Wednesday, September 23, 2009

How do you find a Specialist in Melanoma? Jim Breitfeller

Last Night I went to a Gilda Club Meeting on Melanoma. One Patient there asked "how do you find a specialist in Melanoma?" I believe whole heartedly that one must find the best team Leader to take you up Mount Everest. He/she is the only Clinical Oncologist that can guide you off the the Mountain. I could not recall this website, so I figured I would post it now.

www.melanomacare.org

Northeast:

Interdisciplinary Melanoma Program
Rhode Island Hospital
Brown Medical School
Providence, Rhode Island
401-444-8852
Michael P. Vezeridis, M.D.
Martin A. Weinstock, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-Directors

Melanoma Program
Norris Cotton Cancer Center
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Lebanon, NH
603-650-5534

Skin Oncology Program
Boston Medical Center
Boston, MA
617-638-7131
Physician in charge: Marie-France Demierre, MD

The Melanoma Program at Massachusetts General Hospital
Pigmented Lesion Clinic, Arthur J. Sober, MD, Director
Surgical Oncology, Kenneth K. Tanabe, MD, Director
Medical Oncology, Frank G. Haluska, MD, PhD, Director
Boston, MA
617-724-6082

Pigmented Lesion Clinic
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA
617-667-3753
physician in charge: Caroline C. Kim, MD

Pediatric Pigmented Lesion Clinic
Children's Hospital Boston
Boston, MA
617-355-6117
physician in charge: Caroline C. Kim, MD

Multidisciplinary Melanoma Clinic
University of Connecticut Health Center
Farmington, CT
860-679-4600

Pigmented Lesion Clinic
Yale Dermatology Consultants
New Haven, CT
203-785-4632

Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, NY
716-845-7614

The Tumor Vaccine Program
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
New York, NY
718-430-2000

Melanoma Disease Management Team
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY
212-610-0766
http://www.mskcc.org

Pigmented Lesion Section
New York University Medical Center, Oncology Section
New York, NY
212-263-5260
http://www.med.nyu.edu/derm

Comprehensive Cancer Center
Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center
New York, NY
718-920-1100

Mohs Micrographic and Dermatologic Surgery Unit
Department of Dermatology
Weill Medical College of Cornell
New York Presbyterian Hospital
New York, NY
212-746-6538

The Melanoma and Soft Tissue Oncology Program at
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
New Brunswick, NJ
732-235-6777

Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Hillman Cancer Center
Pittsburgh, PA
412-692-4724

Pigmented Lesion Group
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
215-662-6926

Midwest
Multidisciplinary Melanoma Clinic
Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
734-936-6360
http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/clinic/melclinic.htm

Pigmented Lesion Clinic
Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, MI
313-916-4060

Multidisciplinary Melanoma Clinic
Karmanos Cancer Institute
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
313-745-9166
1-800-Karmanos

Multidisciplinary Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Clinic
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, OH
513-584-8900

MetroHealth Medical Center
Cancer Care Center Melanoma Program
2500 MetroHealth Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44109

(216) 778-4795 (Surgical Oncology)
(216) 778-5802 (Medical Oncology)
The Melanoma Clinic at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center
Cleveland, OH
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/cancer

The Melanoma Center At The James
Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
614-293-7531 (medical)
614-293-5644 (surgical)

Wagner & Associates Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Consultants of Indiana
Indianapolis, IN
317-621-2520
317-621-2580

Interdisciplinary Melanoma Clinic
Indiana University Cancer Center, Indiana University Medical Center
Indianapolis, IN
317-278-7449

Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
708-327-2078
http://www.luhs.org

Pigmented Lesion Center
Rush University
Chicago, IL
312-563-2321
http://www.rush.edu/rumc/page-R12605.html

Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Center
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
612-625-5199

Multidisciplinary Melanoma Group
St. Louis University Health Sciences Center/SLUCare
St. Louis, MO
314-268-5320

South:

The Melanoma and Pigmented Lesion Clinic
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, MD
410-614-1022

Melanoma Center
Washington Cancer Institute
The Washington Hospital Center
Washington, DC
202-877-2551
http://www.whc.mhg.edu

Blumenthal Cancer Center
Carolina Medical Center
Charlotte, NC
704-355-2757
http://www.carolinashealthcare.org

Dermatologic Surgery Unit, Department of Dermatology
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC
336-716-6276

The Melanoma Clinic/Pigmented Lesion Clinic
Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center
Durham, NC
919-684-2137

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Melanoma Multidisciplinary Program
Referrals/Appointments 919-966-9700

Brown Cancer Center, University Hospital at University of Louisville
Norton Cancer Center at Norton University
Louisville, KY
502-852-1897

The Dermatology Clinic
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN
615-322-6485

Emory Surgery, Melanoma, and Pigmented Lesion Clinic
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
404-778-3354 (Dr Washington), 404-778-5225 (Dr Chen)

Section of Surgical Oncology
Winship Cancer Institute
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Info: 404-778-5233

Oncology Research Program
Piedmont Hospital Research Institute
Atlanta, GA
404-605-3068
Email: phri@piedmont.org
http://www.piedmontcancercare.org

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center Cutaneous Oncology Clinic
Tampa, FL
813-972-8485
800-456-3434
813-972-8400 ext 1968 (new patients)
http://www.moffitt.usf.edu
Program Leader: Vernon K. Sondak, MD

Lakeland Regional Cancer Center
Cutaneous Oncology Program
Lakeland, FL
863-603-6565

The Pigmented Lesion Clinic
University of Miami School of Medicine
Miami, FL
305-243-4183

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
1400 S. Orange Avenue
Orlando, Florida 32806
407 648-3800
800 648-3818
http://www.mdandersonorlando.org/

Melanoma Skin Center
Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Dermatology
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
713-745-1113

The Melanoma Center of North Texas
Dallas, TX
Phone: (214) 956-6802
Contact: Jody Jordan, CRA

West:

Melanoma Multidisciplinary Clinic
Huntsman Cancer Institute
Salt Lake City, UT
801-408-3555 (referrals)

Cutaneous Oncology
University of Colorado Cancer Center
Aschutz Cancer Pavilion
Aurora, CO
720-848-0300
800-473-2288

The Melanoma Center
UCSF Clinical Cancer Center
San Francisco, CA
415-885-7546

Northern California Melanoma Center
San Francisco, California
415-353-6535
Associate Director: Robert W. Weber, MD

Pigmented Lesion and Multidisciplinary Melanoma Clinics
Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford, CA
650-725-5255
http://cancer.stanfordhospital.com

The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute
Affiliated with the John Wayne Cancer Institute
Santa Monica, CA
310-231-2178
website: http://www.theangelesclinic.org/
email: info@theangelesclinic.org

The Pigmented Lesion Clinic
UCLA Dermatology Center
Los Angeles, CA
310-825-6911

North Bay Melanoma Program
Sponsored by Redwood Regional Medical Group
Director: Peter B. Brett, M.D.
652 Petaluma Ave #B
Sebastopol, CA 95472
website: http://www.melanomaprogram.org/
(707) 823-8565

CHAO Family Comprehensive Cancer Center-Melanoma Clinic
University of California, Irvine Medical Center
Orange, CA
714-456-8171

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
206-288-2168 (patient referrals)

This is not the complete list, but a good starting point.

If patients around the world could add their center in the comments, I will add them to the on going list.

Thanks In advance



Take Care,

Jimmy B
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Greetings to One and All

This Blog is dedicated My Brother Kenny B. who passed away in the late 1970's with Cancer before the Internet.

It was he, who showed me How to live and give back. He was wise beyond his years.


Kenny B




Jimmy and Dee

Carepage: Jimmybreitfeller
Jimmy Breitfeller


My Profile as of 2009

My photo
Last July (2005)I was riding my bicycle to work at the Eastman Kodak Research Labs about 3 miles from home. I was wearing a knapsack to carry my things to and from the labs. I started noticing an ache on my back. So I decide to go to the dermatologist. To make the long story short, it was cancer. I knew from my research that I would be needing adjuvant therapy. So I started communicating with Sloan Kettering, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center, and a couple of others including the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong. I realized that by telling my story, I might help someone else out there in a similar situation. So to all who are linked by diagnosis or by relation to someone with melanoma, I wish you well. Stay positive, read as much as you can (information helps to eliminate the fear associated with the unknown), and live for today, as no one can predict what tomorrow may bring. Jimmy B. posted 12/15/08

Disclaimer

The information contained within this Blog is not meant to replace the examination or advice of your Oncologist or Medical Team. The educational material that is covered here or Linked to, does not cover every detail of each disorder discussed.

Only your physician/Oncologist can make medical decisions and treatment plans that are appropriate for you. But, An Educated Consumer is a Smart consumer.

As Dr. Casey Culberson Said:

"The BEST melanoma patient is an ACTIVE PARTICIPANT in his or her treatment
(not a PASSIVE RECIPIENT)"

Melanoma and the “Magic Bullet” (Monoclonal Antibodies)

Just to let you know I posted the first draft of the Melanoma and the “Magic Bullet” (Monoclonal Antibodies). on Melanoma Missionary In the Shared File Section. you can download it for 19.95 (Only kidding) it is Free for the taking.


It is 33 pages long and may help you in your quest for the Yellow Brick Broad. Just to let you know it is only the first draft. Revisions are sure to come. I wanted to get it to the people that need it the most, the Melanoma Patients.

Preview:

So, where does Interluekin-2 (IL-2) come into play? According to Byung-Scok et al and recent reports, IL-2 is not needed for developmental CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells in the thymus but does play an important role in the maintenance and function in the peripheral.18 Peripheral is defines as secondary system outside the bone marrow and thymus. It entails the site of antigen, immune system interaction. IL-2 is required for the peripheral generation of Tregs based Abbas’s and colleagues research.19

IL-2 prevents the spontaneous apoptosis of the CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells. It has been reported that patients with multiple advance-stage tumors have elevated levels of Tregs within the tumor microenviroment.20 Interluekin-2 is the survival factor for CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells.21 If the addition of IL-2 is on or before the maximum propagation of the CD4+ T cells, the Tregs population can increase 5-fold in a 96 hour period based on certain growth mediums.

By controlling the addition of the endogenous IL-2, one has a knob to turn and can lead to the control of the expansion of the Tregs. When you combined this control with the anti-CTLA-4 blockage, you can shift the balance of the immune response.

Now here is the catch. The maintenance and function of the CD8+ T-cells require CD4+ cells which secrete IL-2. So we don’t want to deplete the CD4+ cells, we want to control the expansion of the Tregs which are a subset of the CD4+ cells. It has been postulated by some researchers that the Anti-CTLA-4 blockage also suppresses the Treg function in a different mechanism. By using IL-2 as the rate limiting factor, we can suppress the CD4+ CD25+ Treg cell expansion by controlling the concentration and timing of the Inerluekin-2 at the tumor microenvironment.


The Interluekin-2 plays another role in this Melanoma Maze. In a study by Janas et al, Il-2 increases the expressions of the perforin and granzyme A, B and C genes in the CD8+ T-cells. This increase expression causes the CD8+ T-cells to mature into Cytoxic T Lymphocytes (CTLs). The exogenous IL-2 is required for the granzyme proteins. As stated previously, CTLs have cytoplasmic granules that contain the proteins perforin and granzymes. A dozen or more perforin molecules insert themselves into the plasma membrane of target cells forming a pore that enables granzymes to enter the cell. Once in the tumor cell, these enzymes are able to breakup (lyse) the cell and destroy it. This is the beginning of the end for the cancer cells. The tumors begin to shrink and the rest is history,

“

On the other hand, prolong therapy with Il-2 can result in causing apoptotic death of the tumor- specific CD8+ T-cells.23

Clearly in a clinical setting, timing, dose, and exposure to these drugs play a major roll in the immunotherapy, and can have dramatic effects on the outcome.

All it takes is that one magic bullet to start the immune reaction..

https://app.box.com/shared/kjgr6dkztj

Melanoma And The Magic Bullet (Monoclonal Antibodies)

Public Service Announcement

A call for Melanoma Patients by Dr. Steven A Rosenberg

"We continue to see a high rate of clinical responses in our cell transfer immunotherapy treatments for patients with metastatic melanoma", Dr. Rosenberg said.

"We are actively seeking patients for these trials and any note of that on a patient-directed web site would be appreciated."

If you would like to apply for his trials, here is the website and information.

Dr. Rosenberg's information


Dr. Rosenberg's Clinical Trials


For the Warriors




The Melanoma Research Alliance has partnered with Bruce Springsteen, the E Street Band, and the Federici family to alleviate suffering and death from melanoma. Please view Bruce Springsteen’s public service announcement inspired by Danny Federici. Danny was the E Street Band’s organist and keyboard player. He died on April 17, 2008 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City after a three year battle with melanoma.


http://www.melanomaresearchalliance.org/news/PSA/

Source Fastcures blog



Join the Relay for Life!!!

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Dear Family and Friends,

I’ve decided to take a stand and fight back against cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event right here in my community! Please support me in this important cause by making a secure, tax-deductible donation online using the link below.

To donate on line now, click here to visit my personal page.
Jimmy B AKA Melanoma_Missionary

Relay For Life® is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people worldwide to:

CELEBRATE the lives of those who have battled cancer. The strength of survivors inspires others to continue to fight.

REMEMBER loved ones lost to the disease. At Relay, people who have walked alongside people battling cancer can grieve and find healing.

FIGHT BACK. We Relay because we have been touched by cancer and desperately want to put an end to the disease.

Whatever you can give will help - it all adds up! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Keep the Fire Burning!!!

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Sincerely,

Jimmy Breitfeller
Turn off Music before you "Click to Play"
Signs of Melanoma Carcinoma Skin Cancer

How Skin Cancer Develops by "About.com : Dermatology"

Call for Patients with Unresectable Liver Metastases Due to Melanoma



Delcath Systems Granted Orphan-Drug Designations for Cutaneous and Ocular Melanoma


Delcath is actively enrolling patients in a Phase III clinical trial testing its proprietary drug delivery system, known as Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (“PHP”), with melphalan for the treatment of ocular and cutaneous melanoma metastatic to the liver.

This NCI-led trial is enrolling patients at leading cancer centers throughout the United States. Commenting on these orphan-drug designations, Richard L. Taney, President and CEO of Delcath, stated, “These favorable designations are important steps in our efforts to secure Delcath’s commercial position upon conclusion of our pivotal Phase III trial for metastatic melanoma. We remain steadfast in our commitment to become the leader in the regional treatment of liver cancers and we continue to enroll patients in this study, and advance our technology and the promise that it offers to patients with these deadly forms of melanoma and other cancers of the liver, all with limited treatment options.”

Orphan drug designation, when granted by the FDA’s Office of Orphan Products Development, allows for up to seven years of market exclusivity upon FDA approval, as well as clinical study incentives, study design assistance, waivers of certain FDA user fees, and potential tax credits.


Current Trial Centers


Phase I Study of Hepatic Arterial Melphalan Infusion and Hepatic Venous Hemofiltration Using
Percutaneously Placed Catheters in Patients With Unresectable Hepatic Malignancies


James F. Pingpank, Jr., MD, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Division of Surgical Oncology
Suite 406, UPMC Cancer Pavillion
5150 Centre Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
412-692-2852 (Office)
412-692-2520 (Fax)
PingpankJF@UPMC.edu


Blog Archive

Call For Melanoma Patients!!!!

Call For Melanoma Patients!!!!

Dr. Rosenberg Has a New Clinical Trial.

Our latest treatment has a 72% objective response rate with 36% complete responses.

We are currently recruiting patients for our latest trial.

Is there some way to post this “Call for Patients” on the web site?

Steve Rosenberg

Dr. Rosenberg's Clinical Trials



(For a copy of the research paper.. see My Shared files)

The news headlines shown above for Melanoma / Skin Cancer are provided courtesy of Medical News Today.