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Recent clinical trials have shown that immunotherapy using targeted antibodies to block the pathway in metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer, and most recently, head and neck cancer can lead to durable regression or stabilization of disease. For these reasons, this year the American Society of Clinical Oncology is celebrating immunotherapy as the “advance of the year.” Deepening the Understanding of Thyroid and Parathyroid Damage to Optimize Detection and Management The recent research of Lisa Orloff, MD, concentrates on understanding the genes that regulate parathyroid cells. One specific area of focus is the regeneration of parathyroid tissue to maintain healthy calcium levels. Dr. Orloff’s research also encompasses partnerships with the Division of Endocrinology as well as specialists in bioinformatics at Stanford to study the effects of exposure to radiation on risk of thyroid cancer. The goals are twofold: educate the public regarding why and how to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure, and optimize detection and management of exposed individuals later affected by thyroid cancer. Using Telemedicine in the VA System to Increase Access to Care While Saving Time and Money for Patients The Veterans Health Administration has developed a robust system using telepresence technology to connect remote patients to specialized surgeons with unique expertise. Davud Sirjani, MD, FACS, from the Head and Neck Surgery division, investigated the impact of this technology on patients with head and neck cancer. In a pilot study, Dr. Sirjani and his team showed a significant impact of telemedicine, saving patients on average 28 hours of traveling and nearly $1,000 on travel-related costs. This demonstrates that for patients requiring highly specialized head and neck surgical care, the telemedicine model may enable more timely access to surgical care with considerable cost savings. Improving the Assessment of Surgical Margins With a First-of-Its-Kind Initiative Eben Rosenthal, MD, Medical Director of the Stanford Cancer Center, also works as a pioneering surgeon scientist leading a team studying the role of fluorescence labeled antibodies, specific to cancer, as contrast agents during surgery. Over 90% of head and neck cancer is known to over-express the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
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