March 10, 2022: 

This month, the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium (Big Ten CRC) highlights the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center as our featured member. Rogel Cancer Center member Ryan Wilcox, MD, PhD, is an associate professor of hematology/oncology at Rogel and a member of the Big Ten CRC’s lymphoid malignancies clinical trial working group. He has participated in two Big Ten CRC trials. Dr. Wilcox shares why he’s glad to be part of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium.

“Multicenter clinical trials, including those fostered by the Big Ten CRC, are required for the development of novel therapies for rare cancers, including less common lymphomas. For example, in one of the past trials, two ‘exceptional responders’ remain in complete remission, and have continued to do well, off treatment for more than a year. This highlights the important role that clinical trial participation plays for such patients.”

“Novel agents targeting both malignant lymphocytes and constituents of the tumor microenvironment, including immunomodulatory agents (e.g. checkpoint blockade, among others), are particularly interesting and promising. Furthermore, improved lymphoma classification and understanding of their genetic and molecular drivers will continue to foster the development of novel agents selectively targeting these vulnerabilities.”

“Being part of the Big Ten CRC allows patients across the Midwest and East Coast with rare cancers (and common ones), access to the latest in novel therapies. The collaboration across our other Big Ten peers can truly make a difference for our patients.”

About the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium: The Big Ten cancer centers have united 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. The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium creates a unique team-research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to treatment-changing paradigms. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow with the unified goal of improving the lives of all patients with cancer.

About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,800 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org