Investigators report promising results in Big Ten CRC bladder cancer study
Researchers leading a Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium phase Ib/II study of concurrent durvalumab and radiation therapy (DUART) in adults with unresectable, cisplatin ineligible locally advanced bladder cancer, reported promising results during recent virtual scientific meetings. Monika Joshi, MD, MRCP, sponsor-investigator of the BTCRC-GU15-023 study, presented a rapid abstract session during the 2021 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium on Friday, Feb. 12, that built upon data previously reported by study co-author Leonard C. Tuanquin, MD, during an oral scientific session at the ASTRO Annual Meeting, on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2020.

Paplomata, Girda team up to lead Gynecologic Clinical Trial Working Group
The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium recently appointed Elisavet Paplomata, MD, assistant professor of hematology/oncology at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, and Eugenia Girda, MD, FACOG, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, as new co-chairs of the Big Ten CRC’s Gynecologic Clinical Trial Working Group. Their leadership will support collaboration and mentoring opportunities within the working group, and will guide the development of Big Ten CRC gynecologic clinical trials, from initial LOI submission, review, and approval, to expert feedback throughout the life of each ongoing study, and final publication.

Investigators present phase Ib/II data from Big Ten CRC kidney cancer study
Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium investigators presented a virtual poster highlighting BTCRC-GU16-043, a Big Ten CRC phase Ib/II study of durvalumab and guadecitabine in advanced kidney cancer, during the 2021 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. The study, led by the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, investigates whether adding guadecitabine, a drug that targets DNA methylation, might increase the proportion of patients with advanced clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) who respond to treatment with durvalumab, a checkpoint inhibitor that targets the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway.

Researchers present two studies during World Conference on Lung Cancer
Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium investigators highlighted two ongoing studies during the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) World Conference on Lung Cancer, held virtually January 28-31. Melissa Yan, MD (pictured left), a hematology-oncology fellow at the Indiana University School of Medicine, presented a featured poster on BTCRC-LUN19-396, a phase II study of adjuvant chemotherapy plus atezolizumab in stage IB-IIIA resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and clearance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Emily Sisel (pictured right), an MD candidate at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, presented a poster highlighting BTCRC-LUN15-017, a phase II study of Imprime PGG and pembrolizumab in stage IV NSCLC after progression on first-line therapy.

Big Ten cancer centers, The Blue Hat Foundation team up for "Screening Madness"
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month tips off each March, and the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium and The Blue Hat Foundation, a Chicago-based colorectal cancer advocacy organization, are uniting for Screening Madness, an initiative to raise awareness of the disease with a goal of increasing screenings. A special webpage on the Big Ten CRC website contains a playbook to educate individuals on the importance of colorectal cancer screening. Individuals are urged to take the pledge to get screened for colorectal cancer, or to encourage someone else age 45 or older to get screened. When signing the pledge, they can designate a Big Ten team they want their pledge to count toward. A scoreboard showing total pledges for each institution is updated daily.

Investigator spotlights
Daniela Matei, MD

The ASCO Post recently highlighted Dr. Daniela Matei's career journey in an article titled “From Behind the Iron Curtain to a Career in Gynecologic Cancer Research.” Dr. Matei is the Diana, Princess of Wales Professor of Cancer Research, professor of Hematology / Oncology and Gynecologic Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and co-leader of the Translational Bridge Program at the Lurie Cancer Center.

Irum Khan, MD

Irum Khan, MD, is as comfortable in a laboratory as she is a hospital. As a clinician, Dr. Khan cares for patients with acute and chronic myeloid malignancies, including leukemia, myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders. Her research is focused on translational studies in myeloid malignancies, identifying therapeutic targets in myeloid leukemia and serving as principal investigator on numerous clinical trials.

Kent Hoskins, MD

Kent Hoskins, MD, has discovered that race plays an important role in women surviving certain types of breast cancer. Black women have a higher recurrence and greater mortality rates than non-Hispanic white women with estrogen receptor-positive, axillary node-negative breast cancer, the most common subtype of the disease, according to a new study led by Dr. Hoskins that used data from more than 70,000 patients across the United States garnered from the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

Cancer center faculty postings
Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology
The Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health seeks applications/nominations for the position of Chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology.
Benign Hematology Faculty
The University of Minnesota, Department of Medicine (Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation Division), is seeking candidates with an interest in benign hematology to expand our robust section of 6 dedicated faculty in the Benign Hematology Program. Join a collaborative and diverse team of senior hematologists with international reputations as clinical and research experts and junior faculty who are emerging leaders in their field.