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NEWS RELEASES
First center of its kind in Southwest; first in nation to offer gene therapy
HOUSTON, March 25, 2009 –
Doctors and researchers from four Texas Medical Center institutions
have joined together in the fight against retinoblastoma, a
childhood cancer of the eye.
The result of their collaboration is the Retinoblastoma Center of
Houston, which includes experts from Texas Children’s Cancer Center,
the Children’s Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D.
Anderson Cancer Center, the Methodist Hospital and Baylor College of
Medicine.
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Physician from left to
right starting at front row:
Dr. Dan Gombos, Dr. Patricia Chevez-Barrios,
Dr. Peter Zage, Dr. Murali Chintagumpala
and Dr. Richard Hurwitz
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Together these specialists
will pioneer advancements in treating and curing retinoblastoma
through ground-breaking research and the development of innovative
therapies.
“By having top clinicians and researchers join forces, the
Retinoblastoma Center of Houston will be able to deliver the highest
quality patient care and conduct important research related to the
diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma,” said Dr. Murali
Chintagumpala, clinical co-director of the center, pediatric
oncologist at Texas Children’s Cancer Center and professor of
pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.
Retinoblastoma affects more than 300 infants and children in the
United States each year and is the most common malignant tumor of
the eye in children. Retinoblastoma is often curable, but may result
in the loss of the eye.
“Since this cancer is so rare, it’s important for us to come
together as a team to share our expertise and bring the best care to
all retinoblastoma patients,” said Dr. Dan Gombos, clinical
co-director of the center and associate professor of ophthalmology
at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. “Our focus is not on each
institution, but rather on what we can do collectively as a center
for our young patients with retinoblastoma.”
The center will be the first of its kind in the southwest region of
the United States and is the only one in the nation using gene
therapy in clinical trials to treat and potentially find a cure for
retinoblastoma. Patients will also have access to a special form of
radiation called proton therapy, which helps to spare the healthy
tissue around tumor areas and minimize the risk of secondary
cancers. In addition, genetic testing will be part of the center, an
important element because retinoblastoma is often hereditary.
Retinoblastoma is caused by a mutation in the retinoblastoma gene.
The disease takes two forms – bilateral retinoblastoma, which
affects both eyes and is often seen in infants and younger children;
and unilateral retinoblastoma, which affects only one eye and
generally occurs in older children.
Other research co-directors of the Retinoblastoma Center of Houston
are Dr. Richard Hurwitz, Texas Children’s Cancer Center and
associate professor in BCM’s departments of pediatrics,
ophthalmology, molecular and cellular biology and the Center for
Cell and Gene Therapy; and Dr. Peter Zage, assistant professor of
pediatrics at the Children’s Cancer Hospital at M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center.
Patients of the Retinoblastoma Center of Houston will be seen at
Texas Children’s Cancer Center and at the Children’s Cancer Hospital
at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center while the Methodist Hospital Research
Institute will house the center’s tumor bank and conduct tissue
diagnostic analysis.
The multidisciplinary center will allow doctors and scientists to
meet regularly to discuss their patients and treatment and to
coordinate research in a way that takes advantage of the unique
expertise of all the doctors and researchers involved.
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