During the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in San Diego earlier this spring, CINJ surgical oncologists James S. Goydos, MD, and Jonathan H. Lee, MD, presented their research on a study testing the effectiveness of the drug Riluzole on those diagnosed with Stage III or Stage IV advanced melanoma, who are slated to have their lesion surgically removed.  Riluzole is used in those being treated for ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.   The drug inhibits the release of glutamate, which is a protein found in excess in both melanoma and ALS.  This protein acts as fuel for cell growth. Drs. Goydos and Lee, who also both hold faculty positions in the Department of Surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, say the aim of the study is to see if growth of the disease can be slowed. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 2,300 new cases of melanoma are expected to be diagnosed this year in New Jersey with 62,000 new cases expected nationwide.

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey in collaboration with the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research, will host its Annual Retreat on Cancer Research in New Jersey Public Forum on Thursday, May 29, 2008 from 5:00pm – 8:30pm at CINJ in New Brunswick. “Addressing the Unmet Needs of Cancer Survivors: A Dialogue for Action,” will focus on the broad range of challenges that cancer survivors face.  A panel discussion featuring numerous survivorship experts including CINJ Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Regina Cunningham, will explore such topics as physical challenges, sexuality, and employment and financial issues for cancer survivors.  A light dinner will be provided.  Cancer survivors, their families, healthcare providers, researchers and other interested parties are encouraged to attend.  The program is free but pre-registration is required via online at www.njcancerretreat.org or by calling 732-235-6785.

A pair of world-renowned researchers from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, were honored during the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California earlier this spring.  Joseph R. Bertino, MD, interim director of CINJ and university professor of medicine and pharmacology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is the recipient of the 13th Annual AACR-Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievements in Clinical Research. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in clinical cancer research and honors the late Dr. Joseph Burchenal, who was a past president of AACR and a leader in the cancer field.  According to the association, Dr. Bertino was honored this year for his contributions to the development of novel cancer therapeutics.  He has been recognized internationally through the years for his role in finding curative treatments in the areas of leukemia and lymphoma.  Arnold J. Levine, PhD, member, CINJ and professor of pediatrics and biochemistry at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, received the Kirk A. Landon-AACR Prize for Basic Cancer Research. According to the AACR, the Landon Prize is among the largest awards in the world offered to cancer researchers from a professional society of their peers. It is awarded to an outstanding scientist who has made seminal cancer research discoveries, which have accelerated progress against cancer and have implications for future discoveries and contributions to cancer research. Dr. Levine is best known for his work involving the discovery of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, which has long been considered a building block in molecular cancer research.