufore says. I would advise anyone to go on a clinical

trial. It opens the door to hope.

I would advise anyone to go on aclinical trial. It opens the door to hope.

NVCI patient Arthur Dufore

NVCI patient

Afriquita Peterson

has participated in

two clinical trials,

both successful

at stablizing herkidney cancer.



21/36

Once a week, Michael Schlins heads to Nevada Cancer

Institute (NVCI) for his appointments, be it a routine

blood draw or an EKG. But Schlins commute is longer

than most patientshe drives four hours one way to meet

with NVCI physicians and staff.

Schlins lives with his wife, Rochelle, in Glendale, Utah, where they

own and operate the Historic Smith Hotel, a quaint bed and breakfast

that attracts visitors from around the world. He was diagnosed withprostate cancer in 1999 and has been fighting it ever since.

Schlins was referred to NVCI after his Prostate-Specific Antigen

(PSA) level started climbing again and he was told his treatment options

were limited. He met with NVCI Director Nicholas Vogelzang, M.D., to

discuss what options to pursue. Schlins started treatment this summer

through a clinical trial.

I dont mind the drive at all, Schlins says. Its just part of what I

have to do to get better.

Schlins is just one of many patients who travel long distances to

seek the expertise and care of NVCIs world-class physicians andresearchers. In fact, 8 percent of NVCIs patients are from out-of-state;

they come from almost every state in the union and from as far away as

the Philippines and the Virgin Islands.

o have so many patients seeking out Nevada Cancer Institute

for treatment is a testament to the strength of the team that we have

thus far assembled, says Vogelzang. Also, our ability to offer patients

novel therapies not available elsewhere helps drive patient and

physician referrals.

NVCI patient Cecelia Johnson, of Te Dalles, Oregon, had originally

planned to see a Las Vegas oncologist just for a limited timeduring her

visit to southern Nevada in the winter months. Her Oregon oncologist

referred her to NVCI.

He said, Ive found you one of the very best doctorsI went to

school with him, says Johnson, who has kidney cancer, which has

metastasized to her lungs. She now flies into Las Vegas from Portland

about once a month to see Dr. Vogelzang and his staff.

Another patient, Ret. Lt. Col. imothy Varian, of Austin, exas,

followed his NVCI physician from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in

Houston. Varian, who has lymphoma, continues to receive treatmentat M D. Anderson, but he regularly flies to Las Vegas to see Nam Dang,

M.D., one of the foremost experts on blood cancers.

But for some patients, a commute just isnt possible.

Nelson Bernard, diagnosed in 1995 with prostate cancer, was

referred to NVCI by his oncologist after being told there was nothing

more that could be done for him in his small community of Bloomfield,

New Mexico.

Bernard and his wife of 60 years, Rose, decided that a commute to

Las Vegas wasnt for them, so they sold their ranch house and moved to

Las Vegas. Tey now live just a short drive from NVCI.

Bloomfield has about 2,500 to 3,000 people, so Las Vegas is a littlebit different in size, he says. But were getting used to it and starting to

find our way around.

Bernard has also enrolled in a clinical trial and hopes that the results

will not only help him but also help researchers find a cure. Bernards

family has a history of prostate cancer, and his father died of the disease.

I have grandsons, Bernard says. I dont want them to have to

suffer. I hope what they find out from my experience will help them

down the line.

A Journey to HealthPATIENTS TRAVEL MANY MILESSOMETIMES FROM DISTANT

LANDSTO RECEIVE TREATMENT AT NVCI

STORY BY JENNIFER McDONNELL PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL PLYLER

OUT OF STATE

Prostate cancer survivor Michael Schlins, seen

here with his wife, Rochelle, regularly drives

four hours one way to seek treatment at NVCI.



22/36

RESEARCH & DISCOVERIES

Dr. Hong Sun (left) and

her husband, Dr. Hui

Zhang (right), joined

NVCI at the urging of

Deputy Director David

Ward, Ph.D (center).Opposite page: Sun and

Zhang review research

results with Ward.


23/36


Imagine fighting an enemy without knowing his location or what

weapons he was using. Defeating such an elusive force would be

nearly impossible.

But what if you knew exactly where the enemy was and what

tools he was deploying against you? Ten, all you would have to

do is develop a counterattack to conquer him.

In the war on cancer, Hong Sun, M.D., Ph.D., and Hui Zhang, Ph.D.,

target the enemy, cancer cells, at their core and help scientists discover

ways to wipe them out.Sun, along with her husband and fellow geneticist Zhang, bring

a proven track record and tremendous potential to Nevada Cancer

Institute (NVCI). Teir arrival will open new paths of discovery that will

in turn lead to new treatments for patients.

We are very lucky to have them, says NVCI Deputy Director David

Ward, Ph.D., who first recruited the pair at Yale University 10 years ago.

Both are among the top five or 10 in the world in the kind of research

they conduct.

Suns research is focused on signal transductionhow cells respond to

environmental stimuli. Te stimuli instruct the cells when to grow, whento rest and how to become special cells. Cancer cells grow because they

do not receive proper signals or instructions.

I love the mystery of it, Hong says, her eyes shining. I feel like a

detective searching for clues.

Zhang, who lost his father to lung cancer, focuses on the regulation of

the cell cycle. Tere are checkpoints along the way in the life of a properly

functioning cell that ensure its growth process is unfolding correctly.

Cancer cells circumvent the checkpoints and escape the regulation of the

cell cycle. Tese abnormal cells wreak havoc in the body, multiplying and

forming tumors.Drs. Sun and Zhang are world-class, internationally renowned

geneticists with tremendous insight into the inner workings of basic

cellular machinery, NVCI Director Nicholas Vogelzang, M.D., says. Both

will play key roles in our new drug discovery.

When Sun and Zhang were at Yale, they made seminal discoveries

on three major proteins now known to be extremely important in cancer

research. Tese proteins are PEN, p16 and p27. Troughout the last

decade scientists and pharmaceutical companies have been working to

develop drugs based on these discoveries.

When the doctors decided to leave Yale, they had many job offers

at prestigious institutes across the country. NVCI represented a new

frontier, which fit their spirit of adventure.

Te leadership at NVCI is dynamic and visionary, Sun says. Tere is

a close connection between basic research and the clinic. We can quickly

see our research move from the laboratory bench to the bedside, where it

can help cancer patients.

At Yale, Zhang worked closely with NVCI founder, the late John

Murren, M.D. ogether, they wrote papers and grant proposals,

conducted research and performed experiments.

John was one of my best friends at Yale, Zhang says. We were active

collaborators in lung cancer research. I learned a lot from him. He wasvery passionate about research and spoke often of the Institute he was

helping to create in Nevada.

Te move also reunited the pair with their former boss Ward, a man

who earns high praise from his protgs.

Dr. Ward is one of the most creative, original scientists we have ever

met in our careers, Sun

says, and we have studied

and worked at world-class

institutions such as Harvard,

Johns Hopkins, Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory and Yale.

Ward is equally

enthusiastic about Zhang

and Sun. Although they

have already established

themselves as important

players in cancer research,

he feels their best work is yet

to come.

Tey have onlyscratched the surface of their

potential, Ward says. Tey

will also help us recruit other

scientists who want to work

alongside them.

Sun is already involved in a groundbreaking research program

involving protein-membrane interactions. Her work in this area may lead

to a major paradigm shift in the way we treat cancer.

From our research we have identified the critical mechanisms and

pathways involved in cancer, Sun says. We are close to finding answers

to some of our core questions that will lead to breakthroughs in cancer

treatment for patients.

HUSBAND AND WIFE MEDICAL TEAM USE GENETICS TO FIGHT

CANCER AT THE CELLULAR LEVEL

STORY BY LISA STARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN BROWN

GeneticsPowerhouse

A S O


24/36

If you build it, they will come.

Tis now-familiar line from the filmField of Dreams may

have once seemed a fitting way to describe the creation of

Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI).

But a variation on the adage may be more appropriate

these days: Tey are coming, so NVCI must build it.

Tey are patients, researchers, doctors and staff from across

Nevada, the United States and the world, and they are arriving

at NVCI in such numbers that the Institute must expand to

accommodate them.

Since opening in September 2005, NVCI has seen 2,000 newpatients in its medical and radiation oncology divisions. In less

than two years, patient visits, including diagnostic imaging, have

totaled 125,000.

o meet this rapidly growing patient volume and to reach one

of the Institutes primary strategic goals, NVCI plans to recruit

60 new researchers and physiciansall requiring space to work

during the next five years.

Given the need for additional space, an exciting multistage

expansion plan has taken shape and will usher in the future of

NVCI, according to Chief Operating Offi cer Sandra Murdock,

FACHE, Dr.P.H.

Tis is a very exciting time for Nevada Cancer Institute,

NVCI to ExpandSummerlin CampusNEW FACILITIES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR PATIENT

CARE, RESEARCH AND OTHER SERVICES

STORY BY LISA STARK


EXPANSION

NVCI Expansion

One of NVCIs new buildings, seen here in an

artists rendering, will contain 101,000 square

feet of space that will house the departments

of Development, Outreach and Education,

Population Science, Clinical Trials, Biostatistics and

Communications. The new building will be located

just west of the current NVCI building.


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Preserving the Culture

A

s Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) grows to

meet the needs of Nevadans, it will inevitably

become a larger, more comprehensive

Institute. Yet, no matter its size, NVCI will remain

committed to a basic core value: Patients come first.

To ensure that this fundamental principle is

preserved, NVCI has expanded the role of Lori

Goodwine, the former NVCI director of Hospitality,

Reception and Volunteer Services. In her new role as

Chief Experience Officer, she will build on the services

previously offered, developing an innovative patient

experience model driven by the goal of helping staff

improve the outcome of care.

My role is to create an environment that provides

every patient with the opportunity to thrive

throughout the cancer treatment experience,

Goodwine says.

One of her first priorities is developing a

seamless infrastructure that anticipates patients

and families needs and preferences before,

during and after treatment. Goodwine also hopes

to emphasize patient education to ensure an

understandable and supportive process that makes

the cancer journey easier.

What distinguishes Nevada Cancer Institute from

other health care facilities is its commitment to

service, Goodwine says. No matter how much we

grow, we never forget why we are hereto take care

of patients and their families.


EAST ELEVATION

Lori Goodwine

Chief Experience Officer

Murdock says. We are translating the vision of the strategic planinto concrete reality.

Te first phase is a renovation of the flagship building that will

enhance NVCIs clinical and research capabilities. In the clinic,

four new patient exam rooms will be added, bringing the total to

14. On the research side, 5,000 square feet of new lab space will

increase the number of labs to 12.

In October and November, NVCI will break ground on two

new buildings. Located just west of the flagship building, a new

three-story building will provide 101,000 square feet of space.

Among the departments located there will be Development,Outreach and Education, Population Science, Clinical rials,

Biostatistics and Communications. Te top level will be a state-of-

the-art conference center.

About a month later, construction begins on another building,

used exclusively for research. Tis building will provide space for

cutting-edge technologya component critical to the recruitment

of top-flight physician-scientists and their teams.

Additionally, a new upscale extended-stay hotel will soon be

built onsite at NVCI, offering patients traveling to Las Vegas for

care an ideal place to stay. Te 125-room Elements Hotel, which

is being constructed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, is said to be

inspired by the companys Westin Hotels.

IN FOCUS


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IN FOCUS


STORY BY LISA STARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER HARASTY

Te otal NVCI ExperienceA WIDE ARRAY OF SERVICES SUPPORT AND NURTURE PATIENTS

Anne Ebert was first diagnosed with breast cancer

in January 2006. She underwent seven weeks of

radiation therapy. A second, separate incidence

of cancer occurred 11 months later, requiring

chemotherapy this time, followed by another round

of radiation. She is still in treatment.

While these clinical facts describe Eberts medical condition,

they tell only part of her story at Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI).

Ebert is grateful for the wonderful medical care she has received

at NVCI, but she considers her diagnosis and treatment at the

Institute just the first two of many steps on her path of healing.

One of the founding principles of NVCI is that the whole

personmind, body and spiritmust be treated. Ebert embracesthis vision and takes full advantage of the depth and breadth of

the support services available at NVCI.

Helping her along this path is a group of caring, dedicated

women who have touched Eberts soul in a number of different

ways. Whenever I need them, they are there for me, Ebert says.

All of these women have made it their passion to help patients. I

never feel like I am alone.

At NVCI, this group is collectively known as the quality of

life team. Listed below are some of the programs they lead that

Ebert has utilizedand valued. And the best part, Ebert says,

is that she can tap into all that NVCI has to offer without ever

leaving the building.

NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING

o help her cope with side effects from the chemotherapy,

Ebert turns to NVCI Nutritionist Amy Patton, R.D., C.N.S.D.

Patton explained to her that weight gain and nausea were very

common and advised her how to counteract these problems. She

also reminded Ebert to stay well-hydrated and gave her recipes tostimulate her taste buds. Amy never tells me to go to a website

to look up information, Ebert says. She takes the extra step and

prints out the information for me.

MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER

When the emotional burden becomes overwhelming, Ebert

seeks counsel from NVCI Medical Social Worker Margo Otto,

M.S.W., M.A.L.S.W. Ottos soothing demeanor is a calming

influence on the diffi cult days. Margo helps me stay focused,

reminding me of what is important, Ebert says. She helps me

deal with my problems in a logical way. I always feel better and

more in control after our sessions.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP

Otto also facilitates the bimonthly breast cancer supportgroup held at NVCI. Te support group is open to the public andmany of the participants are not NVCI patients. Ebert has formeda special bond with these women, who share stories and offerinsight and wisdom. Tey exchange phone numbers and reach outto one another in times of need.

YOGA

Many studies, including one conducted last year at M.D.Anderson Cancer Center, have shown that breast cancer patientswho participate in yoga during treatment have improved their

quality of life compared with those patients who do not.Recognizing the importance of yoga to cancer patients, NVCIoffers classes once a week. Ebert has always enjoyed the practice,but it has been her lifeline during chemotherapy. It is a verycentering experience, she says.

Part of what makes the classes so therapeutic is theenlightening and encouraging presence of Yoga Instructor AnneSchadler, who volunteers her time to NVCI. Ebert says Schadler is

very intuitive; she is in touch with what cancer patients are goingthrough spiritually and tailors the class to fit their needs. You

go in fearful, having lost contact with inner self, Ebert says. Youleave feeling relaxed and inspired to do better.

ILLUMINATIONS BOUTIQUE

After losing her hair during chemotherapy, Ebert made anappointment with NVCI Boutique Manager Louise Hill, whohelped fit her with two wigs that matched her eye and skincoloring. Hill, a certified prosthetic fitter and medical skincareconsultant, also recommended products to soothe Eberts dry skin.

INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CENTER

Ebert also spends quality time in the NVCI Information andResource Centera free consumer health library filled with thelatest information on cancer care, prevention, support, wellnessand general health.

With her husband, Bill, and daughter, Amanda, by her side,Ebert is coping with her cancer. In fact, she says her life is actuallybetter now in many ways than it was before she was diagnosed,thanks in large part to the quality of life team and vision.

Tey have restored my image of myself and helped merecreate myself, Ebert says. When people ask me how I amdoing, I tell them Im doing great.


27/36


NVCI patient Anne

Ebert (right) has taken

advantage of many of

the Institutes support

services for patients,

including yoga classes

offered by instructor

Anne Schadler (left).


28/36


More than 400 residents of Fallon and surrounding communities turned out May 19 to celebrate LIVESTRONGDAY with an all-ages

community bike rally. Participants ranged in age from 3 months to 81 years and came from Fallon, Reno, Yerington and Fernley. Te

free celebration included a two-mile bike rally that followed the citys parade route. A bike rodeo, hosted by the Kiwanis International,

included an obstacle course for riders seeking to challenge their skills. Many advanced riders signed up for the 30-mile bike ride.

Te first 200 participants received free bike helmets, and approximately 60 bikes were given away to area children. Goodie bags containing an

event -shirt, water bottle and other freebies went to participants. Te Fallon Bike Rally is the culmination of a series of wellness events offered

through Nevada Cancer Institutes Healthy Fallon program. Trough the generous support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, NVCI developed

Healthy Fallon to meet the specific needs of Churchill County residents and to encourage healthy lifestyle changes.

Rallying for WellnessBIKE RALLY HELD IN CELEBRATION OF LIVESTRONG DAY

NORTHERN NEVADA


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Renos Bartley Ranch Regional Park and the

Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater rocked

to the sounds of the classic soul group,

Te Commodores, for the third annual Hope Jam

on June 8.

More than 400 supporters attended the event,

which was hosted by NVCI donors and event

chairs Rhonda and Don Carano. Reno Mayor Bob

Cashell served as master of ceremonies, with food

and drink supplied by the Silver Legacy Resort and

Casino and the Eldorado Hotel/Casino.

Cancer does not discriminate; no oneis exempt. It touches us allfamily, friends,

neighbors and colleagues, says breast cancer

survivor Rhonda Carano, explaining how

supporting the work of the Institute is helping to

make a difference in communities across Nevada.

It was a sweet night.

Hope Jam 2007RENO ROCKS FOR NVCI FUNDRAISER

STORY BY LISA STARK


RV CLUB GOES ON THE ROAD FOR RESEARCH

The Nevada chapter of the Good Sam Club, the international organization of recreational vehicle owners who strive to

promote the safe use of RVs, has adopted Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) as its official state charity. The 15 Nevada

chapters of the Good Sam Club come together twice a year for rallies to raise money for charity. This year, hundreds

of families have joined in the statewide effort, which now directly benefits NVCI.

The idea to support NVCI started when the late Bob Richardson, who had served as the president of the Ruby

Mountain Sams (the Elko chapter of the Good Sam Club), rallied support from his fellow RV club members to

focus their fundraising efforts on NVCI. Bobs eagerness to help people during their journey with cancer started

a grassroots effort to support the Institute, says Danylle Hitchen, NVCI director of development. Its a wonderful

philanthropic endeavor that shows how creative Nevadans can be in their fund raising efforts.

The work we do here at NVCI would not be possible without the help and generosity of donors like the

members of the Good Sam Club, says Shelley Gitomer, NVCI vice president of development. We encourage other

civic groups and organizations to consider supporting NVCI. Their time and efforts go a long way and make a big

difference in helping those going through very tough times.

Richardsons widow, Carol, says she knows that if her late husband were here today, he would be encouraging other

groups to adopt NVCI as the focus of their fund raising efforts. Bob would be so pleased to know that his dedication

and hard work are helping people and could possibly encourage other groups to support NVCI, she says. It makes me feel

wonderful to know that Bobs legacy of caring and helping others is being carried on. Story By Lauren Knight

Top photo: Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons, NVCI Chief Executive

Officer Heather Murren (center), and First Lady Dawn Gibbons.

Above: The Commodores performed at Hope Jam.

NORTHERN NEVADA


30/36

When the founders of Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI)

set out to build a world-class cancer center, they knew

that collaboration with the states universities would be

critical to their success.

Nowhere is this collaboration more evident than at the soon-to-

be-built Center for Molecular Medicine at the University of Nevada

School of Medicine in Reno.

Tis 100,000-square-foot, s tate-of-the-art facility will serve as

the northern Nevada hub for NVCI, as well as the home of the

Whittemore Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease. Tefacility will be located on the campus of the University of Nevada,

Reno (UNR).

We think this kind of public-private partnership is essential

if we are to achieve our collective goal of improving the health of

Nevada, says UNR President Milton Glick. Bringing together

these three partners gives us a chance to build a critical mass to

have a more integrated approach to medical research.

Te Center for Molecular Medicine is the first building on

the UNR campus ever built specifically for medical research. It

will double the medical schools research and laboratory space,

enhancing the research productivity and funding opportunities of

the schools scientists. Te $78 million project was partly funded

by $10 million

from the state

designated

by the 2005

Nevada legislature.

Te 9,000 square feet designed for NVCI will serve

as the center of operations for the Institutes northern Nevada

education and outreach activities and as the data hub for clinical

trials conducted there.

Te new center will allow us to broaden our mission ofbringing new patient-tailored clinical trials to more of the state in

support of the states Comprehensive Cancer Plan, says Heather

Murren, chief executive offi cer of Nevada Cancer Institute. We

look forward to making these potentially life-saving measures more

accessible to all Nevadans.

Te Center for Molecular Medicine also extends NVCIs

Outreach and Education mission by housing northern Nevada

staff who educate patients and families about their diseases.

Additionally, quality of life services and products, such as wigs and

breast prostheses, will be available.

Te Center for Molecular Medicine is expected to open its

doors in late 2009.

The soon-to-be-built

Center for Molecular

Medicine will serve as

the northern Nevada

hub for NVCI.


Joining ForcesCENTER FOR MOLECULAR MEDICINE UNITES PUBLIC

AND PRIVATE PARTNERS

STORY BY LISA STARK

DONOR SPOTLIGHT


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As part of a holistic approach to healing and health,

Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) has implemented

a fine art program with the goal of providing hope

and inspiration to Institute patients.

In addition to several works by Andy Warhol and Dale

Chihuly currently on display at NVCI, a number of new

works have been added. The recent installation features an

eclectic mix, ranging from photographs to prints to works

by Aborigine artists who were inspired by dreams and the

way the land supports life. Artists represented include Frank

Stella, Richard Long, Han Lei and Emily Kame Kngwarreye.

The pieces are on loan from a generous donor.

Innovation and creativity in art build upon the

imagination. They enable us to live in a world where

anything is possible, says Michele Quinn, NVCI art curator.

Art has the inherent healing ability to bring hope and peace

to the individual.

She commends NVCI for helping patients look beyond

traditional boundaries to find alternative avenues of inspiration.

For more information on NVCIs art program or to

schedule a guided tour, call (702) 822-5207. Additionally,

the NVCI art program art catalog is available for purchase in

the Illuminations Boutique.

FindingInspirationin Art

Wang Jinsong

100 Signs of Demolition, 1999

Photograph

18 x 48 inches

Emily Kame Kngwarreye

Awelye, 1990

Synthetic polymer paint on linen

59 7/8 x 47 5/8 inches

Han Lei

Yellow Mountains Series

(Landscape with cliff in left

foreground), 2001

Photograph

21 1/4 x 19 3/8 inches

STORY BY HENA GOMEZ

Han Lei

Yellow Mountains Series (Peak

framed by trees), 2002

Photograph

23 x 19 1/2 inches


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NVCI supporters

Sandy and Mort Saffer

DONOR SPOTLIGHT


33/36


Love, Loyalty andLasting CommitmentA PATIENT AND HIS WIFE DISCUSS THEIR DEVOTION TO NVCI

STORY BY LISA STARK PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN BROWN

Editors Note: At the age of 79, Mort Saffer died just a short timeafter the following story was writt

nvci_breakthrough_fall_07

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