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TO HEALTH, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
Michael S. Gordon, MD named medical director for Virginia G. Piper
Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Michael
S. Gordon, MD, one of the greater Phoenix area's leading medical
oncologists and cancer researchers, has been named the new Medical
Director for the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials
program at Scottsdale Healthcare. Dr. Gordon will oversee the center's
internationally recognized Phase I clinical trials program, which is
known for its leadership in first-in-human studies of new cancer
therapies.
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale
Healthcare, a partnership with TGen, is a leading clinical research
site for Phase I studies of new cancer drugs. It is often among the
first in the world to offer a new investigational drug for eligible
patients with a broad range of cancers.
Dr. Gordon is a medical oncologist who serves as CEO of Pinnacle
Oncology Hematology, a division of Arizona Center for Cancer Care, in
Scottsdale, focusing on translational research and the care and
management of cancer patients seeking phase I and phase II clinical
trials. He is a Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at the
University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix, and is actively
engaged in the education of medical students as co-director of the
Oncology Block.
Dr. Gordon's principal research interests are in development of new
cancer therapies with a focus on targeted and immunologic therapies as
well as drugs that affect angiogenesis (tumor blood vessel supply).
Avastin@, Perjeta@ and Neumega@ are among the drugs Dr. Gordon has
helped validate for FDA approval. His disease focuses include kidney
cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal
stromal tumor (GIST) and ovarian cancer.
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale
Healthcare, through its relationships with top physician scientists,
biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies world wide, offers a
variety of early-phase cancer research studies providing local impact
to the citizens of Arizona, according to Dr. Gordon.
"The care and management of patients with cancer and associated
diagnoses is rapidly evolving. The ability to provide patients with
cutting-edge treatments has the potential to transform the way cancer
care is delivered. The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare has always been a leader in this regard and its
relationships with its community partners defines Scottsdale
Healthcare's commitment to our patients and our community," said Dr.
Gordon.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues and to the evolution of
a new dynamic as we work to accelerate the access to new cancer drugs
to our patients in need. By focusing on innovation in a collaborative
spirit with our community physicians, we reinforce our primary
commitment to our patients and their families," he continued.
Dr. Gordon specifically noted the strength of the talent in Scottsdale
and their commitment to excellence. "Our programs have a tremendous
core of individuals at all levels of clinical research and primary
patient care who ensure that we do the best work possible, drawing
greater focus on Scottsdale as the "go to" place for cancer drug
development."
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare and
Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute are known for collaborations
with leading genomic scientists, academic centers and community-based
physicians such as the Arizona Center for Cancer Care, Palo Verde
Hematology Oncology and Arizona Oncology Associates, said Mark Slater,
PhD, chief executive, Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute.
"We will continue to collaborate with our community physicians, our
partners at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen),
Translational Drug Development (TD2), nationally recognized
universities and others to better serve our community and accelerate
breakthrough innovations for cancer treatment," added Dr. Slater.
Examples of recent successes in accelerating new drug development at
the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center are skin cancer drug Erivedge@ and
the use of Abraxane for treating pancreatic cancer. Both worldwide
studies were led in Scottsdale by Daniel D. Von Hoff, MD, chief
scientific officer of the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at
Scottsdale Healthcare and TGen Physician-in-Chief.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Erivedge@ for advanced
basal cell carcinoma in January 2012 and approved Abraxane in
combination with standard therapy for pancreatic cancer in September
2013.
"We are honing in on the pathways to help tailor the right drug to the
right patient at the right time," said Dr. Von Hoff. "This is an
exciting era of precision medicine and the Virginia G. Piper Cancer
Center Clinical Trials program at Scottsdale Healthcare provides
unprecedented access to new therapies for people in our community."
Ramesh Ramanathan, MD, an investigator at Virginia G. Piper Cancer
Center Clinical Trials specializing in treatment of gastrointestinal
cancers, agreed that the program will benefit from the inclusion of
Dr. Gordon.
"My passion is cancer research and I look forward to growing our
program along with Dr. Gordon, Dr. Von Hoff and everyone involved in
this important work at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at
Scottsdale Healthcare. I'm optimistic that we can continue our strong
track record of success as we battle this disease," said Dr.
Ramanathan, who is also a senior investigator and Clinical Professor
at TGen and the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Phoenix.
"Our campus is becoming the epicenter of research activity across the
Scottsdale Lincoln Health Network, and we are creating an
infrastructure that continues to attract top talent to our
organization," added Gary Baker, senior vice president and CEO,
Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center.
Baker noted that the depth of science through the diagnostic and
genomic capabilities available to local cancer patients is a key
benefit of the inclusiveness and collaborative spirit fostered within
the Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute.
"It's a great example of locally based, yet nationally respected
leading researchers, community physicians and clinical teams working
together to develop new therapies and innovative treatments that
benefit patients here in Arizona and across the United States,"
concluded Ron Korn, MD, PhD, medical director of the Virginia G. Piper
Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare.
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare opened in
2001 as the first major cancer center in greater Phoenix, offering
comprehensive cancer care and research through Phase I clinical
trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support services in
collaboration with leading researchers and community oncologists.
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale
Healthcare is known worldwide for its expertise in studying new
treatments for pancreatic cancer. It is a co-lead site with Dr. Von
Hoff as the principal investigator for Stand Up to Cancer's Pancreatic
Cancer Dream Team comprised of scientists working to develop new
treatments for pancreatic cancer.
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, an
affiliate of the Scottsdale Lincoln Health Network, is designated by
the Association of Community Cancer Centers as a Community Resource
Center for Pancreatic Cancer and holds Accreditation with Commendation
from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
SOURCE Scottsdale Healthcare
-0- 04/24/2014
/CONTACT: Keith Jones, 480-323-1383; kjones@shc.org
/Web Site: http://www.shc.org
CO: Scottsdale Healthcare
ST: Arizona
IN: HEA MTC
SU: PER
PRN
-- DC11863 --
0000 04/24/2014 12:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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