College of Medicine Awards

Carmen Allegra, M.D., a professor of medicine and chief of the division of hematology and oncology, was named the College of Medicine's Clinical Investigator of the Year for his National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project clinical trials in colon cancer therapy. Bob Hollander, of the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, won the college's Clinical Educator of the Year for his outstanding efforts in making physicians out of students.

Student receives Achievement Award

Raphael Bosse, an M.D./Ph.D. student, received an American Society of Hematology Abstract Achievement Award for his research, which he presented at the society's meeting in December. Additionally, Bosse was awarded first prize for his research at the department of medicine's research day last year.

Wu awarded 2013 V-Foundation grant

Lizi Wu, Ph.D., University of Florida cancer researcher and assistant professor of molecular genetics and microbiology, was awarded $200,000 from The V Foundation in support of her research against a formidable opponent, a particularly aggressive form of childhood leukemia called T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or T-ALL.

National Cancer Institute Global Cancer Research Day

Folakemi Odedina, Ph.D., a professor of pharmacy and the director of the UF Shands Cancer Center's Cancer Health Disparities Program, served on the planning committee for National Cancer Institute Global Cancer Research Day, which was held in Washington, DC in March in conjunction with the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Annual Meeting.

2013 Celebration of Excellence Award Winners

Five awards were presented to your cancer colleagues, selected from more than 140 nominations received this year for the second annual UF Shands Cancer Center Celebration of Excellence Awards. Awards included the Golden Glove, Bench to Bedside, Top Team Effort, Mentoring Outside the Box, and MVP were presented to winners during the Feb. 26 award ceremony.

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Abstract selected for Oral Scientific Session

Charles Nichols, M.D., an assistant professor in the department of radiation oncology, was selected to present his abstract, Serum Testosterone Changes in Patients Treated with Radiotherapy Alone for Prostate Cancer on RTOG 9408, in an Oral Scientific Session by the Annual Meeting Program Committee of the American Society for Radiation Oncology. The session will be held during the 2013 Annual Meeting being held September 22-25, in Atlanta, Ga.

UF students win Junior Investigator Awards

The 13th International Tumor Microenvironment Workshop was held May 2-4 in Miami. Twenty current and former UF faculty, post-doctoral associates, graduate students, and support personnel attended the meeting. Three UF interdisciplinary program graduate students won Junior Investigator Awards for their oral presentations: Divya Sudhan, Nikolett Molnar, and Jennifer Lee.

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UF researchers to study ethnic differences in prostate cancer experiences

Black men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer and die more often of the disease than any other group of American men, yet there are significant differences among black men in terms of quality of life and outcomes. Now, University of Florida researchers are exploring these differences among groups of culturally diverse black men with prostate cancer, seeking to understand why.

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Beating the odds

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New grant helps fund childhood cancer research

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A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Multicenter Study Comparing Oral MLN9708 Plus Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone versus Placebo Plus Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone in Adult Patients with Relapsed and/or Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether adding MLN9708 to the combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone improves survival in patients with multiple myeloma whose disease is no longer responding or has not responded to previous treatment. Protocol No. 20121029

Principal Investigator: Jan Moreb

A Phase I Clinical Trial of OXi4503 for Relapsed and Refractory Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

This study is intended to determine the safety and maximum tolerated dose of a drug, OXi4503 (combretastatin A1 diphosphate, CA1P, OXiGENE), in patients with relapsed and refractory AML and MDS. Protocol No. 145-2010

Principal Investigator: Christopher Cogle

A Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label, Phase 2 Trial of SGI-110 and Carboplatin in Subjects with Platinum-Resistant Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

A 2-part, Phase 1-2 controlled, open-label, randomized study in patients with platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer. In Part 1, patients will receive SGI-110 and carboplatin. The optimum dose will be identified in Part 1 based on safety and efficacy. In Part 2, patients will be randomized to receive the dose identified in Part 1 plus carboplatin or one of three treatment of choice at the discretion of the investigator. The treatment of choice consists of topotecan, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, or paclitaxel. Protocol No. 20122117

Principal Investigator: Merry Markham

A phase III, open label, randomized, multicenter trial of ofatumumab maintenance treatment versus no further treatment in subjects with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have responded to induction therapy

The purpose of this study is to determine if maintenance therapy with ofatumumab will prolong remission in patients with CLL who have responded to second or third line treatment. This study will also evaluate the safety of ofatumumab maintenance compared to observation (the current standard of care). This study was co-developed with the HOVON and NORDIC CLL group and will be conducted as a collaborative effort with GSK. Protocol No. 20091699

Principal Investigator: Nam Dang