Tulane Cancer Center Faculty Members
Named 'Top Doctors' in New Orleans
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Samir El-Dahr, MD, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics and Jane B. Aron Professor, was named a 2023 Top Doctor of Pediatric Nephrology in New Orleans Magazine's August issue. |
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New Orleans Magazine’s annual “Top Doctors” issue (August 2023) named 19 Tulane Cancer Center faculty members as tops in their respective fields, including three who were among the area’s best medical oncology specialists:
Bridgette Collins-Burow, MD, PhD
Jody Layton, MD
New Orleans Magazine utilized the services of Castle Connolly to compile this year's list. With over 30 years' experience researching, reviewing and selecting Top Doctors, Castle Connolly's mission is to help people find the best healthcare by connecting patients with best-in-class healthcare providers.
Castle Connolly’s physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the regional and national levels. Its online nominations process is open to all licensed physicians in America who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician(s) is, in their opinion, among the best in the region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty.
Then Castle Connolly’s research team thoroughly vets each physician's professional qualifications, education, hospital and faculty appointments, research leadership, professional reputation, disciplinary history, and if available, outcomes data. Additionally, a physician's interpersonal skills, such as listening and communicating effectively, demonstrating empathy, and instilling trust and confidence are also considered in the review process.
Congratulations to the 148 Tulane physicians across 48 specialties who made the list this year. Other Tulane Cancer Center faculty members making the list include:
Hans Andersson, MD—Clinical Genetics
Erin Boh, MD, PhD—Dermatology
Jessica Shank, MD—Gynecologic Oncology
Chancellor Donald, MD—Hematology
Maissaa Janbain, MD—Hematology
Hana Safah, MD—Hematology
Nakhle Saba, MD—Hematology
Paul L. Friedlander, MD—Otolaryngology
Samir El-Dahr, MD—Pediatric Nephrology
Ihor Yosypiv, MD—Pediatric Nephrology
Joseph Lasky, MD—Pulmonary Disease
P. Ronald Clisham, MD—Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility
Emad Kandil, MD, MBA—Surgery
Raju Thomas, MD, MHA—Urology
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Examining an Anti-Breast Cancer Molecule
as a Target for Future Drug Discovery
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Hua Lu, MB, PhD, Professor & Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Reynolds & Ryan Families Chair in Translational Cancer Research, says completing the proposed study would unveil critical information for identification of CCDC3 as another potential anti-breast cancer molecule for future drug discovery. |
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The p53 protein is a tumor suppressor mostly functional in the nucleus of cells throughout the body. Its job is to regulate cell division, growth and death by keeping cells from dividing in an uncontrolled way.
It does this by attaching directly to DNA. When the DNA is damaged by agents such as toxic chemicals, radiation, or ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight, this damage signal will lead to p53 activation. Once activated, p53 plays a critical role in determining whether the DNA will be repaired or the damaged cell will self-destruct. If the DNA can be repaired, p53 activates other genes to fix the damage. If the DNA cannot be repaired, p53 prevents the cell from dividing and signals it to undergo cell death, such as apoptosis. By stopping cells with mutated or damaged DNA from dividing, p53 helps the cells prevent the development of tumors and suppress their growth.*
Hua Lu, MB, PhD, chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, studies p53 and how its deactivation contributes to the formation of breast cancer. His latest project is supported by a $30,000 seed fund grant made possible by donations from Krewe de Pink, a local 501c3 dedicated to raising funds for Tulane Cancer Center's Breast Cancer Research Program, and the Cancer Crusaders, a local volunteer organization that has been raising funds for cancer research at Tulane Cancer Center and LSU Health Sciences Center for over 40 years .
According to Dr. Lu, the formation of breast cancer is highly related to the deactivation of p53. One possible culprit is a gene called MDM2.
"Approximately 30% of breast cancers contain high levels of MDM2," said Dr. Lu. "It inhibits the activity of the p53 tumor suppressor protein, but the mechanisms for how normal breast cells activate p53 by blocking MDM2 activity are not completely understood."
Dr. Lu's project will attempt to shed light by investigating how a newly discovered protein – coiled-coil domain containing 3 or CCDC3 - blocks MDM2.
CCDC3 is under-expressed in breast cancers, and low levels are well correlated with poor overall survival and higher rates of relapse. Dr. Lu's team hypothesizes that CCDC3 can suppress the growth of breast cancers by blocking MDM2, preventing the degradation of p53 and consequently activating p53.
"Completing the proposed study will help us gather the additional data we need to help support a National Institutes of Health grant application, and it will hopefully unveil critical information for identification of CCDC3 as another potential anti-breast cancer molecule for future drug discovery," said Dr. Lu. "We are deeply grateful to the members and supporters of Krewe de Pink for providing the seed funds to make this work possible."
(*National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus)
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August is Immunization Awareness Month:
Tulane Oncologist Says Vaccine is
Best Protection for Cervical Health
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“A vaccine is available to everyone between the ages of nine and 45 that can prevent multiple forms of cancer, yet many people don’t get it,” says Jessica Shank, MD.
Dr. Shank is an assistant professor and Section Chief of Gynecologic Oncology at Tulane University School of Medicine, where she tells her patients and colleagues that one of the most important things people can do for their long-term health is get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were about 43 million HPV infections in 2018, many among people in their late teens and early 20s. HPV is so common that almost every sexually active person will get it at some point if they don’t get vaccinated. While the virus can go away on its own, it has the potential to lead to serious health problems in the cases where it does not. HPV can cause cervical and other cancers - including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause head and neck cancers.
“The Gardasil vaccine now covers nine types of HPV, two that cause genital warts and seven that cause cancer,” said Shank. “Cervical cancer can be a devastating cancer. If you don’t catch it in Stage 1 and treat it immediately, treatment can be brutal.”
The CDC currently recommends vaccination for all preteens starting at the age of 9 years old and through everyone the age of 26. HPV vaccination is given as a series of either two or three doses, depending on age at initial vaccination. Some adults ages 27 through 45 years might decide to get the HPV vaccine based on discussion with their clinician, if they did not get adequately vaccinated when they were younger. HPV vaccination of people in this age range provides less benefit, for several reasons, including that more people in this age range have already been exposed to HPV.
Dr. Shank says patients who have HPV and have been diagnosed with a high-grade precancerous lesion benefit from getting vaccinated after being treated. The Gardasil vaccine decreased the risk of recurrent lesions.
“A lot of people think, ‘I already have HPV, why should I get the vaccine?’” said Dr. Shank. “It’s going to protect you from the eight types of HPV you don’t have and it’s actually going to boost your immune system and help you clear the type that you do.”
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. More than 14,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year, but almost all cases of the disease can be prevented by the HPV vaccination and routine screening.
(Story by Carolyn Scofield)
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To make an appointment with the expert team of
Tulane Obstetrics and Gynecology physicians, please click here.
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ACS Patient Transportation Grant
Helps Lift Barriers to Cancer Care
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Every day, thousands of patients with cancer need a ride to treatment — but finding transportation can present financial and logistical challenges. Access to transportation is a critical factor in whether patients receive and complete their lifesaving cancer treatments.
Thanks to a $3,000 Patient Transportation Grant from the American Cancer Society, Tulane Cancer Center can continue to quickly and conveniently mitigate transportation issues for many of our needy patients.
"Patient Transportation Grants are funds awarded to health systems or health system foundations to help cancer patients with transportation barriers get to and from cancer-related treatment appointments," said Lexie Matherne, associate director for community implementation at the ACS. "These grants are awarded through a competitive application process and focus on addressing unmet transportation needs of patients with cancer."
"There is a widespread lack of access to clinical care among our socio-economically disadvantaged populations, and transportation issues are often to blame," said Melissa Barrois, LMSW, Tulane Cancer Center social worker. "This additional funding will allow us to continue to mitigate the burden of transportation issues for many of our patients, and we are extremely grateful to the American Cancer Society for making that possible."
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Cancer Crusaders Celebration of Life Luncheon
to Honor 11 Local Cancer Survivors
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Cancer Crusaders
22nd Annual Celebration of Life Luncheon
Friday, September 15, 2023
New Orleans Marriott - Grand Ballroom
555 Canal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Doors Open 10:00 AM - Program Begins 11:30 AM
The Survivor Luncheon is the signature fundraising event for this organization that has been raising funds for cancer research at Tulane Cancer Center and LSU Health Sciences Center since 1976, with over $5 million raised!
Guests will enjoy a champagne reception, delicious luncheon, parade of prizes, raffles, a silent auction, presentation of survivor honorees and entertainment by The Mande Milkshakers.
View and bid on select auction items in the weeks leading up to the event here. Bidding can be done from your computer, smartphone, or tablet before and during the event. If you don't have a smartphone or tablet to bring to the event, attendants with iPads will be available to help you make your bids throughout the luncheon. You can also purchase parade of prizes and raffle tickets in advance for pick-up at the venue.
Discounted valet parking is available for all Luncheon attendees at the Marriott & the Sheraton New Orleans. The pre-paid price is $20 upon parking and will be based upon availability. Please mention you are with Cancer Crusaders. Alternate parking is available at Canal Place, 201 Canal Street, and Solaris's Parking Garage, 721 Iberville Street. Carpooling, Uber & Lyft are encouraged!
To purchase your tickets, please click here. Can't attend but want to support the cause? No worries. You can make your tax-deductible donation here.
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or visit
To make a tax-deductible donation to Tulane Cancer Center
(Federal Tax ID# 72-0423889) please click here.
Thank you for your generosity and support!
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