Cancer Center – Page 23 – Texas Children's News

August 10, 2015

Bench and Bedside is a digest of the previous month’s stories about the clinical and academic activities of our physicians and scientists. We welcome your subsmissions and feedback.

July 7

Texas Children’s Hospital launches pediatric Thyroid Tumor Program

Texas Children’s Hospital recently formed a new pediatric Thyroid Tumor Program dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of children and young adults with thyroid tumors, cancer and diseases. Read more

July 7

Radiology expansion promotes environment of collaboration

New and improved office space for the Department of Pediatric Radiology brings together all radiologists in one large reading room and houses the department’s offices in one centralized location. The expansion also provides space for daily morning huddles. These changes help ensure the hospital’s imaging services are available for patients in a timely manner. Read more

July 14

Dr. Susan Blaney elected chair of CPRIT Advisory Committee on childhood cancers

Dr. Susan Blaney, deputy director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, was recently elected to serve as chair of the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Advisory Committee on Childhood Cancers (ACCC). Blaney, who has been a member of the committee for three years, will serve a two-year term. Read more

July 14

Health Center staff prepares for transition to community hospital setting

With the opening of the outpatient and subspecialty building at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands just 15 months away, steps are being taken to ensure the transition for staff, patients and their families is seamless. One such step was taken June 25 and 26 when staff and leaders at the Woodlands Health Center and staff and leaders at the West Campus Outpatient and Subspecialty Building met and discussed what it’s like to go from working at a small community health center to a community hospital. Read more

July 14

Texas Children’s opens first-of-its-kind pediatric Heart Failure Intensive Care Unit

Texas Children’s Heart Center and the section of Critical Care Medicine cut the ribbon July 6 on a new, first-of-its-kind pediatric Heart Failure Intensive Care Unit. This highly-specialized 12-bed unit focuses on the treatment of children with heart failure, as well as those requiring intensive care before and after heart transplant. Read more

July 14

Young investigator given research boost from national grant

Dr. Rikhia Chakraborty is a young scientist with a distinct goal – to find the causes that potentially lead to Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a rare cancer mainly affecting pediatric patients, and determine the best way to prevent and treat the disease. Chakraborty’s research was recently recognized by Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation with a Young Investigator Grant worth $100,000. Read more

July 14

Hour-long documentary on Mata conjoined twins to air on Discovery Life Channel

An hour-long documentary on the formerly conjoined Mata twins aired on the Discovery Life Channel on July 16 . The program spotlighted Texas Children’s Hospital’s efforts leading up to and after the historic surgery that separated Knatalye Hope and Adeline Faith Mata. Read more

July 14

Department of Surgery makes great strides 2010-2015

During his annual state of the department meeting, Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr. highlighted the impressive efforts within the Department of Surgery. Read more

July 20

A new community hospital partnership allows patients to deliver at CHI St. Luke’s Health – The Vintage Hospital

Pregnant members of Texas Children’s Health Plan – The Center for Children and Women Greenspoint location recently received some big news. They can now deliver their babies at CHI St. Luke’s Health – The Vintage Hospital located in Northwest Houston. Read more

July 21

Texas Children’s conference empowers HH patients, families

On July 11, Texas Children’s Hospital and Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartomas hosted an educational conference to empower patients and their families affected by a rare and often devastating brain condition. Hypothalamic Hamartoma (HH) is a noncancerous tumor of the hypothalamus that causes uncontrollable seizures, early puberty, hormonal imbalances and cognitive and behavioral problems. Read more

July 21

World renowned epileptologist, colleagues visit Texas Children’s Hospital

World renowned epileptologist Dr. Helen Cross and two of her colleagues visited Texas Children’s July 9 and July 10 to get more information on the Medtronic Visualase system, which uses real-time MRI-guided thermal imaging and laser technology to destroy lesions in the brain that cause epilepsy and uncontrollable seizures. Read more

July 21

Leaders prepare for opening of special isolation unit

Clinicians recently participated in a detailed simulation to prepare for the soon-to-be-open special isolation unit. The state-of-the-art facility will open its doors in October and a Special Response Team will stand ready to receive children suspected of having a highly contagious disease. Read more

July 21

End-of-treatment bell brings hope for cancer patients

Patients at the Texas Children Cancer and Hematology Centers now can ring a bell in both the inpatient and outpatient units at the end of their treatment. Listen to a song Purple Songs Can Fly artist and cancer survivor Christian Spear wrote and dedicated to patients entering a new phase of their lives with the ringing of the end-of-treatment bell. Read more

July 21

ICD-10: Let’s reach 100 percent educational compliance by September 1

On October 1, Texas Children’s and other hospitals around the nation will convert to the federally-mandated ICD-10 coding system to better report patients’ diagnoses and inpatient procedures. To ensure we are ready systemwide for this transition, employees must complete their required online education and training by September 1. You can access your assigned e-learning module here. Read more

July 28

Texas Children’s Auxiliary awards given to Gargollo and Rosenfeld

The Texas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary awarded urologist Dr. Patricio Gargollo the Denton A. Cooley Fellowship in Surgical Innovation Award and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Scott Rosenfeld the Outcomes Fellowship Award for 2015. Each award totals $75,000. This is the fourth year the Department of Surgery has received funding from the Texas Children’s Auxiliary. Read more

July 28

NRI study: Insufficient energy production by mitochondria can lead to neural degeneration

In a fascinating study recently published in PLOS Biology, Dr. Hugo Bellen, Manish Jaiswal and their colleagues at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s found that insufficient energy production by the mitochondria can cause photoreceptor neurons in the retina to degenerate. Read more

July 28

Fraser celebrates 20 years with Texas Children’s Hospital Heart Center

Thanks to the vision of legendary heart surgeon Dr. Denton H. Cooley and the leadership of Texas Children’s Hospital Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr ., the Texas Children’s Hospital Heart Center is one of the most active pediatric heart programs in the United States, setting a record with 32 heart transplants in 2014 and consistently treating the most complex heart issues every day. Read more

July 28

Texas Children’s expands crucial care to cancer and hematology patients in developing countries

Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center physicians are crossing the globe to provide care for children suffering from cancer and blood disorders. Watch a video to see how the care they provide continues to reach new populations. Read more

July 28

Zarutskie’s arrival, expertise complements patient care at Family Fertility Center

Dr. Paul Zarutskie recently joined the Family Fertility Center at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. With more than 30 years in the field of reproductive medicine, Zarutskie combines his expertise and compassionate approach to patient care to help infertile couples achieve their dream of starting a family. Read more

August 14

Transplant Services team to host pediatric transplant symposium

Texas Children’s Hospital Transplant Services team is hosting the 2015 Pediatric Transplant Symposium at Texas Children’s Hospital. Learn how to register for this conference. Read more

July 28, 2015

Dr. Parth Mehta’s favorite picture is one with five young children sitting around a small table putting together a puzzle. The kids, most of them bald, are smiling for the camera as their doctor snaps the photo. They’re cancer patients in a Texas Children’s clinic in Botswana and of the five, four have survived. While even one death is devastating, just a few years ago, none of them would have received the appropriate treatment. Most would have died without ever being diagnosed. Eight years ago, Mehta, now the director of Texas Children’s Global Oncology Programs, was the first pediatric oncologist in Botswana. When he arrived at the Princess Marina Hospital, only 22 cases of pediatric cancer had ever been diagnosed there. Today, more than 200 patients are under the care of Texas Children’s physicians in the same facility, and over the last eight years, more than 450 children with blood disorders and cancer have been treated.

“There is a population of 2 million people in Botswana and the challenge was quite overwhelming,” Mehta said, “Children died from diseases with a 95 percent cure rate in America because the drugs were not consistently available and no one really knew how to take care of these patients.”

Mehta started the first organized international effort in sub-Saharan Africa by Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, the largest pediatric cancer institute in the U.S. Under the vision of Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark W. Kline, Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine had already established several centers to care for children with AIDS in Africa. Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative helped secure the Texas Children’s name in these regions and Dr. David Poplack, director of Texas Children’s Cancer & Hematology Centers, was determined to make a long-term effort to help kids with cancer and blood disorders in these countries.

“Our role has been to put ‘medical boots’ on the ground,” said Poplack. “We send physicians and nurses and we use our staff to train our local counterparts in the treatment of these diseases. Our real aim is to provide the intellectual capital to train the appropriate individuals who will carry the work forward.”

That’s the key to the sustainability of these programs. About 80 percent of pediatric cancer cases are in developing countries where the survival rate is less than 40 percent. In countries like the U.S., it’s approximately 80 percent. While Texas Children’s treats patients from all over the U.S. and 26 different countries, for those in Africa, just bringing their child to a clinic in a nearby town is a difficult task. Dr. Gladstone Airewele who grew up in Nigeria knows about these problems. Airewele is the director of the Global Hematology Programs at Texas Children’s Cancer & Hematology Centers. For many of his patients, saving a life is as easy as a pin prick to collect blood for newborn screening to detect sickle cell disease.

“It’s very gratifying to see children come to the clinic, get great care and do much better than they ordinarily would if it weren’t for this program,” Airewele said.

Airewele said the long-term plan is to help with a broad range of hematologic diseases including bleeding disorders, bone marrow failure, and hemoglobin disorders.

“In a few years, I hope to see leaders of pediatric blood disorders all over Africa who are affiliated with Texas Children’s but are local physicians in those countries,” Airewele said. “People who have been trained and are training others, so these diagnoses are no longer a death sentence for these children.”

Texas Children’s international cancer & hematology initiative is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa with programs in Uganda, Botswana, Malawi, and Angola. Poplack and his team plan to expand the program to other regions. For now, a group of physicians at Texas Children’s are on call as consultants to BIPAI physicians who need answers about hematological and cancer-related diagnoses. Mehta and Airewele make frequent visits to the designated cancer clinics to pursue potential growth in our programs. For Mehta, the five young patients in that old photograph are a reminder of why this work is so pertinent.

“Medicine is not about borders,” Mehta said. “Medicine is not about cities and states. Cancer doesn’t just affect children in some places, and as a doctor who cares, not just treats, but cares for children with cancer, it’s almost axiomatic that one must take care of children everywhere.”

July 21, 2015

When Cade Beasly’s parents got the news that their little boy was diagnosed with Osteo Sarcoma, it was a devastating moment that brought many fears. For nearly nine months, Cade underwent treatments that left him weak and tired. On May 27, Cade’s tests came back and he was finally declared cancer-free. He would no longer be spending hours at a time on the 14th floor of the Clinical Care Center as he endured pricks while receiving life-saving medications. Just a few weeks later, Cade was back for a special occasion. He was one of the first children to ring the end of treatment bell.

“It makes me so happy to see him ring that bell signaling the end of his treatment,” said Cade’s mom Jessica Peterson. “There are so many emotions when you reach the end of your child’s treatment, but this moment is definitely a happy one.”

Cade was there to join his friend Ethan Williamson who donated the bells, one on the inpatient cancer and hematology unit and one for the outpatient unit. Each Bell is placed next to a plaque that reads, “Let your strength and courage be felt by all, as this bell’s song fills this hall. For every time we hear this note, another life be filled with hope. Stay strong.”

The bells were unveiled during a ceremony within each unit that brought out patients, families and the cancer and hematology centers staff.

Purple Songs Can Fly artist and cancer survivor Christian Spear dedicated a song for the ceremony. Listen to the touching lyrics below.

June 30, 2015

We’ve all heard the saying, “Hard work pays off.”

That old adage certainly rings true for Dr. Susan Blaney, deputy director of Texas Children’s Cancer Center and executive vice chair of Research for Baylor College of Medicine Department of Pediatrics.

While advancing pediatric cancer research remains one of her top priorities, Blaney has worked passionately to ensure researchers have the tools to advance their scientific investigations – all in the hopes of putting more childhood diseases on the curable or preventable list.

Seven years ago, Blaney garnered the support of the hospital’s section chiefs and the Chair of Department of Pediatrics, the late Dr. Ralph D. Feigin, who approved her proposal to establish the Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF). Blaney credits the SAIF as an important contribution to the success of translational research efforts at Texas Children’s Hospital.

“Small animal models of disease, particularly genetically engineered mice and mouse models of human tumors, are powerful tools in medical research,” Blaney said. “New, non-invasive in vivo methods for imaging small animals have greatly enhanced our ability to explore the pathological processes of human disease at the molecular and genomic levels.”

As the primary users of the SAIF, Texas Children’s and Baylor researchers rely on the facility’s resources to obtain preliminary data for grant proposals, with the goal of publishing their groundbreaking research in premier scientific journals and ultimately to improve the outcome for disease of childhood.

While there are multiple animal imaging facilities throughout the Texas Medical Center, many outside researchers use our facility to launch their pilot projects in collaboration with Texas Children’s faculty. These include principal investigators from the Texas Heart Institute, Rice University, the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, the University of Houston, Houston Methodist Hospital and the University of Tennessee.

Co-directed by Drs. Robia G. Pautler and M. Waleed Gaber under the guidance of Blaney and Dr. Jordan Orange, vice chair of Research for Baylor’s Department of Pediatrics, the SAIF provides a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art, high-resolution imaging equipment including:

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy
ultrasound
optical imaging (including bioluminescence and fluorescence)
computed topography
positron emission tomography
bone densitometer
pathological imaging (Leica microscope)
digital autoradiography system
single photon emission computed tomography

“We can uncover all sorts of amazing findings in human disease processes using multiple in vivo imaging modalities,” Pautler said. “We can measure fibrosis in the heart, track cellular and genetic activity in real-time, create blood flow maps to understand tumor growth and trace neural pathways in live animal models to detect early signs of neurodegenerative disorders.”

To enhance the power of translational research, the SAIF also helps investigators conduct longitudinal studies in the same live animal to observe different stages of disease progression and analyze what happens when potential therapeutic or diagnostic interventions are introduced.

In May, the SAIF hosted its first imaging symposium highlighting compelling research findings that would not have been possible without the support of Texas Children’s small animal imaging technologies. With approximately 100 attendees, the symposium also provided a forum to create new research ideas and initiate new collaborations with other investigators that will lead to higher levels of innovative research.

Without question, Blaney’s hard work has certainly paid off. With her vision fulfilled for the SAIF, the research vision of others has been enabled.

For example, a Texas Children’s principal investigator – who used MRI data from the SAIF to help drive his National Institutes of Health R01 grant application – recently received a score that ranked in the top one percent. Additionally, a junior Texas Children’s principal investigator who used imaging data from the SAIF in a grant application was recently awarded his very first foundation grant that will help launch his career.

“Researchers are starting to really appreciate the outstanding services provided to them through the SAIF,” Blaney said. “We are making incredible advances in research that will undoubtedly lead to novel treatments for our patients.”

March 31, 2015

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Eighteen years ago, Adam Henderson lost his hair as a result of treatments while battling acute lymphocytic leukemia at Texas Children’s Hospital. As of a few days ago, Henderson is once again bald after participating in the St. Baldrick’s event in The Woodlands with his former pediatric oncologist, Dr. Timothy Porea. Both Porea, clinical director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, and Henderson shaved their heads to raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research along with about 60 other participants.

“It is the first time Adam has been bald since he had been treated for his cancer 18 years ago,” said Porea who was a fellow at Texas Children’s Hospital when Henderson was undergoing treatment. “He’s just a great role model for our current patients and their families to show how far you can go when you’re through with these difficult treatments.”

“There were a lot of emotions about being bald again,” Henderson said. “This time, I’m doing it by choice and it’s a joyous occasion because I was able to promote a great cause. When I was sick, I was beat down, it was very difficult when I lost all of my hair.”

Porea has participated in the fundraising and head shaving for the last ten years. He had previously taken part in the events in Virginia. This year, after a move back to Houston, he was excited to call his former patient to join him. Porea and Henderson have kept in touch over the years and are even counselors together at Camp Periwinkle.

“It’s more than just a profession to Tim,” Henderson said of his former physician. “It’s true to his character and speaks to where his heart is. He’s an inspiration.”

St. Baldrick’s annual challenge to “Brave the Shave” brings together survivors, patient families, physicians and supporters from across the community to raise funds for childhood cancer research. This year, the nationwide shaving events have raised more than $22 million so far. The foundation was started as a response to the lack in funding for childhood cancer research. According to the organization’s website, while 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, all types of childhood cancers combined receive only 4 percent of the U.S. federal funding for research. The funds raised through St. Baldrick’s have helped fund 820 grants, at 329 institutions, in 22 countries. Several have been given to researchers at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. For Porea, who sees these patients every day, this research is vital to the discovery of better treatments and the possibility for a cure.

“Seeing Adam next to me for this event means we have succeeded, he’s here!” Porea said. “He’s able to do all of these things despite everything he went through as a child. It helps reinforce to me why we all do what we do here every day.”

For Henderson, his new bald look is a conversation starter. Most importantly, it brings attention to a disease he’s all too familiar with.

“At first, the conversation about being bald starts off as kind of a joke with people commenting on my ‘nice haircut’,” Henderson said. “But when I share my story and specifically talk about St. Baldrick’s, it’s impactful. People take it very seriously and there have been a lot of people that have walked away from these conversations with more knowledge and awareness.”

Asked how long he plans to continue shaving his head for childhood cancer research, Porea didn’t hesitate to answer.

“As long as I have hair.”

March 3, 2015

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The 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush spoke to a sold-out crowd at the Hilton Americas on February 25 at the 10th annual “An Evening with a Legend.” The event featured an insightful onstage discussion with President Bush conducted by CBS Host Bob Schieffer and raised funds for Texas Children’s Cancer Center. Sitting front row were President Bush’s parents, President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush.

The event was attended by Texas Children’s supporters who helped raise $1.2 million to support research and patient care at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, the largest pediatric cancer and blood disease center in the United States.

“The Legends event is a very special one for the Cancer Center, and there’s no better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary than with the distinguished company of a former president,” said Dr. David Poplack, director of Texas Children’s Cancer Center. “We’re so grateful for the donors and supporters who have made this evening a success.”

Emceed by Dr. Mark W. Kline, physician-in-chief of Texas Children’s Hospital, the event featured a video highlighting President Bush’s notable career as well as a presentation by the Houston Fire Department Honor Guard and Texas A&M Singing Cadets.

In 10 years, this event has raised more than $47 million for Texas Children’s Cancer Center and has featured notable honorees such as Robert Duvall, Dr. Denton Cooley, Gloria Gaynor, the Texas A&M Junction Boys and Apollo astronauts.

November 18, 2014

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Texas Children’s was well represented this month at the Periwinkle Foundation Kickball Classic, an event that raises money for an organization that provides healing programs and camps to children, young adults and families who are challenged by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Employees from across the hospital organized 23 of the 36 teams that participated in the November 8 event at the Houston Sportsplex. Kicks R 4 Kids, the team that represented Texas Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Radiology Department, took home the second-place title.

First place went to Lamar Squad, a team representing Lamar High School, and third place went to Kick Ballers, a team representing Bellaire High School.

More than 700 people turned out to watch the tournament, which raised $32,000 for the Periwinkle Foundation’s inaugural Kickball Classic.

The Kickball Classic involves teams of at least 10 people rallying together to raise funds while kicking to improve the lives of those affected by cancer. Each team is guaranteed three games in the round robin tournament and individuals are welcome to attend as well.

For more information about the Periwinkle Foundation, visit the organization’s website at http://periwinklefoundation.org/.

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