More Than 10 Roswell Park Teams to Highlight New Research at National Surgical Oncology Meeting

BUFFALO, N.Y. — More than 10 teams from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center have been invited to present their research at the 70th Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Annual Cancer Symposium March 15-18 in Seattle, Washington, with two teams sharing their findings in oral abstract discussions.

“This prestigious national meeting is an opportunity for Roswell Park to highlight its novel advances in clinical cancer care and basic science research. Our clinician scientists are constantly improving upon treatments that prolong survival and save the lives of cancer patients,” says John M. Kane III, MD, FACS, Chair of Surgical Oncology at Roswell Park.

Eriko Katsuta, MD, PhD, Research Fellow at Roswell Park, and Kazuaki Takabe, MD, PhD, FACS, Clinical Chief of Breast Surgery, Alfiero Foundation Endowed Chair in Breast Oncology and Professor of Oncology at Roswell Park, investigated the effectiveness of the orally active immunomodulatory drug FTY720 in combination with doxorubicin, one of the most commonly used anti-cancer drugs for breast cancer. They found that the combination suppressed obesity-mediated inflammation in laboratory models and represents a potential novel approach to treat obesity-associated breast cancer.

Oral presentation title: “Obesity-related breast cancer showed higher response to combination therapy of immune modulator FTY720 and Doxorubicin”
Abstract number: 41 – Breast Parallel session 2

Lindy Davis, MD, Clinical Fellow at Roswell Park, is first author on a study reporting results from analysis of the FAK protein in samples from 642 patients diagnosed with colorectal, breast or gastric cancers along with primary or metastatic melanoma. The researchers report that the FAK protein is found at different levels across cancer types; that FAK expression is associated with an aggressive type of colorectal cancer; and that melanoma had the highest overall FAK expression, suggesting that it may be a potential therapeutic target in melanoma.

Oral presentation title: “The Prognostic Value of FAK in 642 Patients with Colorectal, Breast, Gastric Cancer or Melanoma”
Abstract number: 67 – Quality Improvements/Clinical Outcomes

Two Roswell Park faculty members, Steven Hochwald, MD, FACS, and Steven Nurkin, MD, MS, will contribute to panel discussions during the meeting. Dr. Hochwald, Chief of Gastrointestinal Surgery, will lead the discussion “Your Patient is Leaking (Esophageal Leaks): What Next?” during the Gastrointestinal Track at 8 a.m. PDT on Saturday, March 18. Dr. Nurkin, Assistant Professor of Oncology, will present the talk, “Evidence-Based Approach to the Management of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer” on Friday, March 17 from 4-6 p.m. PDT.

And two Roswell Park team members will highlight new surgical approaches in video presentations:

• Rupen Shah, MD, Clinical Fellow at Roswell Park, will show a video of a minimally invasive esophagectomy. His presentation “Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagogastrectomy with Side-to-Side Anastomosis” (Abstract EHV2) is 9:40 a.m. PDT on Thursday, March 16.
• Emmanuel Gabriel, MD, PhD, Clinical Fellow at Roswell Park, will present a video demonstrating a laparoscopic approach to gastrectomy. “Laparoscopic Proximal Gastrectomy for Gastric Adenocarcinoma” (Abstract EHV5) is at 9:50 a.m. PDT on Friday, March 17.

Poster Presentations

Additionally, nine Roswell Park teams will share research findings in poster presentations at the meeting. Details follow below.

Breast Cancer
Tsutomu Kawaguchi, MD, PhD, Clinical Fellow at Roswell Park, and Dr. Takabe will present “Novel Prognostic Biomarker Using MicroRNA Signature of Breast Cancer” (Abstract PT42) at 9:30 a.m. PDT on Thursday, March 16. The pair also will offer “Prognostic Relevance of Tumor Suppressive MicroRNA for Breast Cancer” (Abstract PF74) at 9:45 a.m. PDT on Friday, March 17.

Colorectal Cancer
Sumana Narayanan, MD, Clinical Fellow at Roswell Park, and Dr. Nurkin will present “The Influence of Clinicopathologic and Molecular Markers on Stage Specific Survival of Right Versus Left Colon Cancer” (Abstract PT94) at 9:30 a.m. PDT Thursday, March 16.

Hepato-Pancreato-Billiary Cancer
Eriko Katsuta, MD, PhD, Clinical Fellow at Roswell Park, and Dr. Takabe will present “CD73 as a Novel Prognostic Marker of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma” (Abstract PT209) on Thursday, March 16 at 9:30 a.m. PDT, and “Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma with High Expression of CD31 Have Better Prognosis” (Abstract PF252) at 9:45 a.m. PDT on Friday, March 17.

Keli Turner, MD, Clinical Fellow at Roswell Park, and Moshim Kukar, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgical Oncology, will present “Neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX and/or Gemcitabine/Abraxane for Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma” (Abstract PF223) at 9:40 a.m. PDT on Friday, March 17.

Upper Gastrointestinal
Emmanuel Gabriel, MD, PhD, Clinical Fellow at Roswell Park, will give three poster presentations:

• “Adjuvant Chemotherapy Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation and Surgery for Esophageal Cancer: Does it Improve Outcome?” (Abstract PT406), 9:30 a.m. PDT Thursday, March 16.
• “Association of Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities with Hospital Case Volume Among Patients Undergoing Esophagectomy” (Abstract PT407), 9:30 a.m. PDT Thursday, March 16.
• “The Immediate Post-Esophagectomy Chest X-ray Predicts Respiratory Failure and the Need for Tracheostomy” (Abstract PF423), 9:40 a.m. PDT Friday, March 17.

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The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1898, Roswell Park is one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-Roswell Park (1-866-559-4838) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org. Follow Roswell Park on Facebook and Twitter.