Key Areas of Cancer Research To Be Presented by Thought Leaders at Atlantic Health System’s 2021 Annual Review in Oncology Virtual Symposium

Atlantic Health System Cancer Care will continue its tradition of world-class medical education by hosting its 2021 Annual Review in Oncology Virtual Symposium. The symposium, held via Microsoft Teams with free registration, will take place Saturday, June 26, 2021, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. Distinguished faculty from some of the nation’s leading cancer centers will summarize the latest advances in six areas of oncology, as presented at the just-completed ASCO conference—the world’s premiere meeting for cancer care professionals and researchers.

The 8th Annual Joseph Calello Melanoma Scholar, Dr. Charles Balch, to Present “The Surgical Management of Melanoma,” a Virtual Lecture, May 6

Atlantic Health System Cancer Care, in partnership with OncLive, invites health care professionals and others interested in the surgical management of melanoma to a virtual lecture by internationally known melanoma expert Charles M. Balch, MD, FACS, FASCO. Dr. Balch is this year’s Joseph Calello Melanoma Scholar. The free lecture and Q & A will be held on May 6, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET.

Atlantic Health System Physicians Co-Author 5 Studies, Presented at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting

Atlantic Health System Cancer Care physicians are co-authors of five original studies presented at this year’s AACR Annual Meeting, held virtually April 10-15 and May 17-21. The AACR meeting is one of the world’s premier scientific gatherings of cancer specialists and researchers.

Medical Oncologist Dr. Shilpi Gupta Joins Atlantic Health System Cancer Care’s Comprehensive Breast Health Program

Atlantic Health System Cancer Care today announced that fellowship-trained medical oncologist, Shilpi Gupta, MD, has joined Morristown Medical Center’s comprehensive breast health program where her focus is breast oncology and research. Dr. Gupta is on staff at Atlantic Hematology Oncology at the hospital’s Carol G. Simon Cancer Center.

Accelerating Access to Breakthrough Cancer Therapies Leads Morristown Medical Center to Expand Infusion Center

Atlantic Health System has announced the opening of Morristown Medical Center’s new state-of-the-art, patient-centered Infusion Center located in the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center. The first of three phases of expansion of New Jersey’s pre-eminent cancer center, the new unit was funded in large part by donations made by community members in support of the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center’s Growing Forward Campaign.

Study Shows Promise for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Who Require New Treatment Options

A new type of immunotherapy treatment for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is being tested by Missak Haigentz, Jr., MD, medical director of hematology and oncology for Atlantic Health System. Early results appear promising in this phase 1/2 clinical trial of ADXS-503 being developed by Advaxis, Inc., a new type of cancer therapy which targets “hotspot” mutations that commonly occur in specific cancer types, both by itself and in combination with immunotherapy Keytruda® (pembrolizumab), which is commonly used to treat this type of lung cancer. Dr. Haigentz and colleagues published early results of this study in conjunction with ASCO 2020, the world’s premier scientific meeting for clinical research in oncology.

Atlantic Health System Leads Phase 1 Study on CPI-613® (Devimistat), First-in-Class Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer to be Presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2020

Dr. Alistar has pioneered the use of CPI-613® (devimistat), a unique first-in-class treatment for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer, in combination with two chemotherapy drugs. Devimistat uniquely targets enzymes involved in cancer cell metabolism, against pancreatic cancer. The study’s efficacy data suggest devimistat has synergy with chemotherapy.The current study was funded by the drug’s manufacturer, New Jersey-based Rafael Pharmaceuticals and by Atlantic Health System.

Advanced Lung Cancer Screening Available at Atlantic Health System

The Atlantic Health System lung cancer test uses low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) that only takes a few minutes to complete and may identify lung cancer at earlier, more curable stages. When compared to chest X-rays used in early detection, the LDCT screening reduces lung cancer deaths in high-risk individuals by 20 percent. The screening test is covered by Medicare and most commercial insurance. Approximately 2% of screenings show early findings of lung cancer.

Atlantic Health System Cancer Care Enrolling Patients in Innovative Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trials

November is national Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month. This year alone, more than 56,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic tumors are particularly aggressive and hard to treat “due to a mutational profile that makes it resistant to therapies that work better for other tumor types,” explains Angela Alistar, MD, medical director of GI oncology at Morristown Medical Center. Dr. Alistar, an internationally known expert on pancreatic cancer, is now enrolling patients in five clinical trials aimed at pancreatic cancer.