Division of Radiation Oncology
Year in Review 2012
page 1
Division of Radiation Oncology
Current faculty leadership
Current administrative leadership
Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D.
Provost and executive vice president ad interim
Head, Division of Radiation Oncology
Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology
Robin M. Famiglietti, M.B.A., F.A.C.H.E.
Division administrator
Bruce D. Minsky, M.D.
Deputy division head, clinical research director
Junjie Chen, Ph.D.
Chairman,
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology
Geoffrey Ibbott, Ph.D.
Chairman,
Department of Radiation Physics
Zhongxing Liao, M.D.
Center medical director
Anita Mahajan, M.D.
Medical director, Proton Therapy Center
Co-section chief, Central Nervous System/Pediatric
Deborah A. Kuban, M.D.
Director, Radiation Oncology Global Development
Section chief, Genitourinary
Paul Brown, M.D.
Director, Central Nervous System Stereotactic Program
Co-section chief, Central Nervous System/Pediatric
Joe Y. Chang, M.D., M.S., Ph.D.
Director, Stereotactic Body Program
Operations chief, Thoracic
Shalin Shah, M.D.
Medical director,
Sugar Land
Steven J. Frank, M.D.
Director,
Advanced Technology
Patrick Browning, J.D., M.H.A.
Department administrator,
Radiation Physics
Mia Carlson, M.S.N., R.N.
Clinical administrative director,
Clinics/Nursing
Tammie Davenport
Program manager,
Radiation Oncology
Graduate Medical Education Programs
Sandra Hayden, M.A., B.S., R.T.(T.)
Administrative director,
Radiation Therapy Services
Nicole Jones, M.B.A.
Program manager,
Radiation Oncology
Pam Jones, M.B.A., B.S.
Department administrator,
Experimental Radiation Oncology
Vicki Kimbrell
Associate director,
Space and Facilities
Wayne Laskie
Associate director,
Information Services
Gary Marsh, M.B.A., B.S.
Director,
Financial Services
Emily Neal, M.P.S.A.
Program manager,
Radiation Oncology
Beverly Riley, B.S., C.M.D.
Administrative director,
Medical Dosimetry
Stephanie Shelton, B.B.A.
Administrative director,
Radiation Oncology Programs
2012 Year in Review — Table of contents
Message from the division head.....��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2
Our organization....................................................................................................................3
Our mission, vision and values......................................................................................3
What makes us unique and effective..............................................................................3
Our patient care.....................................................................................................................5
Transforming the patient experience ............................................................................5
Our survivors .................................................................................................................6
SBRT Program treats 1,000th patient ...........................................................................8
Gamma Knife® expands to The Woodlands...................................................................9
Our people............................................................................................................................10
Awards and accomplishments .....................................................................................10
Introducing Bruce Minsky, M.D..................................................................................11
2012 Cattlemen for Cancer Research Hero Award......................................................12
2012 Alfred G. Knudson, Jr. Outstanding Dissertation Award...................................13
Our training programs........................................................................................................14
Overview.......................................................................................................................14
Meet Adam Melancon, Ph.D. ......................................................................................15
Our research.........................................................................................................................16
Overview.......................................................................................................................16
Highlighted publications..............................................................................................17
Faculty highlights and new initiatives..........................................................................19
Health services research initiative................................................................................20
Our departments..................................................................................................................21
Our structure................................................................................................................21
Department of Radiation Oncology............................................................................22
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology.....................................................26
Department of Radiation Physics................................................................................27
Faculty and staff............................................................................................................27
Major research programs..............................................................................................28
Our centers...........................................................................................................................29
Proton Therapy Center.................................................................................................29
Regional care centers....................................................................................................30
MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, Orlando, Fla.................................................32
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Gilbert, Ariz...................................................33
MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital, Albuquerque, N.M........................................................................................................34
MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center at American Hospital,
Istanbul, Turkey............................................................................................................35
page 1
Message from the division head
Friends of the Division of Radiation Oncology:
As we reflect upon the past year and look forward to the next, two words come
forth immediately: pride and excitement. This past year has seen unparalleled
success within our division, and it is with great pride that I can note some of
our contributions here. The excitement comes from looking into the future and
anticipating what the next year may bring. We have the pleasure of being in a
truly transformative time in the field of cancer and in the profession of radiation
oncology. The ongoing convergence of knowledge, technologies and human talent
will allow us to make real differences in the lives of our patients.
This past year, we provided clinical care to more patients than at any other time in
our 65-year history. We have expanded our clinical operations to include facilities
in four Greater Houston locations and in Albuquerque, Phoenix, Orlando and
Istanbul. Despite our high clinical volumes, we take pride in the individualized
care we provide. Every patient who entrusts their lives to us is rewarded by our
commitment to quality and compassion. We are proud to continue providing
national leadership in quality assurance in the radiation physics component of
treatment, serving as the quality resource for national radiation oncology cooperative group trials as well as providing rigorous quality
assurance peer review on every single case we treat. We are proud to have such an outstanding team of faculty, nurses, mid-level
practitioners, physicists, therapists and dosimetrists. Our people are recognized national leaders and provide unique subspecialized
expertise in their respective areas. Finally, our 850 divisional employees care deeply about our patients, and we have instituted
communication and efficiency programs to further enhance the experiences of our patients and their families.
Although clinical care remains the cornerstone of our mission, we also recognize our equally important responsibility to positively
influence the lives of millions of patients worldwide whom we never meet. We do this through our research and education programs.
Our research programs have helped define many current standards of care for the field of radiation oncology. We have robust
laboratory programs that have had great success in obtaining competitive research grants to facilitate our research mission. This past
year, our group continued to publish our research results in such top-rated scholarly journals as the New England Journal of Medicine,
JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association) and the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and our faculty was well represented in
almost every important national meeting on cancer. Some of our research achievements are highlighted later in this report. The other
important way we affect cancer worldwide is through our training programs. We have residency programs in both radiation oncology
and radiation physics and have robust graduate school and postgraduate training in biology and physics research. We also lead an active
allied health program that confers degrees in radiation therapy and dosimetry. Through these programs, we train the next generation
of leaders of our profession.
The future for our group has never been brighter. In next year’s annual report I look forward to highlighting many more of our
collective contributions and to articulating their positive influences on the lives of so many. In closing, I thank you for your support of
our efforts. Should you wish to discuss any aspect of our division or ways you can contribute to our mission, I would be happy to hear
from you.
Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D.
Professor and head, Division of Radiation Oncology
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Our organization
Our mission
The mission of the Division of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is to provide
compassionate, state-of-the-art, quality radiation treatment to cancer patients while integrating education, laboratory and clinical
research, and radiation physics to achieve improved outcomes.
Our vision
The Division of Radiation Oncology will be the leader in advancing our discipline of patient care, research and education as we partner
in Making Cancer History®.
Our values
•
•
•
Excellence to challenge ourselves to push the limits of discovery and expectations.
Compassion to care for those with whom we serve and work.
Respect and realize the potential in everyone and recognize their contributions and importance.
What makes us unique and
effective
With unparalleled clinical talent and scientific
scholarship, the Division of Radiation
Oncology offers superb care to each patient.
Radiation oncology at MD Anderson is of the
highest quality and focuses on cutting-edge
techniques, many of which were developed by
our faculty.
Why patients choose the Division of Radiation Oncology over other centers:
• Depth of experience. Each of our physicians specialize in a cancer type, promoting expertise and depth of experience. Whether a cancer is common or rare, with straightforward or complex treatment, our physicians are well equipped to handle patients’ care.
• Multidisciplinary care. Each patient’s proposed treatment plan is determined in a multidisciplinary conference and reviewed in a department-wide consultation. The conferences where the progress of every treatment plan is reviewed assures each patient
receives the highest quality of care.
•Institutional recognition. In FY 2012, the Division of Radiation Oncology received a three-year accreditation from the American
College of Radiology/American Society of Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ACR/ASTRO) Committee on Radiation Oncology Accreditation. This “gold standard” accreditation program is designed to promote quality and provide our radiation oncologists with third-party, impartial peer review and evaluation of our patient care. This achievement is a demonstration of our division’s mission of improving, achieving and maintaining the quality and safe care we provide our patients.
• Patient recognition. In surveys by independent researchers, 99% of our patients reported overall satisfaction with their treatment, while 99.7% indicated they would recommend our radiation oncology services to others.
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Patient being treated on a TrueBeam™ linear accelerator.
• Recognized leaders. We are the only radiation oncology department in Texas designated as a full member of the Radiation
Therapy Oncology Group, an international organization of scholar-physicians who perform research in radiation oncology.
Faculty members are leaders in their fields because of their commitment to translating clinical and basic research into better patient care. They publish their findings in journals that are read and relied on by other physicians.
• Flexible scheduling and low wait time. We provide convenient scheduling to improve our patients’ needs. In FY 2012, results of monthly patient satisfaction surveys demonstrated that 95% of our patients were satisfied with their wait time.
• Prominent location. We are located in the Texas Medical Center, a complex of more than 40 medical institutions, including world-
class hospitals and medical schools. The department serves patients in a spacious, well-equipped center with its own entrance, valet parking and adjacent self-service free parking.
• State-of-the-art technologies in the hands of experts. The division offers the latest techniques and clinical trials in areas such
as intensity-modulated radiation therapy, proton beam radiation therapy, Gamma Knife® radiosurgery, stereotactic body
radiation therapy, intraoperative radiation therapy and brachytherapy. Peer-reviewed journal publications demonstrate quality
improvements when these complex techniques are performed by specialized experts.
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Our patient care
In FY 2012, the Division of Radiation Oncology treated 8,208 patients. The main campus Radiation Treatment Center, the most comprehensive facility of its kind in the world, is organized into service areas focusing on treatment and research for specific systems of the
body.
Our board-certified radiation oncologists sub-specialize in the research and treatment of a focused, disease-specific area of interest.
Furthermore, our specialists offer the highest treatment standards in their field, frequently setting new standards for radiation care.
Transforming the
patient experience
New treatment starts in FY 2012
Our patients have a valuable
perspective regarding the
quality of care they receive.
The Division of Radiation
Oncology continually
examines ways to evaluate
and improve quality of care
through the voices of our
patients. During the past year,
our patients’ experiences while
in our care were measured
by their satisfaction with
wait time and staff members’
explanation of delays during
radiation therapy. Additional
areas of focus included our
staff members’ courtesy, their
concern for our patients’
comfort, and explaining the
management of radiation
therapy side effects to our
patients.
The division’s commitment to
improving patients’ experience
is evident in the results of
our Press Ganey® patient
satisfaction scores, which were
slightly higher than 89% at the
end of FY 2012. Press Ganey®
is an independent industry
leader aiding organizations
in improving performance
and administering patient
satisfaction surveys.
Press Ganey® average overall scores
89.1%
87.9%
88.2%
88%
88.4%
88.5%
88.7%
88.7%
89.6%
89.3%
87.5%
Oct 11
Nov 11 Dec 11
Jan 12 Feb 12 Mar 12 Apr 12 May 12 June 12 July 12 Aug 12
n=951
n=1172 n=1154 n=1164 n=839 n=1331 n=1209 n=1221 n=1461 n=1331
n=1195
n=sample size
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Our patients
Meet our survivor: Victoria Fox
On Jan. 10, 2011, 3-year-old Victoria Fox became ill. Her mother, Vanessa, noticed
her daughter was beginning to lose function and vision in her right eye and rushed
Victoria to her pediatrician.
After an initial exam, tests revealed a tumor behind Victoria’s right eye. She was
admitted to a Dallas hospital and diagnosed with parameningeal embryonal
rhabdomysarcoma, a type of cancer that can appear during a child’s first decade of
life.
A treatment plan, including chemotherapy and radiation, was recommended. While
discussing her daughter’s treatment options with an oncologist, Vanessa was alarmed
by the possible side effects Victoria might experience as a result of traditional radiation. “They mentioned facial reconstruction and
brain damage,” Vanessa says.
Wanting to avoid such life-altering side effects, Victoria’s father, Brian, asked the doctor if there were other options. The oncologist
mentioned proton therapy, which Brian began researching. The literature pointed to fewer side effects, both short- and long-term. The
Fox family elected to visit with experts at MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center to determine if proton therapy was the right option for
Victoria.
Although there wasn’t a guarantee of zero side effects for Victoria, or any patient, the potential need for facial reconstruction was
substantially lower than with traditional radiation.
Victoria started treatment at MD Anderson on Feb. 7, 2011. For most pediatric patients as young as her, anesthesia is recommended
to ensure they remain completely still during treatment. With the help of the Proton Therapy Center’s child life specialist, Victoria’s
treatment team felt she may be able to lie still during treatment without sedation — and she did.
“Victoria was an excellent candidate to receive proton therapy for her type of cancer,” explains her pediatric radiation oncologist, Anita
Mahajan, M.D., medical director of the Proton Therapy Center. “We were able to deliver a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor
while sparing healthy, developing structures and tissues. Victoria tolerated treatment well and it is wonderful to see her thriving and
growing into a beautiful young lady.”
By the time Victoria had her initial consultation with Mahajan in February, her right eye had lost substantial vision and mobility and
was swollen shut. When she completed treatment on March 16, 2011, her eye was fully open and mobile, a development that brought
her mother to tears. Victoria experienced no side effects from her treatment, other than some redness of the skin, which has gone away,
and some loss of hair, which has long since grown back.
Vanessa and Brian report that Victoria, now more than two years out from treatment, is doing great and enjoying kindergarten.
When asked what advice she would give other parents trying to determine the best treatment for their child’s cancer diagnosis, Vanessa
says, “I wouldn’t even explore the other options anymore. For a treatment to do the least amount of damage to healthy tissue and to get
right on target with the tumor, I would say try proton therapy first as opposed to causing more damage to the rest of the healthy tissue.”
page 6
Meet our survivor: Brenda Daugherty
Brenda Daugherty, age 53, was diagnosed with glioblastoma on Dec. 3, 2010. That
was when she was told that she may have only 13 months to live.
More than two years later, Brenda returns to MD Anderson for a follow-up
appointment sporting bright red sneakers, with the words “Have Faith” proudly
embroidered on the back. While she visits the cancer center for check-ups on a bimonthly basis, she has no active cancer cells.
Brenda noticed there was something wrong when she started experiencing an
extreme sense of smell for small periods of time. She visited her ear, nose and throat
specialist, who informed her that she was having olfactory seizures caused by a brain
tumor.
Brenda says from that point forward, coming to MD Anderson was the only option.
“I knew it was the best place to go for cancer treatment. I didn’t need to look
anywhere else.”
During her treatment at MD Anderson, Brenda had surgery, six weeks of radiation
and chemotherapy. Because her brain tumor was close to her right eye, she knew
that blindness was a potential risk of the radiation. Her doctors were able to spare
her eyesight; however, she now suffers from double vision. In spite of this side effect,
Brenda is an avid golfer. Not playing was never an option. She proudly says today,
“Cancer can’t take away my joy.”
When making tough decisions about her treatment and the potential risks, Brenda
states that she chose life. She trusted in MD Anderson to guide her on this journey.
While she admits that adjusting to life with double vision was challenging, it is her
strong faith, spirit, humor, wit and tenacity that she attributes to her successful
treatment. She reports that the treatment was the easiest part. She knew that her
doctors would take excellent care of her and had trust in her care at MD Anderson.
When asked if she could send a message to a newly diagnosed patient, Brenda
promptly pulls out her phone, filled with inspirational messages serving as a
reminder to herself. “Your spirit is bigger and stronger than cancer,” she reads.
“Cancer is only a word. Believe in yourself, never lose hope, and never, never,
never give up!”
page 7
Thoracic stereotactic radiation therapy team reaches
treatment milestone: 1,000 patients served
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an image-guided, highly focused
approach that delivers radiation in relatively large fractions over a short period of
time. Its goal is to kill cancer cells, while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy
tissues. SBRT can deliver biologically effective doses (BEDs) in excess of 100 Gy within
one week, compared with 72-84 Gy (BED) for conventional radiation over 6-7 weeks.
The SBRT program began at MD Anderson in 2004. The number of patients treated
with this therapy has increased by an average of 21% per year for the past five years.
Last year alone, more than 300 patients were treated. The program is composed of a
team of 11 radiation oncologists, six radiation physicists, 11 dosimetrists, 12 radiation
therapists and four registered nurses.
In April 2012, the 1,000th lung cancer patient was treated with SBRT — the highest
number of lung cancer patients treated with this modality at a single institution in the
world.
400
Stereotactic body radiation therapy
patient volumes per year
363
350
300
300
250
215
174
200
152
150
133
100
A four-dimensional CT scan assesses the tumor’s motion while SBRT beams are
designed based on the patient’s breathing pattern. The treatment machine uses builtin imaging capabilities to adjust for daily variations of tumor movement and set-up.
The role of SBRT in operable early stage lung cancer is under clinical investigation.
MD Anderson lists seven SBRT clinical trials, including a randomized study
to compare SBRT with surgical resection in operable early stage lung cancer.
Additionally, a National Institutes of Health P01 grant supports a randomized study
comparing proton-based SBRT with photon-based SBRT in recurrent or centrally
located lung cancer.
To improve SBRT practitioner knowledge, performance, clinical management and
research, an international Symposium on Stereotactic Radiotherapy will be held at
MD Anderson Houston, in October 2013.
page 8
SBRT delivers a highly focused radiation dose (in red)
to a tumor in the right lung.
2012
2011
2010
2008
2008
8
2007
0
79
41
2005
50
2004
In addition to medically inoperable early stage lung cancer, SBRT has been used
for recurrent or multi-primary lung cancers, and has achieved outstanding local
control, representing a potential cure. Patients with lung, liver, adrenal and spinal
metastases have been treated with similar approaches with higher than a 90%
local control rate when the dose is adequate.
2006
Joe Y. Chang, M.D., M.S., Ph.D., associate professor and operations chief of
Thoracic Radiation Oncology and director of the SBRT program, says that the
minimal side effects and shorter treatment time are just a few of the benefits. It
is optimal for patients who aren’t candidates for surgery. Prior to SBRT, most of
these patients had very poor life expectancy. Our follow-up patients demonstrate
no evidence of disease for years. More important, SBRT achieves a 98% local
control rate with a significantly improved cure rate for patients diagnosed with
early stage non-small cell lung cancer.
Joe Y. Chang, M.D., M.S., Ph.D.
Gamma Knife® expands to The Woodlands
Since 2004, MD Anderson has provided convenient quality
cancer care on the campus of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital.
In 2011, MD Anderson’s Division of Radiation Oncology and
St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital neurosurgery department began
a collaboration to expand services to meet the needs of patients
in Montgomery County with one of the most technologically
advanced therapies for treating brain disorders. Gamma Knife®
radiosurgery is a well-established treatment method that delivers
high doses of radiation to targeted areas of the brain, while
minimizing exposure to healthy brain tissue. The treatment is noninvasive and can be performed in a single session in a matter of
hours.
Our faculty and physicists provide clinical oversight for the
radiation treatment delivery, ensuring that patients receive
treatment using the same guidelines, standards, processes and
procedures established for all MD Anderson patients. Our
multidisciplinary treatment team consists of a local neurosurgeon,
radiation oncologists, medical physicists, mid-level providers and
nursing staff.
In FY 2012, the Gamma Knife® medical team at The Woodlands
facility treated 130 patients with a wide range of primary benign and
metastatic tumors, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Acoustic neuromas
Arterio venous malformations
Brain metastases
Chordomas
Choroid plexus tumors
Craniopharyngiomas
Ependymomas
Germ cell tumors
Recurrent gliomas
Medulloblastomas
Meningiomas
Pineal gland tumors
Pituitary tumors
Trigeminal neuralgia
For more information, contact the MD Anderson Regional Care Center in The Woodlands at 713-563-0050.
page 9
Our people
Awards and accomplishments
Our world-renowned faculty are regularly recognized by their professional peers
and the national news media. Many have received research grant funding from a
variety of highly competitive award programs. Nineteen of our physicians were
named in the U.S. News and World Report Top Doctors list in 2012. Other awards
and accomplishments are highlighted below.
• Matthew Ballo, M.D.
➢ 2011 Excellence in Cancer Patient Education Award from the Cancer Patient Education Network for the “Road to Wellness Program”
Radiation oncologists named in
the U.S. News and World Report
list of Top Doctors in 2012
Kie-Kian Ang, M.D. Ph.D.
Thomas Buchholz, M.D.
James Cox, M.D.
Christopher Crane, M.D.
Patricia Eifel, M.D.
Steven Frank, M.D.
B. Ashleigh Guadagnolo, M.D.
•
Thomas Buchholz, M.D.
Elected to become Fellow of ASTRO at 2012 Meeting
Selected as co-chair for the Breast Cancer Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute
• James Cox, M.D.
➢ Distinguished Lecturer Award from Gilbert H. Fletcher Society
Anuja Jhingran, M.D.
Ritsuko Komaki, M.D.
Deborah Kuban, M.D.
Andrew Lee, M.D.
Zhongxing Liao, M.D.
Anita Mahajan, M.D.
Moshe Maor, M.D.
• Amit K. Garg M.D.; Almon S. Shiu, Ph.D.; James Yang, Ph.D.; Xin-Shelley Wang, M.D.; Pamela Allen, Ph.D.; Barry W. Brown, Ph.D.; Patricia
Grossman, R.N.; Erik K. Frija, M.A.; Mary F. McAleer, M.D., Ph.D.; Syed Azeem, M.D.; Paul Brown, M.D., Laurence D. Rhines, M.D.; Eric L. Chang, M.D.
➢ Best of ASTRO Presentation
“Phase I/II Trial of Single Session Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for
Un-irradiated Spinal Metastases”
• William Hanson, Ph.D.
2012 Marvin D. Williams Professional Achievement Award (to be presented at upcoming AAPM Meeting in August 2013)
• Ritsuko Komaki, M.D.
➢ Distinguished Emeritus Membership, National Council of Radiation Protection and Measurements
• Mary Martel, Ph.D.
➢ ASTRO Board co-chair, Research Council
Elected as Research Council member for ASTRO
• Bruce Minsky, M.D.
Selected as co-chair for the Gastrointestinal Cancer Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute
page 10
Mary McAleer, M.D., Ph.D.
Bruce Minsky, M.D.
William Morrison, M.D.
George Perkins, M.D.
David Rosenthal, M.D.
Introducing Bruce D. Minsky, M.D.
Director of clinical research, Department of
Radiation Oncology
In 2012, we welcomed Bruce D. Minsky, M.D., as director of
clinical research for the Department of Radiation Oncology.
In this new role, he will help focus the research efforts within
the department, while also mentoring junior faculty.
“My goal is to focus our clinical research portfolio so it is
efficient, productive and innovative. Furthermore, I will help
the junior faculty develop investigator-initiated trials,” he
says. “Our junior faculty are our greatest resource and hold
the promise for the next generation of cancer discovery.
Their mentoring is central to the success of our division and
institution.”
Radiation Oncology has a strong clinical research program
with more than 60 active clinical trials. As Minsky sees it, “It
is a wonderful challenge and opportunity to help manage
an already outstanding departmental research portfolio
and make it even better. I will work collaboratively with our
research staff and service chiefs to achieve this. We are starting
from a clear position of strength.”
Minsky received his medical degree from the University of
Massachusetts and completed an internship at New England
Deaconess Hospital, followed by a residency in radiation
therapy at Harvard Joint Center for Radiation Therapy. He
spent 20 years at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center,
ending his tenure there as vice chairman of Radiation
Oncology. He moved to the University of Chicago in 2007
and served as a professor of radiation and cellular oncology
and associate dean. In 2004, Minsky received a medical degree
honoris causa from Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen,
Germany, in recognition of his work in gastrointestinal
cancers. He is an editorial board member of several journals
and has served on the board of directors of the American
Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society for
Therapeutic Radiology.
In addition to his role as director of clinical research, Minsky
is an attending faculty member on the Gastrointestinal
Service. He also was named deputy division head for the
Division of Radiation Oncology in September 2012.
page 11
Monica Campbell, recipient of the 2012 Cattlemen for Cancer Research Hero Award
In 2010, the Cattlemen for Cancer Research (CCR) rolled out an annual award to honor an MD Anderson clinician or scientist for
outstanding contributions to the care of patients from Central Texas. This year, the CCR proudly presented the 2012 Cattlemen for
Cancer Research Hero Award to Monica Campbell, a clinical nurse in the Radiation Oncology Gynecology Clinic.
Campbell is more than a skilled professional; she embodies the heart and soul of compassionate care. Grateful patient and uterine
cancer survivor Lisa Patton says she knew her health was in good hands with her.
“During the first contact I had with her, she immediately put me at ease.” Patton was impressed with Campbell’s knowledge and her
manner, noting that “you feel more like you are with a good friend than a patient.”
Campbell also felt the connection with Patton and her family. “I truly believe after meeting Lisa and her family that I am helping to
make cancer history.” Patton could not agree more.
“Monica Campbell made an uncertain and depressing time one of pleasantness and happiness,” says Patton, adding that Campbell
made even the thought of cancer therapies easier to handle. “While it is a happy day when you receive your last treatment, it was also
kind of sad because I would not be getting to see her as often,” Patton says.
Though her treatment was in 2009, she and Campbell still exchange cards and phone calls, especially in January, their shared birthday
month.
For Campbell, every patient represents a chance to touch a life — and a reminder of the values her parents instilled in her when she was
young. “I learned a long time ago from my parents to treat others like you want to be treated,” she says. “So, all my patients are VIPs.”
Lisa Patton presents Monica Campbell with the 2012 Cattlemen for Cancer award.
page 12
MyLinh Thi Duong, Ph.D., receives the
2012 Alfred G. Knudson, Jr. Outstanding Dissertation Award
The recipient of the 2012 Alfred G. Knudson, Jr. Outstanding Dissertation Award is MyLinh Thi Duong, Ph.D., who received her doctor
of philosophy degree in May 2012. Her dissertation was titled “LMW-E Mediates Mammary Tumorigenesis by Deregulating Acinar
Morphogenesis and Generating Cancer Stem Cells.” Her faculty adviser was Khandan Keyomarsi, Ph.D., professor in the Department of
Experimental Radiation Oncology and the Hubert L. and Lover Stronger Professor in Medical Oncology.
Duong was born in Vietnam in 1983, moved with her family to Houston while in middle school and graduated from Northbrook High
School, where a chemistry teacher inspired her to consider a career in science. After graduating magna cum laude from Rice University
with a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry and cell biology in 2006, she enrolled in The University of Texas Graduate School of
Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) with the goal of conducting cancer research at MD Anderson.
“When I finished rotating through Dr. Keyomarsi’s lab in 2007, I asked her to
be my mentor. Working with her since then on research exploring the role of
low molecular weight cyclin E in breast cancer has been very interesting and
rewarding. She is a wonderful mentor,” Duong says.
Keyomarsi describes Duong as “a creative, resourceful, productive and analytical
young scientist” with “a very bright future in the field of breast cancer research”
and considers her in the top 1% of the many graduate students she has directly
mentored or advised on committees in the last 15 years. Keyomarsi also directs
MD Anderson’s prestigious Translational Research in Multidisiplinary Programs
(TRIUMPH) Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program.
At the GSBS, Duong’s original research was recognized with several major
awards, including the 2008-2010 American Legion Auxiliary Fellowship in
Cancer Research and the 2011 Andrew Sowell-Wade Huggins Scholarship.
She was chosen for platform presentations at the Department of Defense Era
of Hope conference and for several poster presentations at other scientific
conferences, plus she contributed to four papers in peer-reviewed publications.
MyLinh Thi Duong, Ph.D., and MD Anderson
President Ronald DePinho, M.D.
Duong explains that cyclin E is the regulatory subunit of the cyclin E/CDK2
complex that mediates the G1-S phase transition. Her research was based on her hypothesis that overexpression of LMW-E but
not full-length cyclin E into normal mammary epithelial cells resulted in tumorigenicity. Using both cell lines and mouse models,
she demonstrated that LMW-E mediates significant morphological disruption, including enlargement of the Acinar structures and
formation of multi-complexes. Proteomic comparison between breast cancer patient tissues with high LMW-E expression and LMW-E
tumor cells cultures on Matrigel identified the activation of a key pathway in concert with high LMW-E expression served as prediction
factors for poor patient survival. Data from these and additional studies collectively show the strong oncogenic potential of MNW-E in
mammary tumorigenesis and suggest promising therapeutic strategies to treat breast cancer patients with high LMW-E expression.
page 13
Our training programs
MD Anderson continually promotes education of
all health professionals. The Division of Radiation
Oncology provides opportunities for education
and training through key training programs,
including: Residency Program, the School of Health
Professions Dosimetry Program, the School of Health
Professional Radiation Therapy Program, Medical
Physics Residency Program, Radiation Physics
Advanced Training Fellowship, Fellowship Training
Program and the Medical Physics Graduate Program.
The MD Anderson Radiation Physics Residency
Program provides structured, comprehensive
education and training in a clinical environment to
medical physicists who wish to practice professional
radiation physics. The program is reviewed every five
years by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical
Physics Educational Programs and has been in a good
standing since initial accreditation in 2006.
Physics residents, under the supervision of boardcertified medical physicists, participate in clinical
duties, including clinical development. At the
conclusion of the two-year program, our physics
residents are prepared for the American Board of
Radiology (ABR) Therapeutic Radiological Physics
certification examination.
The program has graduated 15 residents, who are either ABR certified or progressing toward this certification. The majority of
graduates of this residency program are working in academic radiation oncology departments across the United States.
page 14
Meet Adam Melancon, Ph.D.
As a child, Adam Melancon, Ph.D., wanted to be a pop star.
More specifically, he wanted to be Michael Jackson. As the
years passed and his math and science skills outweighed his
singing and dancing abilities, he knew he wanted a career
where he could help others.
His joy of math and science led Melancon to pursue a
physics degree at Louisiana Southern University. At the
closing of his program, a friend of the family who designs
medical devices suggested that he look into the Radiation
Physics Training Fellowship at MD Anderson. When asked
why MD Anderson, Melancon responded, “There was no
doubt that MD Anderson was the best program and place to
be.”
With more than 8,208 patients who received radiation therapy in
FY 2012 MD Anderson demonstrates a level of exposure unique
to the nation’s leading cancer center. Trainees gain experience
managing the quality assurance and maintenance of a variety of
treatment machines for radiation oncology.
Under the stewardship of Ron Zhu, Ph.D., and Rajat
Kudchadker, Ph.D., Melancon enjoyed his residency with
MD Anderson. Being a part of the training program afforded
him the opportunity to work with a great team, and most of all,
accomplish his dream and goal of helping patients.
Luckily for MD Anderson patients, Melancon joined the Breast
Service as a faculty member in June 2012 and is looking forward
to future innovations and research to play his part in
MD Anderson’s mission of Making Cancer History.®
page
page 15
Our research
“For our patients to receive the maximum benefit from radiation therapy with
minimal side effects, we have to understand how the cells of the body react to
radiation and, subsequently, repair themselves.”
— Thomas Buchholz, M.D., head, Division of Radiation Oncology
From its earliest days, MD Anderson has encouraged the study and application of
radiation oncology as an effective curative and organ-preserving cancer treatment.
The Division of Radiation Oncology is a cornerstone of cancer treatment at the
institution. Scientists at MD Anderson continue to be at the forefront of developing
and acquiring the technology that overcame many of the physical disadvantages of
previous X-ray-based therapies. For more than 70 years, MD Anderson has made
many contributions to the fight against cancer through innovative technology and
insightful radiobiology.
Justin W. Leung, postdoctoral fellow,
Experimental Radiation Oncology
The division’s faculty have had a significant impact on cancer research and the practice of radiation oncology. The overall goal of the
division’s research program is to improve the therapeutic ratio associated with radiation treatment by adding biological modifiers to
enhance tumor eradication and by reducing the risk of normal tissue injury by improving dose delivery.
Our research themes focus on physical means of tumor targeting via image-guided radiation therapy and proton therapy; investigating
how to best combine radiation with molecular targeted therapy; and seeking biomarkers that will allow greater individualization of
radiation treatments. This has come as a result of basic scientific contributions, translational research, technology development and
implementation, and clinical trials research.
Basic science research
Preclinical research is based in the Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology. Basic science investigators, in conjunction with
collaborators from across MD Anderson, conduct research to enhance the understanding of normal and neoplastic tissue and their
interaction with ionizing radiation and cytotoxic agents. The in vitro (cell) and in vivo (live animal) research is focused on four major
areas: tumor biology, normal tissue radiobiology, cellular and molecular radiobiology, and predictive assays.
Translational research
Bringing laboratory findings to clinical trials is the goal of translational research. For more than four decades, scientists and physicians
in the Division of Radiation Oncology have invested their careers in doing just that.
Clinical research
Bringing together unmatched technology, talents and resources, the Division of Radiation Oncology is on the brink of a new approach
to cancer treatment. Treating 450-500 patients a day, our radiation oncology teams offer a cumulative experience within a specialty
or subspecialty greater than anywhere else. Advances pioneered at MD Anderson include combining radiation therapy with surgery,
chemotherapy, or both in novel ways, as well as image-guided interventions in radiation therapy and proton therapy. This progress is
improving cure rates and reducing the disfigurement and disability caused by the side effects of treatments for several types of cancer
(including prostate, rectum, breast, lung, and head and neck).
page 16
Highlighted publications
In 2012, faculty in the Division of Radiation Oncology published
356 articles. The following five articles are considered particularly
important contributions to the clinical applications of imaging, proton
therapy, molecular-targeted therapy to be used with radiation therapy,
biomarkers of prognosis or toxicity, and health services research.
Castillo R, Castillo E, McCurdy M, Gomez DR, Block AM, Bergsma D,
Joy S, Guerrero T. Spatial correspondence of 4D CT ventilation and
SPECT pulmonary perfusion defects in patients with malignant airway
stenosis. Phys Med Biol 2012 Apr 7;57(7):1855-71. PMID: 22411124.
Creating radiation therapy treatment plans for patients with lung
cancer is challenging for several reasons, including the need to avoid
irradiating adjacent normal tissues, particularly the esophagus, heart and
normal lung. This group of investigators has been working to develop
computed tomography (CT)-based imaging methods that identify areas
of the lungs that have normal ventilatory function, with the goal of
incorporating those methods into the treatment-planning process.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), another
imaging method, is used clinically to identify areas that are not
functioning normally, and where perfusion (blood flow) is reduced.
Combining both of these methods could further improve the accuracy
of radiation treatment planning and delivery. In this study, investigators
compared CT-based ventilation scans with SPECT perfusion scans for
10 patients with lung cancer who were known to have tumors blocking
part of their airway, with the goal of determining how well those two
scans “matched” in terms of revealing functioning vs. non-functioning
lung tissue. They found excellent three-dimensional spatial overlap
agreement between the two types of plans. These findings, representing
the first quantitative assessment of such agreement, suggest that 4D CT
ventilation studies can be used to avoid normally functioning tissue and
to target abnormally tissues in planning thoracic radiation therapy.
Chang JY, Komaki R, Lu C, Wen HY, Allen PK, Tsao A, Gillin M, Mohan
R, Cox JD. Phase 2 study of high-dose proton therapy with concurrent
chemotherapy for unresectable stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer.
Cancer, e-Pub 3/2011. PMCID: PMC3174272.
The current standard therapy for stage III (locally advanced) non-small
cell lung cancer, namely concurrent chemoradiation therapy with photon
therapy is associated with significant toxicity, and produces suboptimal
local control. In this trial, concurrent chemotherapy and high-dose
proton beam therapy was shown to be less toxic and more effective than
conventional photon-based treatments. Although the follow-up time for
patients in this trial is relatively short (median 19.7 months), the total
local failure rate (20.5%) and median survival time (29.4 months) were
encouraging for this relatively common form of lung cancer.
page 17
Crane CH, Varadhachary GR, Yordy JS, Staerkel GA, Javle MM, Safran H, Haque W, Hobbs BD, Krishnan S, Fleming JB, Das P, Lee
JE, Abbruzzese JL, Wolff RA. Phase II trial of cetuximab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin followed by chemoradiation with cetuximab
for locally advanced (T4) pancreatic adenocarcinoma: correlation of Smad4(Dpc4) immunostaining with pattern of disease
progression. J Clin Oncol 29(22):3037-43, 2011. PMCID: PMC3157965.
Treatment options for pancreatic cancer include chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy and surgery. But the best sequencing for these
therapies, and whether adding new targeted therapies to them is beneficial, is unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the safety
and effectiveness of adding the targeted therapy agent cetuximab to gemcitabine and oxaliplatin, followed by chemoradiotherapy
(50.4 Gy plus capecitabine) plus cetuximab for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The addition of cetuximab did seem
to improve median survival somewhat. The median survival of 19.2 months is among the longest reported in patients with localized
pancreatic cancer treated non-surgically. More importantly, perhaps, the findings from this study contradict the widespread perception
that all patients with pancreatic cancer die from distant metastatic disease; rather, they demonstrate that local tumor progression is a
significant cause of death even after chemoradiotherapy. They also suggest that the nature of disease progression (local vs. distant) can
be predicted on the basis of expression of the tumor suppressor gene Smad4(Dpc4) by the tumor.
Moeller BJ, Yordy JS, Williams MD, Giri U, Raju U, Molkentine DP, Byers LA, Heymach JV, Story MD, Lee JJ, Sturgis EM, Weber RS,
Garden AS, Ang KK, Schwartz DL. DNA repair biomarker profiling of head and neck cancer: Ku80 expression predicts locoregional
failure and death following radiotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 17(7):2035-43, 2011. PMCID: PMC3092475.
Radiation, with or without concurrent chemotherapy, is the standard organ-preserving treatment for locally advanced squamous cell
carcinoma of the head and neck. Modest improvements in outcome over the past several decades have led to clinical trials of treatment
intensification. However, the inability to prospectively identify which patients are at particularly high risk of disease progression or
recurrence continues to make such efforts inefficient and expose patients who are at lower risk to unnecessary toxicity. This study
tested whether the expression of proteins involved in DNA repair would predict the response of this type of cancer to radiation. The
results showed that overexpression of Ku80, a key mediator of DNA double-strand-break repair and a mechanistic determinant of
tumor radioresistance, independently predicted both local-regional failure and mortality after radiation, particularly for patients whose
tumors do not express the human papillomavirus. This biomarker may prove useful for identifying which patients would benefit from
treatment intensification.
Smith GL, Xu Y. Buchholz TA, Giordano SH, Jiang J, Shih YCT, Smith BD. Association between treatment with brachytherapy vs
whole-breast irradiation and subsequent mastectomy, complications, and survival among older women with invasive breast cancer.
JAMA 307(17): 1827-1837. 2012. PMID: tbd.ID: 21129062.
Brachytherapy is a form of radiation therapy that uses an implanted radioactive source. The use of brachytherapy to treat early-stage
breast cancer post-lumpectomy has increased substantially in recent years, despite the lack of direct comparisons of the effectiveness
of this form of treatment with the standard treatment, whole-breast irradiation (WBI). Because such comparisons would take years
to report, investigators looked at clinical outcomes of women with breast cancer older than 65 post-breast brachytherapy vs. WBI in a
large, nationwide Medicare database.
They found that the women treated with breast brachytherapy were more likely to need a mastectomy later to control recurrent
disease and more likely to experience complications such as infections and pain. However, no difference in overall survival was found
between the two groups. This work was initially presented at the 2011 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and was later reported by
multiple news outlets, including National Public Radio, ABCNews.com, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles
Times, the Associated Press, Reuters and Medscape.
page 18
Faculty highlights and new initiatives
Intensity-modulated proton radiation therapy for oropharyngeal cancers
Steven J. Frank, M.D., an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, is the lead
clinician in proton therapy development for head and neck tumors. In 2011, he was promoted to
director of Advanced Technologies for Radiation Oncology.
Frank treated the first patient in North America with intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT)
for head and neck tumors. MD Anderson physicists and oncologists have made great progress in
developing IMPT, arguably the most powerful tool available to radiation oncologists for treating
cancers. This treatment modality allows the design and efficient delivery of highly conformal and
homogeneous dose distributions to the target, sparing adjacent normal tissues to a greater degree
than either intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or passively scattered proton therapy.
MD Anderson is the first in the world to establish the clinical feasibility of IMPT for oropharyngeal
tumors. In early 2013, we will begin a Phase III randomized, controlled clinical trial of IMPT versus
IMRT for advanced stage oropharyngeal tumors, which will provide the highest level (Level 1) of
evidence for standard of care treatment guidelines. We believe that through an improved understanding of the unique physical and biologic properties of protons, the therapeutic ratio will be
enhanced beyond that which is currently achievable.
Steven J. Frank, M.D.
To date, the long-term side effects from IMRT treatment may be problematic, with more than 40%
suffering from late complications, which include an inability to swallow (requiring feeding tubes),
dry mouth, loss of taste and teeth, and aspiration resulting in pneumonia and secondary sequelae.
Patients cured of their cancer may have to endure the long-term side effects of their treatment.
Our long-term goal is to improve the standard of care for patients presenting with oropharyngeal
tumors by reducing treatment-related toxicity while maintaining or improving disease control
rates. Using IMPT will eliminate unnecessary radiation exposure to normal tissues (e.g., the oral
cavity, brainstem and salivary glands). We strongly believe that in comparison to IMRT, this reduction in normal tissue exposure to unnecessary radiation will lead to decreased rates of acute and
late toxicities.
page 19
Health services research initiative
FY 2012 saw considerable progress in a new initiative within our division, namely health
services research. Benjamin D. Smith, M.D., and B. Ashleigh Guadagnolo, M.D., are leading
a team of Division of Radiation Oncology faculty (Karen Hoffman, M.D., M.H.Sc., M.P.H.,
Daniel Gomez, M.D., Beth Beadle, M.D., Ph.D., Andrew Lee, M.D., and Prajnan Das, M.D.), in
collaboration with members of the departments of Biostatistics and Breast Medical Oncology,
to develop grant-funded health services research projects investigating tumor and normal
tissue outcomes associated with radiation therapy, health delivery, technology utilization, costeffectiveness and comparative effectiveness.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, Varian Inc., and the Cancer Prevention Research
Institute of Texas, the program has already produced a variety of high-profile articles on a broad
range of topics, including:
`• complications and effectiveness of breast brachytherapy versus whole breast irradiation
(published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and covered by multiple news outlets, including The New York Times and National Public Radio);
• survival improvements in breast cancer for older women (Journal of Clinical Oncology 2011 and covered by ABCNews.com);
• effectiveness of radiation to prevent mastectomy in older women (Cancer 2012 and covered by multiple news outlets, including a front page story in the Houston Chronicle);
• a nomogram to predict benefit of radiation in older women with breast cancer (Journal of
Clinical Oncology 2012); and
• a survey study of integrated urology-radiation oncology practices in the state of Texas
(International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics 2012).
Benjamin D. Smith, M.D.
Smith’s work led to two oral presentations at the 2012 American Society for Radiation
Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting and an oral presentation at the 2012 San Antonio Breast
Cancer Symposium.
His current focus includes evaluating relative benefits and harms associated with breast
brachytherapy in comparison to standard whole-breast irradiation (WBI) patterns of surgical
care in a nationwide cohort of Medicare beneficiaries with incident breast cancer. Smith
publishes extensively on these and other topics in health services.
Smith is chair of the ASTRO Guidelines Committee and has led guideline efforts on accelerated
partial breast irradiation and fractionation for WBI. He also maintains an active radiation
oncology practice on the Breast Service at MD Anderson.
In addition to her active clinical practice on our Melanoma and Sarcoma Service, Guadagnolo
published several important peer-reviewed publications on obstacles to clinical trial enrollment
and barriers to medical screening and medical care among Native Americans. She co-chaired the
American Cancer Society’s Patient Navigation Leadership Summit to redefine policy-relevant metrics for patient navigation in cancer care.
Guadagnolo’s other interests include clinical research on outcomes following treatment of melanoma and sarcoma, and the use of radiation therapy at the end of life. The latter was recently awarded
an NCI-funded R21 grant to further study the use of radiation at the end of life.
page 20
B. Ashleigh Guadagnolo, M.D.
Our departments
Our structure
The Division of Radiation Oncology is composed of the departments of Radiation Oncology, Experimental Radiation Oncology and
Radiation Physics.
Division of
Radiation Oncology
Provost and executive vice president ad interim and division head,
Thomas Buchholz, M.D.,
Deputy division head and clinical research director, Bruce Minsky, M.D.
Division administrator, Robin Famiglietti, M.B.A., F.A.C.H.E.
Department of
Radiation Oncology
Department of
Radiation Physics
Department of
Experimental Radiation
Oncology
Employees: 507
Employees: 225
Employees: 122
Chair, Thomas Buchholz, M.D.
Chair, Geoffrey Ibbott, Ph.D.
Chair, Junjie Chen, Ph.D.
Division of Radiation
Oncology
The Division of Radiation
Oncology’s leadership
provides operational,
clinical and administrative
oversight for all patient
care functions, treatment
facilities and equipment
in the division. Our
scope encompasses the
main campus, the Proton
Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D.,
Bruce D. Minsky, M.D.,
Robin Famiglietti, M.B.A., F.A.C.H.E.,
Therapy Center, regional
provost and executive vice president deputy division head
division administrator
care centers, and our
ad interim and division head
facilities in Gilbert, Ariz.,
Albuquerque, N.M.,
Orlando, Fla., and Istanbul, Turkey. Our division has more than 850 employees, many of whom are involved in various aspects of
patient care, training, academics, education, and clinical and laboratory research.
page 21
Department of Radiation Oncology
Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D., chair, division head, and provost and
executive vice president ad interim
The Department of Radiation Oncology, the largest of the three departments
within the Division of Radiation Oncology, has 67 faculty, 22 residents, four fellows, four postdoctoral fellows and four graduate students. Nurses, dosimetrists,
mid-level providers, physicists, radiation therapists, patient services coordinators,
dietitians, rehabilitation specialists and social workers support the team and help
navigate patients through the continuum of care.
Many of MD Anderson’s radiation oncologists have piloted novel treatments and
translated that knowledge to clinical practice. Their multidisciplinary approach
brings together a team that includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists,
pathologists and surgeons.
Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D.
Patient care, research, education and outreach missions comprise the department’s overarching
structure. Currently, the division’s outreach locations include four regional care centers in the
metropolitan Houston area, as well as centers in New Mexico, Florida, Arizona and Turkey.
Breast Service
Wendy A. Woodward, M.D., Ph.D., section chief
Clinical faculty
Thomas Buchholz, M.D.
Karen Hoffman, M.D., M.H.Sc., M.P.H.
George Perkins, M.D.
Simona Shaitelman, M.D., Ed.M.
Benjamin Smith, M.D.
Michael Stauder, M.D.
Eric Strom, M.D.
Welela Tereffe, M.D., M.P.H.
Wendy A. Woodward, M.D., Ph.D.
The Breast Service faculty treat all types of breast cancer, including primary
and metastatic tumors. They collaborate with surgeons, pathologists, medical oncologists and
radiologists to ensure optimal treatment is provided for every patient.
page 22
Central Nervous System and Pediatric Service
Paul D. Brown, M.D., co-section chief
Anita Mahajan, M.D., co-section chief
Clinical faculty
Amol Ghia, M.D.
David Grosshans, M.D., Ph.D.
Jing Li, M.D., Ph.D.
Mary Fran McAleer, M.D., Ph.D.
Susan L. McGovern, M.D., Ph.D.
Steven H. Settle, M.D., Ph.D.
Eric P. Sulman, M.D., Ph.D.
The CNS radiation oncology faculty treat all primary and metastatic
central nervous system tumors. They collaborate with neuro-oncologists,
neurosurgeons, interventional neuro-radiologists, neuro-pathologists,
radiation physicists, mid-level providers and nurses with expertise in
treating brain and spinal cord cancers. The treatment team uses a myriad
of radiation therapy modalities to treat central nervous system tumors,
including conventional radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation
therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic spine radiation therapy,
brachytherapy and proton therapy.
The physicians responsible for managing pediatric tumors are experienced
in the use of total body irradiation in preparation for bone marrow or stem
cell transplants. The group treats all pediatric tumors that require radiation
therapy, including medulloblastoma, ependymomas, astrocytomas and
brain stem gliomas, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, Hodgkin disease,
retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma, Wilms’ tumors, leukemia and rare tumors.
Paul D. Brown, M.D.
Anita Mahajan, M.D.
Gastrointestinal Service
Christopher Crane, M.D., section chief (Residency Program director)
Clinical faculty
Prajnan Das, M.D., M.S., M.P.H. (chief quality officer)
Marc Delclos, M.D. (medical director, radiation oncology
mid-level providers)
Sunil Krishnan, M.D.
Bruce Minsky, M.D.
The gastrointestinal radiation oncologists prescribe customized radiation
treatment, including conformal, intensity-modulated radiation therapy,
proton therapy, brachytherapy and intraoperative therapy to treat a variety
of gastrointestinal cancers, including stomach, pancreas, colon, rectum,
anal canal, liver and biliary ducts.
Christopher Crane, M.D.
page 23
Genitourinary Service
Deborah Kuban, M.D., section chief
Clinical faculty
Seungtaek Choi, M.D.
Steven J. Frank, M.D.
Karen Hoffman, M.D., M.H.Sc., M.P.H.
Andrew K. Lee, M.D., M.P.H.
Usama Mahmood, M.D.
Sean E. McGuire, M.D., Ph.D.
Thomas J. Pugh, M.D.
Radiation oncologists in this service treat cancers of the genitourinary (GU) tract such
as prostate, bladder, testis and kidney, either as a primary treatment or in combination
with surgery and hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. Forms of treatment include
external beam radiation, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided
radiation therapy, brachytherapy and proton therapy.
Deborah Kuban, M.D.
Gynecologic Service
Patricia Eifel, M.D., section chief
Clinical faculty
Anuja Jhingran, M.D.
Ann Klopp, M.D., Ph.D.
The gynecologic radiation oncology team provides treatment for common and rare
cancers of the cervix, ovaries, uterus (endometrium), vagina and vulva via external
beam radiation therapy as well as brachytherapy.
Patricia Eifel, M.D.
Head and Neck Service
David I. Rosenthal, M.D., section chief
Clinical faculty
K. Kian Ang, M.D., Ph.D.
Beth Beadle, M.D., Ph.D.
Steven J. Frank, M.D.
C. David Fuller, M.D.
Adam Garden, M.D.
Brandon Gunn, M.D.
William H. Morrison, M.D.
Jack Phan, M.D., Ph.D.
Head and neck radiation oncology service members work in concert with the overall
multi-disciplinary team to personalize therapeutic options, optimize survival, and
maximize functional outcomes and quality of life. Radiation treatment plans are
designed to maximize cancer control and survival, while minimizing potential side
effects. Head and neck cancers that can be treated with radiation include those located David I. Rosenthal, M.D.
in the oral cavity (e.g., lips, hard palate, tongue, gums, floor of mouth), nasopharynx,
oropharynx (tonsil, posterior tongue, soft palate), larynx, hypopharynx, nasal cavity and paranasal
sinuses, salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and minor glands), thyroid, skin and eye. Stateof-the-art forms of treatment for these malignancies include external beam radiation, intensitymodulated radiation therapy, brachytherapy and proton therapy.
page 24
Lymphoma Service
Bouthania Dabaja, M.D., section chief
Clinical faculty
Chelsea Pinnix, M.D., Ph.D.
Valerie Reed, M.D.
The radiation oncology lymphoma team includes specialists in treating lymphoma and
other cancers of the blood, including multiple myeloma and leukemia.
Melanoma/Sarcoma Service
Bouthania Dabaja, M.D.
Gunar Zagars, M.D., section chief
Clinical faculty
B. Ashleigh Guadagnolo, M.D., M.P.H.
When the team of melanoma and sarcoma specialists determine treatment options for
their patients, radiation therapy is often part of the recommendations.
Thoracic Service
Ritsuko Komaki, M.D., section chief and program director
Gloria Lupton Tennsion, Endowed Distinguished Professor in Lung Cancer Research
Clinical faculty
Joe Y. Chang, M.D., Ph.D.
(Operations chief)
James D. Cox, M.D.
Daniel Gomez, M.D.
Thomas Guerrero, M.D., Ph.D.
Melenda Jeter, M.D., M.P.H.
Gunar Zagars, M.D.
Zhongxing Liao, M.D.
(Center medical director)
Steven H. Lin, M.D., Ph.D.
Quynh-Nhu Nguyen, M.D.
Michael S. O’Reilly, M.D.
Heath Skinner, M.D., Ph.D.
James Welsh, M.D.
The thoracic radiation oncology team provides state-of-the-art care and treatment for
patients diagnosed with lung and esophageal cancers, thymic carcinoma, malignant
mesothelioma and thymoma. The team also treats tumors that metastasize to the lung,
adrenal glands and brain.
Ritsuko Komaki, M.D.
The service uses a variety of specialized techniques such as 4D simulation, and various
treatment modalities such as intensity-modulated proton treatment, passive scattering proton
treatment, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, three-dimensional radiation therapy and stereotactic
body radiation therapy. It employs image-guided radiation therapy and combined moleculartargeted treatment.
The Thoracic Service was selected as an integral part of MD Anderson’s new Moon Shots Program
for translational research through collaboration in prevention, early detection and clinical
improvement of lung cancer treatment.
page 25
Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology
Junjie Chen, Ph.D., chair
Pam Jones, M.B.A., department administrator
Laboratories by principal investigator
K. Kian Ang, M.D., Ph.D.*
Uma Raju, Ph.D.
Li Wang, M.D., Ph.D.
Junjie Chen, Ph.D.
Zihua Gong, Ph.D.
Jingsong Yuan, Ph.D.
Boyi Gan, Ph.D.
David Grosshans, M.D., Ph.D.*
Thomas Guerrero, M.D., Ph.D.*
Khandan Keyomarsi, Ph.D.
Said Akli, Ph.D.
Cansu Karakas, M.D.
Ann Klopp, M.D.*
Sunil Krishnan, M.D.*
Amit Deorukhkar, Ph.D.
Parmeswaran Diagaradjane, Ph.D.
Shanta Shettarai, Ph.D.
Lei Li, Ph.D.
Li Ma, Ph.D.
Kathryn Mason, M.S.
Marvin Meistrich, Ph.D.
Gunapala Shetty, Ph.D.
Wei Zhou, Ph.D.
Raymond Meyn, Ph.D.
Junjie Chen, Ph.D.
Yong Bae Kim, M.D.
Luka Milas, M.D., Ph.D.
Michael O’Reilly, M.D.*
Jae-il Park, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Travis, Ph.D.
James Welsh, M.D.*
Wendy Woodward, M.D., Ph.D.*
Bisrat Debeb, Ph.D.
*Holds joint appointment with the Department of Radiation Oncology
Pam Jones, M.B.A.
Experimental Radiation Oncology
at-a-glance
Faculty Visiting scientists
Administrative staff
Technical staff Trainees
21
3
11
36
50
Sponsored research funding
$5,407,000
Major research emphasis
The Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology is the laboratory-based basic and translational research arm of the Division
of Radiation Oncology. Research encompasses the biology of tumor and normal-tissue interactions with radiation and other agents
used for cancer treatment. In vitro and in vivo research ranges from genetics, cell biology and biochemistry to proteomics and system
biology. Investigations include studies on DNA damage repair, metastasis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, transcription, invasion, cancer stem
cells, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, signaling, biomarkers and resistance to therapy.
Researchers maintain close ties to physicians in many clinical departments, as well as to other basic science departments within
MD Anderson. Faculty members in the department are investigators on extramural grants that are exploring cancers of the head and
neck, pancreas, breast, prostate and lung. In addition, the department’s laboratories support translational research for 14 physicianscientists with clinical duties in the Department of Radiation Oncology, facilitating the exchange of clinically relevant information
between the laboratory and the clinic.
Experimental Radiation Oncology provides a Specific-Pathogen Free Barrier Animal Colony, an Association for Assessment and
Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AALAC)-certified breeding and housing center. It is located adjacent to but separate from
the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery on the main campus. The facility is the single largest provider of SPF-defined flora
nude mice for MD Anderson investigators.
In addition to their research, the faculty members are dedicated to educating and training the next generation of radiation therapy
investigators and making a difference in the lives of patients with cancer. The department emphasizes training of students and
postdoctoral fellows, as well as clinical fellows and residents in the fundamentals of tumor biology to improve the outcomes of patients
with malignancies. Faculty provide leadership to an institution-wide program, Translational Research in Multi-Disciplinary Programs
(TRIUMPH) for postdoctoral fellows. This program mirrors the physician-scientist training for medical doctors by training recent
Ph.D. graduates in translational/clinical research.
page 26
Department of Radiation Physics
Geoffrey Ibbott, Ph.D., chair
Patrick Browning, J.D., M.H.A., department administrator
Clinical faculty
Peter Almond, Ph.D.
Michalis Aristphanous, Ph.D.
Peter Balter, Ph.D.
Sam Beddar, Ph.D.
Tina Briere, Ph.D.
Laurence Court, Ph.D.
Richard Castillo, Ph.D.
Weiliang Du, Ph.D.
David Followill, Ph.D.
Song Gao, Ph.D.
Kent Gifford, Ph.D.
Michael Gillin, Ph.D.
Rebecca Howell, Ph.D.
Yoshifumi Hojo, Ph.D.
Stephen Kry, Ph.D.
Rajat Kudchadker, Ph.D.
Heng Li, Ph.D.
Wei Liu, Ph.D.
Dershan Luo, Ph.D.
Mary Martel, Ph.D.
Adam David Melancon, Ph.D.
Dragan Mirkovic, Ph.D.
Radhe Mohan, Ph.D.
Christopher Lee Nelson, Ph.D.
Falk Poenisch, Ph.D.
Julianne Pollard, Ph.D.
Narayan Sahoo, Ph.D.
Mohammad Salehpour, Ph.D.
Almon Shiu, Ph.D.
Marilyn Stovall, Ph.D.
Yelin Suh, Ph.D.
Kazumichi Suzuki, Ph.D.
Phillip Taddei, Ph.D.
Ramesh Tailor, Ph.D.
Uwe Titt, Ph.D.
Sastry Vedam, Ph.D.
Catherine Wang, Ph.D.
Congjun Wang, Ph.D.
Xiaochun Wang, Ph.D.
Xin Wang, Ph.D.
Zhifei Weng, Ph.D.
James Yang, Ph.D.
Sean Zhang, Ph.D.
Xiaodong Zhang, Ph.D.
Zhongziang Zhao, Ph.D.
Ronald Zhu, Ph.D.
Patrick Browning, J.D., M.H.A.
Clinical staff
Fracisco Aguirre, M.S.
Paola Elisa Alvarez, M.S.
Richard Amos, M.S.
Gary Fisher, M.S.
Mark Garcia, M.S.
Robert Gastorf, M.S.
Jennifer Johnson, M.S.
Steve Kirsner, M.S.
Kelly Kisling, M.S.
Ann Lawyer, M.S.
Jessica Leif, M.S.
MingFwu Lii, M.S.
Geoffrey Ibbott, Ph.D.
Mark Marshall, M.S.
Bryan Mason, M.S.
Andrea Molineu, M.S.
Laura-Ann Rechner, M.S.
Ronald Cole Robinson, M.S.
Ramaswamy Sadagopan, M.S.
Paige Summers, M.S.
Tzouh-Liang Sun, M.S.
Samuel Tung, M.S.
Pei-Fong Wong, M.S.
Richard Wu, M.S.
page 27
Key components
The Department of Radiation Physics provides
research-driven, safe, accurate and high-quality patient
care in collaboration with radiation oncologists. Faculty
members in Radiation Physics conduct research and
drive technology development to advance the delivery
of radiation therapy. In conjunction with The University
of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the
department provides master’s and Ph.D. degrees in
medical physics. The Radiation Oncology Medical
Physics Residency Program is a two-year clinical
training program for medical physicists.
Radiation Physics is home to the National Cancer
Institute-funded Radiological Physics Center. The center
supports clinical trials and cooperative research groups
to ensure that institutions participating in clinical trials
deliver prescribed radiation doses that are clinically
comparable and consistent.
Major research programs
A Fletcher Williamson ovoid applicator is being prepped for use during brachytherapy.
Research in the department focuses on:
• image-guided radiation therapy and adaptive interventions for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton therapy;
• physical and clinical aspects of proton therapy;
• intensity-modulated X-ray and intensity-molulated proton therapy;
• radiation dose-response assessment, modeling and applications;
• radiation dosimetry, including the use of advanced point and volumetric dosimeters for photon and proton quality assurance and in vivo dosimetry;
• application of Monte Carlo, pseudo Monte Carlo and deterministic methods to improve and enhance existing treatment and
design novel treatment devices;
• assessment of risks of radiation-induced secondary cancers for photon and proton radiation therapy; and
• epidemiologic studies of radiation carcinogenesis.
In FY 2012, sponsored research funding totaled $14.4 million. The department’s research is supported by internal and external sources.
Accolades and accomplishments
Faculty and staff in the Department of Radiation Physics received accolades from their peers for several articles published in one of the
profession’s most respected scientific journals, Physics in Medicine and Biology. Topics include the following:
• creating new methods for simplifying calculations of dose distribution from scanning proton beams or calculating photon-based radiation doses;
• evaluating how removing a filter from an accelerator device affects radiation exposure outside the intended treatment field;
• developing a new-generation frameless stereotactic radiosurgery system;
• evaluating spatial accuracy in deformable image registration, a type of automation for visualizing tumors and surrounding normal tissues; and
• estimating the risks of secondary cancers in children being treated with proton therapy for craniospinal tumors.
Funding for these and other applied research projects was received from a variety of sources, including Varian Medical Systems, the
Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas and the MD Anderson Sister Institution Network.
page 28
Our centers
Proton Therapy Center
Anita Mahajan, M.D., medical director
A pioneer in radiation oncology and cancer care,
MD Anderson has been a leader in developing new and
effective radiation therapy options to treat more types
of cancer than any other center in the world. The Proton
Therapy Center at MD Anderson is an international center
of excellence for proton therapy, research and education,
standing as the first and only proton therapy facility located
within a comprehensive cancer center.
As one of the busiest centers in the nation, the clinical
team constantly explores new frontiers in proton therapy
to extend its benefits to a wide range of cancers. Physicians
treat many types of cancers with proton therapy, including
brain, esophageal, head and neck, lung, lymphoma and
prostate, as well as childhood tumors. In fact, the Proton
Therapy Center has one of the most active pediatric proton
therapy center care teams in North America.
Advanced technologies are matched with a highly skilled
and experienced cancer care team that includes radiation
oncologists, research nurses, registered nurses, radiation
therapists, medical dosimetrists, physicists, mid-level
providers and other cancer professionals who work to
provide an individualized treatment plan for each patient’s
unique cancer. The multidisciplinary team includes a
dedicated, on-site pediatric anesthesia team, registered
dietician, child life specialist, and social worker to provide
specialized care for children with cancer.
The center believes in accelerating scientific discoveries
through basic and translational research, and has made an
immeasurable contribution to the way proton therapy has
evolved as a treatment option for many types of rare and
difficult-to-treat cancers. It has been at the forefront of
developing sophisticated forms of proton therapy such as
spot-scanning proton therapy (also known as pencil-beam
scanning proton therapy) and intensity-modulated proton
therapy (IMPT). It is the only center in North America and
only one of three centers worldwide to offer these advanced
technologies to help patients overcome cancer.
Need new pic
Anita Mahajan, M.D., visits with a patient at the Proton Therapy Center.
page 29
Regional care centers
When patients or referring physicians choose one of MD Anderson’s regional care centers
(RCC), they are treated by MD Anderson-trained faculty who provide the same quality of
care as the main campus. The RCC radiation oncology physician faculty includes:
Matthew Ballo, M.D., service chief, regional care centers (Bay Area)
Isidora Arzu, M.D., Ph.D. (Sugar Land)
Elizabeth Bloom, M.D. (Katy)
Gregory Chronowski, M.D. (Katy)
Michelle Ludwig, M.D., M.P.H. (The Woodlands)
Moshe Maor, M.D. (all sites)
Valerie Reed, M.D. (Bay Area)
Pamela Schlembach, M.D. (The Woodlands)
Shalin Shah, M.D. (Sugar Land)
Regional care center locations are equipped with all radiation oncology
technology available at MD Anderson’s Texas Medical Center campus,
including but not limited to:
Matthew Ballo, M.D.
• 3-D conformal external beam radiation,
• intensity-modulated radiation therapy,
• image-guided radiation therapy,
• breath-hold gating for left-sided breast cancers,
• 4-D CT scanning for thoracic malignancies,
• stereotactic body radiation therapy,
• high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for breast malignancies (all sites) and
• Gamma Knife® radiosurgery (The Woodlands).
The evolution of the regional care centers continues to offer patients, referring
physicians and the community a more inclusive comprehensive cancer program, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
medical oncology and hematology services,
chemotherapy,
surgical oncology,
plastic/reconstructive surgery,
pain management,
clinical trials,
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laboratory services,
pharmacy,
physical, occupational and lymphedema therapy,
new patient navigation team and
integrative medicine programs.
As the cancer burden continues to rise with an aging population, patients and families continue to seek not only MD Anderson
expertise but also the convenience of receiving care in their community. MD Anderson and the Division of Radiation Oncology have
partnered to expand the existing network of regional care centers as access points to the latest cancer care.
page 30
This emphasis on expansion of treatment options is exemplified in the many programmatic achievements during FY 2012:
• The Bay Area Regional Care Center enrolled the 100th patient in Texas Medical Center campus-led clinical trials.
• High dose rate brachytherapy for accelerated partial breast irradiation debuted at the Sugar Land Regional Care Center.
• Community outreach and support is thriving with the following support groups available to patients: Road to Wellness, Partners
in Knowledge, News in Cancer (PIKNIC), Cancer Care Survivorship Series, Breast Friends, Look Good, Feel Better, Reach to
Recovery and a head and neck cancer support group.
• The TrueBeam™ linear accelerator debuted at the Katy Regional Care Center offering a new-generation system that provides our patients with more efficient therapy, shortening their treatment time.
• Breast cancer-specific teams made up of fellowship-trained breast surgeons in Katy and Sugar Land plan to expand to the Bay Area
and The Woodlands in FY 2013. These teams facilitate multi-disciplinary discussions at tumor boards, incorporating views from physicians from the Houston region.
• Urological, head and neck and gynecological services were added at the Katy and Sugar Land centers, while gynecology was added at Bay Area.
As displayed below, the number of RCC faculty, new patients and medical oncology clinic visits have grown in the past four years.
All locations may be reached by calling 1-866-423-2129 (toll free).
Radiation oncologists
New patients/
consults (outpatient)
Medical oncology
clinic visits
FY 2009
FY 2010
6
6
1,728
12
FY 2011
FY 2012
% change FY11 to FY12
8
8
0%
2,211
3,488
5,298
52%
17
20
24
20%
Contact one of our regional care centers:
Bay Area
18100 St. John Dr., Nassau Bay, Texas 77058
On the campus of CHRISTUS St. John Hospital
713-563-0670 • 866-913-9876 (toll free)
Katy
19770 Kingsland Blvd., Houston, Texas 77094
On the campus of CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital
713-563-9600 • 866-261-6235 (toll free)
Sugar Land
1327 Lake Point Parkway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478
On the campus of St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital
281-566-1800 • 877-293-8127 (toll free)
The Woodlands
17198 St. Luke’s Way, Medical Arts Center
(MAC) I, The Woodlands, Texas 77384
On the campus of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital
713-563-0050 • 866-377-4321 (toll free)
www.mdanderson.org/regionalcare
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MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
Orlando, Fla.
Our outstanding medical staff consists of full-time radiation
oncologists working in subspecialty multidisciplinary teams.
The radiation oncology physicians and physicists include:
Daniel Buchholz, M.D., chair, Department of Radiation
Oncology
Daniel Buchholz, M.D.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, a part of Orlando
Health, is the first and largest affiliate of The University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center. As a collaborative effort between
Orlando Health and MD Anderson in Houston, the center has
cared for more than 80,000 patients since opening in 1991,
making it one of the premier providers of cancer care in Florida.
Multidisciplinary teams at MD Anderson Orlando consist
of board-certified radiation oncologists, surgeons, medical
oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, nurses, physicists,
therapists and counselors. Physicians at MD Anderson Orlando
use MD Anderson’s clinical practice guidelines, participate
in clinical research trials originating from Houston, and
interact with MD Anderson’s clinical faculty through weekly
telemedicine conferences.
The department recently broke ground on a $25 million proton
facility, which is scheduled to open in early 2014.
This past year, the department opened its first outreach center
located in western Orlando. In addition to clinical research
consisting of multiple cooperative group and investigatorinitiated protocols, the department has a long track record of
research in medical physics, resulting in numerous publications
in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national meetings. The Department of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Orlando
provides the highest quality comprehensive clinical care for cancer patients and fosters an academic environment for future growth.
Contact MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando at 321-841-8650.
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Matthew Callister, M.D.
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gilbert, Ariz.
Matthew Callister, M.D., section chief
Dan Chamberlain, M.D.
Emily Grade, M.D.
Terence Roberts, M.D., J.D.
Steve Sapareto, Ph.D., physics director
Tomas Z. Bista, M.S.
Thaddeus Sokolowski, M.S.
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center is located at the Banner Gateway Medical Center campus, where hospital resources and services
are dedicated for care of cancer center patients, including surgery and inpatient care. Oncology expertise includes medical oncology
and hematology, radiation oncology, surgical and gynecologic oncology, diagnostic imaging, pathology, critical care and internal
medicine.
Banner MD Anderson is housed in a 133,000-square-foot outpatient facility that includes radiation oncology and diagnostic imaging
centers, a 30-exam room multi-specialty oncology clinic and a 40-bay infusion therapy unit. Including the clinic settings, an internal
Healing Courtyard and a four-story Lantern of Hope distinguish the building.
The Department of Radiation Oncology is located on the first floor of the cancer center. Technology includes:
• three Varian TrueBeam™ linear accelerators,
• ExacTrac® image guidance and tumor motion monitoring,
• 4-D planning and treatment,
• high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy suite with in-room CT and ultrasound guidance,
• intensity-modulated radiation therapy and
• stereotactic body radiation therapy.
Banner MD Anderson is open for evaluation and treatment of all cancer types. Staff at the cancer center have daily connectivity to
their MD Anderson colleagues in Houston.
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center can be reached at 480-256-6444.
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MD Anderson Cancer Center Radiation Treatment
Center at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital,
Albuquerque, N.M.
Ramesh Gopal, M.D., Ph.D., medical director
Amit Garg, M.D.
Presbyterian Healthcare Services was founded in New Mexico in 1908. The
state’s only private, not-for-profit health care system has eight hospitals, a
statewide health plan and a growing multispecialty medical group. It employs
more than 9,000 people throughout New Mexico.
Presbyterian Healthcare Services expanded cancer care through an arrangement
with MD Anderson to provide radiation oncology services at Presbyterian
Kaseman Hospital in Albuquerque. This relationship enables patients to have
access to MD Anderson protocols and treatment options as well as the health
care team, consisting of radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists,
nurses and physicists. They are trained at MD Anderson and devoted to the
institution’s core values of caring, integrity and discovery.
Ramesh Gopal, M.D., Ph.D.
The comprehensive breast program at MD Anderson Presbyterian has
grown and now includes a breast imaging center, nurse navigators and a
multidisciplinary team of physicians. In FY 2012, Presbyterian received
accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers
in recognition of its quality standards and services provided to patients.
Gastrointestinal, thoracic and genitourinary cancers are the other top cancer
sites treated.
Radiation oncology services include:
• image-guided radiation therapy delivery system,
• advanced CT diagnostic imaging,
• PET/CT diagnostic imaging,
• ultrasound,
• 3D treatment planning,
• high dose rate brachytherapy,
• permanent seed prostate implants and
• MammoSite® radiation therapy.
The MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center at Presbyterian Kaseman
Hospital can be reached at 505-559-6100.
page 34
Amit Garg, M.D.
Ugur Selek, M.D., Yasemin Bolukbasi, M.D., and members of the Department of Radiation Oncology clinical care team.
MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center, American Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Ugur Selek, M.D., chair, Department of Radiation Treatment
Yasemin Bolukbasi, MD.
Data demonstrates that approximately 130,000 people in Turkey are diagnosed with cancer each year, with lung cancer being the
leading cause of cancer deaths. Cancers of the respiratory system constitute nearly one-third of all reported cancers in men. In women,
breast cancer contributes more than 25% of reported cancers, and is the second leading cause of cancer death.
To address the critical need for expertise in radiation oncology in Turkey, MD Anderson collaborated with the Vehbi Koc Foundation
American Hospital. The MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center in Istanbul at American Hospital offers a full range of radiation
therapies. It is the first MD Anderson radiation treatment facility outside of the United States that fully replicates MD Anderson
standards of therapies, delivered by physicians trained in Houston, who currently are adjunct faculty at the University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center.
MD Anderson has clinical oversight of all radiation treatment delivery, ensuring that patients receive therapy using the same guidelines,
standards, processes and procedures established for MD Anderson patients in the United States. Services with the latest technology are
delivered using a team approach, chaired by Ugur Selek, M.D., and Yasemin Bolukbasi, M.D., who collaborate with their colleagues in
the Department of Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson to determine the best individualized therapy protocol for each patient.
Designed by MD Anderson radiation oncologists, physicists and consultants, this new center of excellence in cancer care provides
patients in Turkey with access to top experts and state-of-the-art technologies with a full range of radiation therapies, including:
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4-D CT simulation,
3-D conformal external beam radiation,
intensity-modulated radiation therapy,
image-guided radiation therapy,
volumetric arc radiation therapy,
respiratory gated radiation therapy,
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stereotactic radiosurgery,
stereotactic body radiation therapy,
partial breast radiation therapy,
prostate implants and
3-D conformal brachytherapy.
As a result of a $15 million capital investment by American Hospital, the Department of Radiation Oncology has the capacity to
serve approximately 400 patients annually. The radiation oncology program is an active component of the American Hospital Cancer
Program, which runs many multidisciplinary tumor boards, including breast, gastrointestinal, thoracic and genitourinary, as well as a
Prostate Clinic.
The Radiation Treatment Center, American Hospital Istanbul can be reached at 90-42-444-3-777, ext: 8501.
page 35
Texas Medical Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77030
877-MDA-6789
Bay Area
18100 St. John Dr., Nassau Bay, Texas 77058
On the campus of CHRISTUS St. John Hospital
713-563-0670 • 866-913-9876 (toll free)
Katy
19770 Kingsland Blvd., Houston, Texas 77094
On the campus of CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital
713-563-9600 • 866-261-6235 (toll free)
Sugar Land
1327 Lake Point Parkway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478
On the campus of St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital
281-566-1800 • 877-293-8127 (toll free)
The Woodlands
17198 St. Luke’s Way, Medical Arts Center
(MAC) I, The Woodlands, Texas 77384
On the campus of St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital
713-563-0050 • 866-377-4321 (toll free)
Orlando, Fla.
MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
1400 S. Orange Avenue
Orlando, Fla. 32806
407-648-3800 • 800-648-3818
321-841-8650
Gilbert, Ariz.
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Higley Road and US 60
2946 E. Banner Gateway Drive
Gilbert, Ariz. 85234
480-256-6444 • 855-256-6444
Albuquerque, N.M.
MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital
8300 Constitution Ave. NE
Albuquerque, N.M. 87110
505-559-6100
Istanbul, Turkey
MD Anderson Radiation Treatment Center at American Hospital
Istanbul, Turkey
90-42-444-3-777, ext: 8501
www.mdanderson.org/radiationtreatmentcenter
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Making Cancer History®
3.13 | gr | db | 100
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