Medical Oncology Expertise
A recent discovery by Brown Cancer Center researchers, Paula Bates,
Dr. Donald Miller and John Trent represents an entirely new direction
in medical oncology. This new treatment, which shows promise for
most types of cancer, already has phase I FDA approval and is currently
available in clinical trials at Brown. The treatment involves the
use of GROs (Guanine-Rich Oligonucleotides)—an unusually stable
small component of DNA which can be synthesized. GROs bind tightly
to nucleolin—a protein identified by Brown researchers as
a factor in cell growth and proliferation. GROs are able to kill
cancer cells while having little effect on normal cells because
the nucleolin migrates to the surface of cancer cells but remains
embedded deep in the nucleus of normal cells. The selectivity of
GROs and the fact that no agents need to penetrate the walls of
cells constitutes a treatment which promises to be safer and more
effective with far fewer side effects than any current chemotherapy
treatment available. The discovery of GROs presents the potential
for the design of many molecular-targeting compounds.
Brown Cancer Center Medical Oncology/Hematology teams have also
given emphasis to the treatment of blood disorders—both malignant
and benign types. These teams, which include medical oncologists,
hematologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, and other specialists,
develop an individualized, comprehensive treatment plan for each
patient. In addition to the newest diagnostic and treatment technology,
the collaboration of clinicians from each of the treatment modalities,
clinical research and basic-science researchers at Brown provides
the optimal platform for bringing new treatments into clinical use
rapidly.
Currently Brown Cancer Center has eleven other treatments in varying
stages of development which have shown the potential to become viable
alternatives for treating cancer in the very near future.