Research in review [February 1997]

              Research
IN REVIEW
_      l/^~^\    GREENSBORO
■—if    f AREA HEALTH
l—»l     V 1   EDUCATION
CENTER
Issue 2 February 1997
Editors' Note & Welcome to the second issue of
Research IN REVIEW. The goal of this publication
is to increase the visibility and recognition of research
within our institution. The first issue contained
material from many departments throughout the
Moses Cone Health System (MCHS) and was deemed
a success by all. The most interesting outcome was
the number of readers surprised by just how much
research actually takes place.
In addition to the first issue's distribution to all
departments, this bulletin was used in other ways over
the past year. Prospective residents for both the
Internal Medicine and Family Practice Residency
Programs were given copies at Residency Fairs and
during the interview season. Members of the UNCG
Institute for Health, Science and Society (described in
this issue) also reviewed the information to identify
areas where our two campuses might collaborate.
Originally we had planned on publication twice a
year. However, because of the large amount of
research being done at MCHS and the consideration
that many projects take years to complete, we have
decided to print Research IN REVIEW yearly. In
exchange we will increase its size to accommodate all
appropriate items received by our editorial team.
«■ The editorial staff contacts departments at the
end of each year for information. If your department
is not currently notified please contact one of the
editors to include your research in the next issue.
Moses Cone faculty and staff publication references
can be found in the Medical Library's yearly Off Line
that is distributed in January. Editors: Charles
Hansen, MA, CCRC, Internal Medicine Residency
Program; Martha Delaney, MA, and Teresa Rasco,
Family Practice Residency Program.
REGIONAL CANCER CENTER (Abstracted
from Oncology Newsletter, No. 24, 1997)
Moses  Cone  Health  System's  Regional   Cancer
Center is actively involved in and dedicated to cancer
treatment and prevention research. The center
conducts both clinical trials and cancer control studies
or prevention trials. We are a charter member of the
Southeast Cancer Control Consortium (SCCC) which
formed in 1987 when the Community Clinical
Oncology Program of the National Cancer Institute
awarded us a three-year grant. This grant has been
renewed twice for two five-year periods in
recognition of the SCCC's outstanding performance.
SCCC headquarters are in Winston-Salem with
membership in 16 NC communities and four other
states. The Regional Cancer Center is an institutional
member with more than 20 physicians, called member
investigators, representing Greensboro. The SCCC
allows us access to several research bases, including
Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB), National
Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel (NSABP) and
the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). In
1995, we were also approved through Duke
University Medical Center as an affiliate member of
the Gynecological and Oncology Group (GOG) to
enroll patients in gynecological oncology research
trials.
The research program has a unique structure. All
protocols are received and presented for approval by
the Greensboro Cancer Study Group which consists of
physicians from various specialties, research nurses
and oncology pharmacists. After careful review, the
protocols are then forwarded to the hospital's
Institutional Review Board.
The first major study was the Polyp Prevention Trial
to test whether a low-fat, high-fiber diet could prevent
the recurrence of colorectal polyps. Enrollment began
in June 1991 and ended December 1993 with 84
participants enrolled at the Regional Cancer Center.
The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCBT) was our
next major trial. Beginning in July 1992, it
continues to recruit women who are at high risk for
breast cancer. Participants randomly receive either
tamoxifen or placebo. Tamoxifen has been shown to
reduce the reoccurrence of breast cancers in
previously affected women. The study will determine
if tamoxifen can also prevent initial breast cancers in
high risk women. So far, 62 women have enrolled in
this study at our center. The national enrollment goal
of 13,000 should be reached by April 1997.