This week, the American Cancer Society released some very welcome news: the cancer death rate in the U.S. dropped by 2.2% from 2016 to 2017, the largest single-year drop ever recorded.
The drop, which the report attributes to plummeting smoking rates as well as new screening and treatment methods, continues a decades-long trend, as cancer death rates have fallen by nearly 30% since 1991 about 2.9 million fewer deaths.
Dr. Thomas Loughran, director of the University of Virginia Cancer Center, said UVA is in step with this national trend.
The UVA Cancer Center is one of 71 National Cancer Institute-designated treatment centers nationwide and ranked among the nations top 50 cancer centers over each of the past four years (No. 26 last year). The center serves approximately 4 million people in Virginia and West Virginia.
We spoke with Loughran about what he is seeing at UVA and beyond, new treatments and research helping to eradicate cancer, and where he sees cancer treatment in five years.
Q. Why have cancer death rates dropped so significantly?
A. As reports of this latest drop have said, a large part of the decline can be attributed to declining rates of lung cancer. The importance of preventing cancer particularly behavioral interventions like stopping smoking has become more prominent, and there have been remarkable declines in smoking across the United States.
This is a very important focus for us at UVA. We serve a large geographical area 90 contiguous counties in Virginia and West Virginia, including rural Appalachia. Southwest Virginia in Appalachia still has high smoking rates, and as a result, high rates of lung cancer. Education, screening and tobacco cessation programs are critically important, especially in those areas.
Q. What advances in treatment have contributed to falling cancer death rates, nationally and at UVA?
A. Screening technology, especially for the more common cancers like lung, colorectal, prostate and breast cancer, has improved. The latest report probably doesnt fully reflect recent implementation of lung cancer screening using a low-dose CT scan, recommended for high risk individuals and especially those with a history of heavy smoking. That has only been around a few years, and its impact will likely show up in future reports.
The second big factor is the development of immunotherapy [cancer treatments that utilize and help the patients immune system]. UVA has invested quite a lot of institutional resources in becoming a state-of-the-art immunotherapy center, and I am proud to say we are a leader in the field.
We have created a Cancer Therapeutics Program to support the development of new therapies. Dr. Craig Slingluff, who leads that program, is a surgical oncologist internationally famous for immunotherapy treatments for melanoma. To strengthen this program, we have recruited a cadre of leading physician scientists from across the country. Dr. Karen Ballen came here to lead our stem cell and bone marrow transplant program. Dr. Lawrence Lum, the scientific director of the transplant program, has developed a novel therapy using antibodies that bind to both T-cells [patient cells that can kill cancer cells] and tumor cells, forming a bridge between the two that helps the T-cells kill the cancer cells. Dr. Trey Lee is a leader in CAR-T cell therapy.
I could keep going; there are so many great people working on this. We also have a new Good Manufacturing Practice lab, supported by a grant from the commonwealth, that will help us grow and modify T-cells as needed and give them to patients under sterile conditions. That just opened and we are very excited about that program.
Q. What other areas of research have shown great promise?
A. Some of our work in nanotechnology is really unique and exciting. [Biomedical engineering professor] Mark Kester directs UVAs nanoSTAR Institute, which is working on delivering cancer therapies by nanotechnology basically, engineering at a very small scale. For example, nanoliposomes a sort of delivery system for cancer therapy are actually smaller than individual cells and can therefore penetrate cancer cells and release treatment from inside those cells.
We are very excited about early phase trials testing this technology on solid tumors, and we also hope to use it to treat patients with acute leukemia over the next few years.
Q. Looking ahead, where do you see the next big gains coming from?
A. Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but why some patients respond well and some dont remains puzzling. I hope that we can begin to discover why some patients are reacting to these newer treatments differently than others. Once we figure out why some patients respond to immunotherapy, we can begin to make improvements that could benefit a larger percentage of patients with these deadly cancers.
CAR T Cell therapy one method of immunotherapy is very effective against leukemia, lymphoma and cancers of the blood, but not yet against solid tumors. Over the next five years, I hope we can determine how to deliver these T-cells to solid tumors such as those found in lung, colorectal and other common cancers again to make this advance more widely applicable to a larger number of patients.
Continued here:
Q&A: Cancer Death Rates Are Falling Nationally. Here's What's Happening at UVA - University of Virginia
- Stem Cell Therapy Virginia | Stem Cell Treatments [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- Virginia Stem Cell Treatments | Stem Cell Treatments [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- About Us - StemCell ARTS - Stem Cell Therapy and PRP for ... [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- Virginia (Stem Cell) - what-when-how [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- Posts Tagged virginia - virginia StemCell Doctors [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2014]
- Williamsburg Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy ... [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2014]
- Virginia Beach Stem Cell Therapy, Stem Cell Therapy ... [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2014]
- Stem Cells Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - Fetal stem cells ... [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2014]
- Cell Stem Cell Protocol Review - Medicine School of ... [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2014]
- Why Didn't They Win? 10 Huge Discoveries Without a Nobel Prize [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Misfolded Proteins Clump Together in a Surprising Place [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2014]
- Ridiculously tiny stomachs created for disease experiments [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2014]
- Billionaire's New Science Institute Plans 'Google Maps' View Of Cells [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2014]
- Stem cells and cell adaptations to particular functions [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2014]
- The Week That Was: Bear Down [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2014]
- Most cancers are just bad luck, others from bad genes, environment [Last Updated On: January 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 20th, 2015]
- New ACL Preservation at G2 Orthopedics and Sports Medicine [Last Updated On: February 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 20th, 2015]
- NASA awards UCI $9 million to study underlying mechanisms of 'space brain' [Last Updated On: March 18th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 18th, 2015]
- Stem Cell Transplantation - Virginia Cancer [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2016]
- Regenerative Medicine Research - Virginia-Maryland College ... [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2016]
- Home - StemCell ARTS [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2016]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Neck & Back Pain - DC Metro Area [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2016]
- U.Va. Smashes Barrier to Growing Organs from Stem Cells ... [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2016]
- Tests show no signs of cancer for Danville 2-year-old - GoDanRiver.com [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2017]
- Everything's a hustle in Orphan Black episode 5.5 - SYFY WIRE (blog) [Last Updated On: July 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 9th, 2017]
- Grant supports 3D innovation in stem cell-related cancer research at ODU - Southside Daily [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2017]
- Roanoke researchers pursue treatments for the type of deadly brain cancer affecting McCain - Richmond.com [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2017]
- John Theurer Cancer Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Announce 100 - Business Wire (press release) [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2017]
- SpaceX Dragon Delivers Supplies (and Science) to Space Station - Space.com [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2017]
- Stem Cell Therapy Hair Growth | McLean | Virginia Surgical ... [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2017]
- Stem Cell Therapy - Virginia Spine Institute [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2018]
- PRP & Stem Cell Treatment in Richmond VA - Dr. Bill Nordt ... [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2018]
- Stem Cells Lynchburg VA | Stem Cell Recovery SW Virginia [Last Updated On: July 24th, 2018] [Originally Added On: July 24th, 2018]
- Stem Cell Transplantation at Virginia Oncology Associates [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2018]
- Stem Cell Richmond Virginia 23230 [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2019]
- Virginia Beach VA 23460 - National Stem Cell Therapy [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2019]
- Stem Cell Injections Richmond, Virginia | Alternative to ... [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2019]
- Stem Cell Therapy in Dallas, TX | National Stem Cell Centers [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2019] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2019]
- Top 25 Most Haunted Places in Virginia - Colonial Ghosts [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2019]
- Dr. Christopher Good | Spinal Surgeon | Virginia Spine [Last Updated On: May 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 13th, 2019]
- Oliver and Elizabeth Hedgepeth column: Human donations are a gift of life - Richmond.com [Last Updated On: November 25th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 25th, 2019]
- Brown fat warms your body in cold weather | NOVA - NOVA Next [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2019]
- Bent into shape: The rules of tree form - Knowable Magazine [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2020] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2020]
- First-of-its-Kind Bio-Artificial Pancreas on Track for Type-I Diabetes Cure - Global Trade Magazine [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2020]
- Focused Ultrasound Opening Brain to Previously Impossible Treatments - University of Virginia [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2020]
- Surrozen reloads with $50M for final dash to the clinic, shines some light on lead Wnt-modulating candidates - Endpoints News [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2020]
- Landmark transplant in 1960s Virginia performed with heart stolen from a Black man - Live Science [Last Updated On: August 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 12th, 2020]
- WVU assistant professor receives $3 million to study impacts of air pollution on lungs - The Daily Athenaeum - thedaonline [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2020]
- Alleged unwanted hysterectomies and other abuses at ICE facility prompts investigation - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Talaris Therapeutics Announces Collaboration With Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates to Advance Preclinical Study of Tolerance Induction to Organs From... [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- U.S. elections bring wins and losses for research community - Science Magazine [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2020]
- Viewpoint: Rightwing packing on Supreme Court means ERA more crucial than ever to protect Women's Rights - Blog - The Island Now [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2020]
- Anatomy of a vaccine: What it takes to create a safe, effective COVID shot - University of California [Last Updated On: December 9th, 2020] [Originally Added On: December 9th, 2020]
- Novel Bone Marrow 'Ingredient' To Help Arthritic Horses The Horse - TheHorse.com [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2021]
- Study: Israeli-made anti-COVID nasal spray reduced infection at mass gathering - The Times of Israel [Last Updated On: February 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 23rd, 2021]
- Clint Smith's 'How The Word Is Passed' And Race History - NPR [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2021]
- Habitable Earth an anomaly? Awardees of STEM grants study this and more | University of Hawaii System News - UH System Current News [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2021]
- Pollution could be sucking the youth out of you, quite literally - ZME Science [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2021]
- 'Where Does It Hurt?': Primary Care Tips for Common Ortho Problems - Medscape [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2022]
- Plug-and-play organ-on-a-chip can be customized to the patient - EurekAlert [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2022]
- What it's like to compete in the science fair 'Olympics' - Science News for Students [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2022]
- PARP Inhibitors Are Under Study as Treatment Options Beyond BRCA-Mutated Breast Cancer - OncLive [Last Updated On: May 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: May 15th, 2022]
- With Supreme Court Failing California, Is It Time to Go on Our Own? - zocalopublicsquare.org [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2022]
- DiPersio receives awards recognizing contributions to cancer care, research Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis - Washington... [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2022] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2022]
- Long COVID-19 and other chronic respiratory conditions after viral infections may stem from an overactive immune response in the lungs - Huron Daily... [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2022]
- Long COVID-19 May Stem From an Overactive Immune Response in the Lungs - SciTechDaily [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2022] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2022]