Adult Services, Gastroenterology, Oncology/Hematology

Updates in screening and treatment of leading gastrointestinal cancers

“Gastrointestinal cancers can occur anywhere from the esophagus to the rectum. This includes cancers of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum and anus, as well as the bile duct, pancreas and liver,” said Robert C.G. Martin, M.D., Ph.D., surgical oncologist with Norton Cancer Institute. “They include the second- and third-deadliest cancers in the United…

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Oncology/Hematology, Pediatric Services, Research

DFMO medulloblastoma clinical trial examines drug’s effectiveness for high-risk cases

Researchers are recruiting pediatric medulloblastoma patients for a novel use of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) to prevent relapse. The multisite study, sponsored by the Beat Childhood Cancer Consortium and led by Michael Angelo C. Huang, M.D., pediatric neuro-oncologist at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, looks at whether DFMO offers a new…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology, Research

Natural killer cell leukemia trial underway

A human Phase 1 immunotherapy clinical trial is underway using natural killer cells, or NK cells, to target relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia patients who have exhausted other treatment options are potential candidates for the trial, ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT05470140. The trial uses cytokine-reprogrammed, non-engineered, “off-the-shelf” NK cells from a healthy donor….

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Adult Services, CME, Oncology/Hematology

Garlove Lectureship features advancements in medicine, a look at new discoveries and technologies

The 28th Gail Klein Garlove Lectureship on Nov. 1 is titled “Advancing Precision Medicine Through New Discoveries and Technologies,” and will be presented by Sameek Roychowdhury, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of the cancer genomics laboratory and medical oncologist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James. The event is hosted by Norton Healthcare…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

When to consider genetic testing for breast cancer

At some point in their life, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer. Approximately 20% of breast cancer cases are familial, affecting two or more women in the same family, usually at a later age. An estimated 5% to 10% of breast cancers are caused by a genetic mutation, called hereditary breast cancer. Red…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

Benefits of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) can provide a timelier evaluation of neck masses than open biopsy, thus saving time, money and potentially improving health outcomes with earlier diagnosis and treatment. Fine needle aspiration for head and neck masses Masses felt by the clinician or detected with imaging scans often require further testing. Options for obtaining tissue…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology, Research

Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate available for advanced neuroendocrine tumor treatment

Norton Cancer Institute is the only site in Louisville offering lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (Lutathera), a second-line treatment targeting advanced-stage neuroendocrine tumors in adult patients. The drug is indicated when a patient starts to lose response to the first-line therapies, lanreotide (Somatuline) and octreotide acetate (Sandostatin). Norton Cancer Institute To refer a patient to Norton…

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Oncology/Hematology, Pediatric Services

When to refer a pediatric anemia patient

Infants and children can be prone to anemia for a variety of reasons throughout their first years of life and adolescence. Anemia can be caused by diet, blood loss or other health conditions. Signs and symptoms may include pallor, jaundice, scleral icterus, exercise and/or feeding intolerance and general fatigue. Anemia can be detected during a…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

Gastric cancer red flags

The prognosis for gastric cancer is closely tied to the stage of the diagnosis. When found early, gastric cancer has a better survival rate. “Given the difference early diagnosis can make, it’s important that clinicians are aware of the red flags for gastric cancer,” said Jaspreet S. Grewal, M.D., Ph.D., a gastrointestinal oncologist at Norton…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

Paul A. Tennant, M.D., joins Norton Cancer Institute

Paul A. Tennant, M.D., has joined Norton Cancer Institute as a head and neck surgical oncologist. He treats complex benign and malignant conditions of the head and neck. Dr. Tennant sees patients at Norton Cancer Institute – Downtown. Norton Cancer Institute Head & Neck Tumor Program To refer a patient, visit Norton EpicLink and open…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology, Research

Gilteritinib and venetoclax regimen yields encouraging results against FLT3-mutated AML

A new regimen of FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor gilteritinib and venetoclax was tolerable at standard doses and produced high response rates for advanced, FLT3-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a multicenter Phase 1 study. “The results were encouraging. We saw high rates of marrow response and promising overall survival for this high-risk group…

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Adult Services, Oncology/Hematology

PSMA PET scan is catching cancer earlier and with greater accuracy than ever before

Accurate imaging is a crucial component of prostate cancer management for a number of reasons, including tumor localization, disease staging and detecting recurrence. Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA PET) scans offer an imaging approach that has the ability to detect recurrence earlier and enable clinicians to implement tailored treatment sooner. “PSMA imaging offers…

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