Jan. 23, 2020:

Hirva Mamdani, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the Thoracic Oncology and Phase I Therapeutics Program and a medical oncologist at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Wayne State University, will present a poster highlighting the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium’s BTCRC-ESO14-012 study during the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s 2020 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, Thursday, Jan. 23-25, from noon – 1:30 pm and 4:45-5:45 p.m. PT at the Moscone West Building in San Francisco, CA.

The poster, titled “Safety and efficacy of durvalumab following multimodality therapy for locally advanced esophageal and GEJ adenocarcinoma: Two-year follow-up results from Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium study,” will be presented during Poster Session A and located at Poster Board F15. See abstract. Read More

Jan. 22, 2020:

The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) has joined the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC). The Big Ten CRC was created in 2013 to transform the conduct of cancer research through collaborative, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. Its membership now includes the cancer centers of all Big Ten universities.

Located in Baltimore, Md., UMGCCC offers innovative approaches to diagnosing and treating all types of cancer, conducts cutting-edge research to bring the latest advances in cancer treatment directly to patients in Maryland and beyond, and provides cancer screening and patient education services. It is one of 51 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, recognized for its excellence in patient care and multidisciplinary translational research program. Read More

Jan. 21, 2020:

Veronika Bachanova, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation at the University of Minnesota, has been appointed to represent the University of Minnesota on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee is composed of one researcher from each Big Ten CRC member institution and meets on a regular basis to review activities of the consortium and decide matters of policy. The Steering Committee determines the criteria for approving concepts for development with the Big Ten CRC. Read More

Jan. 17, 2020:

Pictured from left: Sneha Phadke, DO, University of Iowa, co-investigator of BTCRC-BRE18-337; Oana Danciu, MD, University of Illinois at Chicago, sponsor-investigator of BTCRC-BRE15-016; Kari Wisinski, MD, University of Wisconsin, sponsor-investigator of BTCRC-BRE18-337 and co-investigator of BTCRC-BRE15-016.

In a poster session, investigators reported on safety results from BTCRC-BRE15-016, a phase 2 study of palbociclib in combination with Tamoxifen as first line therapy for metastatic hormone receptor positive breast cancer. Researchers concluded the combination of palbociclib and tamoxifen was well tolerated with expected toxicities, and neutropenia was the most frequently reported adverse event. Researchers noted this is one of the first trials to assess the safety of the combination of palbociclib with tamoxifen in metastatic hormone receptor positive breast cancer and has implications for the early stage setting. See abstract.

Study authors include: Read More

Jan. 7, 2020:

Investigator Spotlight:

Benjamin Teply, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Research interests:

I am a medical oncologist engaged in clinical and translational research in genitourinary malignancies, with a special focus in prostate cancer. I have worked on novel treatment strategies for prostate cancer, with a focus on mechanisms other than suppression of androgen signaling, in both treatment-naïve (such as PARP inhibition) and castration-resistant prostate cancer (such as therapeutic high-dose testosterone). I am also dedicated in optimizing the use of approved therapies to maximize patient benefit. Read More

Nov. 13, 2019:

H. Rex Gaskins, PhD, associate director for education at the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) and Keith W. and Sarah M. Kelly Professor of Immunophysiology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has been appointed to represent the university on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) Steering Committee.

As a collaboration among Big Ten universities, the Big Ten CRC leverages the scientific and clinical expertise of its members by developing and conducting early phase oncology clinical trials. In 2018, CCIL established itself as a research institute on the Urbana-Champaign campus and joined the consortium earlier this year. The cancer center brings its strengths in basic science and engineering to develop new methods in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. Read More

Oct. 31, 2019:

Applications are now open for a nationwide integrative oncology training program. The Integrative Oncology Scholars Program at the University of Michigan is funded by a National Cancer Institute R25 grant. It has the joint goals of training 100 integrative oncology (IO) leaders over 4 years and facilitating partnerships between IO leaders and complementary practitioners within their communities. Read More

Oct. 10, 2019:

Investigators from Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) member institutions gathered at Big Ten Conference Headquarters in Chicago for the consortium’s annual summit, September 21. The 2019 Summit, hosted by the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, featured topics presented by Big Ten investigators and industry representatives, and opportunities to discuss current and potential collaborations. Read More

Sept. 18, 2019:

Muhammad Furqan, MD, a medical oncologist and clinical associate professor of internal medicine – Hematology, Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, will represent the university on the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) Steering Committee.

As a collaboration of Big Ten universities, the Big Ten CRC leverages the scientific and clinical expertise of its members by developing and conducting early-phase oncology clinical trials that can provide access to novel treatments to patients with cancer.

Dr. Furqan specializes in lung cancer and leads the thoracic multidisciplinary oncology group at the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. This group includes physicians and researchers from various disciplines who work collaboratively to enhance patient care and science. Since Dr. Furqan joined the university in 2014, he has been involved in many working groups to advance oncology research and has witnessed many advancements, including the broad use of immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Dr. Furqan also supervises clinical services at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center as medical director.

Read More

Sept. 16, 2019:

Every year, selected junior investigators learn how to design effective clinical trials for therapeutic interventions in treating cancer during an intensive week-long workshop hosted jointly by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). The conference, known in oncology circles as the “Vail Workshop,” is held in Vail, Colo. and is an ideal backdrop for clinical and research oncologists to unplug, network, and gain valuable feedback from leading investigators in oncology in a retreat-like setting.

“For junior investigators, the ASCO/AACR Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop offers invaluable educational and professional development experience,” said ASCO Chief Medical Officer Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FSCT, FASCO. “By attending, these young scientists and researchers will get to spend an intensive week working with leaders in the clinical oncology field, collaborating with specialists in biostatistics, imaging, pharmacology, and pathology to help support their project development. They also will get input from and access to patient advocates for the patient perspective that will inform their protocols.”

During the ASCO/AACR Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research, held July 27-Aug. 2, 2019, several members of Big Ten universities and cancer centers participated as faculty and selected fellows. Read More