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NCI Again Rates Ohio State as Exceptional
For the third consecutive time, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has rated The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (OSUCCC) as exceptional—the highest rating provided—following a review of Ohio State’s application for re-designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center and a virtual site visit by a team of NCI surveyors.

Ohio State Acute Clinical Leukemia Program Receives Quality Designation From Joint Commission
The OSUCCC – James Acute Leukemia Program recently earned a disease-specific care certification in leukemia from The Joint Commission, the nation’s top hospital-ranking organization. The OSUCCC – James Acute Leukemia Program is the third program in the United States to earn this certification.

“This prestigious certification by an independent reviewing body validates the dedication and commitment of the doctors, nurses and staff at the OSUCCC – James to patient care,” says William Farrar, MD, CEO of The James. The Joint Commission disease-specific certification initiative involves evaluation of clinical programs across the continuum of care for compliance with standardized requirements and expectations for ensuring quality care and patient safety.

Researchers Awarded Federal Grant to Lead Multi-Center Study of Stem Cell Transplant Complication
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has awarded a $3.87 million, five-year grant to help OSUCCC – James researchers lead a multi-center study of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), a severe and life-threatening complication in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) as treatment for blood cancers.

PI for this R01 grant study—titled MIDAS: Microangiopathy, Endothelial Damage in Adults Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation—is Sumithira Vasu, MBBS, an associate professor-clinical in the Division of Hematology at Ohio State and member of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James. Spero Cataland, MD, a professor in the Division of Hematology, is co-PI.

OSUCCC – James Achieves Comprehensive Center of Excellence Designation for Treatment of Lymphatic Diseases
The OSUCCC – James has been designated a Comprehensive Center of Excellence in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lymphatic Diseases by the Lymphatic Education and Research Network. This designation is given to hospitals that meet stringent quality standards for medical care of lymphedema and lymphatic diseases in patient communities, including oncology. The OSUCCC – James is one of 11 hospitals nationwide and the only hospital in Ohio to achieve this quality designation.

Paskett Appointed Director of NCI Alliance Cancer Control Program
Electra Paskett, PhD, MSPH, associate director for population sciences and co-leader of the Cancer Control Program at the OSUCCC – James, was appointed as director of the NCI Alliance Cancer Control Program and as multiple principal investigator for the Alliance Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Base grant. Paskett, a professor and director of the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control in the College of Medicine at Ohio State, where she also is a professor of Epidemiology in the College of Public Health, has been the deputy director of the Alliance Cancer Control Program since 2011 when the group was founded by the merger of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, Cancer and Leukemia Group B and the North Central Cancer Treatment Group. She has served as chair of the Alliance Health Disparities Committee. Paskett has led several programs to improve cancer screening and prevention for underserved and minority populations.

Lee Elected as Trustee of American Board of Urology
Cheryl Lee, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Urology at Ohio State, and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, has been elected as a trustee of the American Board of Urology. The American Urological Association nominated Lee for the six-year term, which began Feb. 28. Founded in 1935, the American Board of Urology establishes and maintains certification standards for urologists. Lee is a board-certified urologist at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and holds the Dorothy M. Davis Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. She also is vice president of OSU Physicians Inc. In addition, she has served the Bladder Cancer Advisory Network as president of the Scientific Advisory Board and is a member of its board of directors.

Blocking Fat Storage May Offer New Way to Treat Most Lethal Form of Brain Cancer
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal form of brain cancer that accumulates fats in lipid droplets and uses them as energy for rapid cell division. Blocking an enzyme that GBM cells use to form the lipid droplets might offer a new way to treat this deadly disease, according to a study led by principal investigator Deliang Guo, PhD, professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program, and other researchers at the OSUCCC – James.

In earlier work, this research team learned that GBM cells accumulate unusually high levels of fatty acids and use them as a source of energy needed for rapid cell growth. Normally, excessive levels of fatty acids are deadly to cells. In this study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, the researchers looked at an enzyme called DGAT1. GBM cells use the enzyme to package fatty acids into lipid droplets. The enzyme converts fatty acids into molecules called triglycerides, which can be safely stored as lipid droplets in the cancer cells’ cytoplasm.

Single Drop of Blood Could Help Rapidly Detect Radiation Sickness
A proof-of-concept study reports evidence that a new testing method has the potential to rapidly identify radiation sickness based on biomarkers measured through a single drop of blood. Scientists at the OSUCCC – James say the test could help save lives through early and real-time identification of the condition to enable timely clinical interventions.

The test uses a single drop of blood—collected from a finger prick—and results are ready in a few hours. It is rapid, scalable and can serve as a point-of-care-type diagnostic tool for real-time evaluation to screen a large number of individuals in a short time. Naduparambil Jacob, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, was corresponding author of the study, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Rubbery Properties Help RNA Nanoparticles Target Tumors Efficiently and Quickly Leave Body, Study Shows
A study by researchers at the OSUCCC – James shows that RNA nanoparticles have elastic and rubbery properties that help explain why these particles target tumors so efficiently and why they possess lower toxicity in animal studies. RNA nanoparticles show great promise for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs. Understanding their structure and behavior is essential for their possible future use.

This study, published in the journal ACS Nano, reveals that RNA nanoparticles have elastic and rubbery properties that enable the molecules to stretch and return to their normal shape. Researchers say that these properties could help the particles target tumors by enabling them to slip through the poorly formed walls of tumor blood vessels and enter a tumor mass. Study leader and corresponding author was Peixuan Guo, PhD, professor in the College of Pharmacy at Ohio State and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James.

Study May Refine Predicted Survival Outcomes and Treatment in Younger People With Acute Leukemia
The findings of a new study led by researchers at the OSUCCC – James could refine an important set of prognostic and treatment recommendations for younger adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The retrospective study evaluated molecular characteristics and outcomes of 863 patients with AML who were treated according to 2017 European LeukemiaNet (ELN) recommendations. The patients were under age 60 and had a median age of 45 years.

ELN recommendations are internationally used for diagnosing and managing people with AML and other leukemias. This study, published in the journal Leukemia, found that 9% of favorable-risk and 53% of intermediate-risk patients should be reclassified as adverse risk, and 4% of favorable-risk and 9% of adverse-risk patients should be reclassified as intermediate risk. If verified, the findings may refine the ELN risk stratification of younger patients with AML. Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, MD, a member of the Leukemia Research Program at the OSUCCC – James, was first author. The paper is dedicated to the memory of the senior author, Clara D. Bloomfield, MD, who passed away unexpectedly during completion of the manuscript.

Study Will Examine Drug’s Efficacy in Preventing Cytomegalovirus Reactivation
Patient accrual is underway for a phase II clinical trial to see how well the drug letermovir works in preventing cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in patients with hematologic malignancies treated with alemtuzumab. Letermovir may block cytomegalovirus replication and prevent reactivation of this viral infection.

The primary objective of this trial (OSU-19289) is to estimate the rate of CMV reactivation in patients treated with letermovir at three months after completion of alemtuzumab therapy. Secondary objectives are to evaluate the tolerability of letermovir combined with alemtuzumab and to estimate progression-free survival and overall survival of patients in the study population.

PI for this study is John Reneau, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Hematology at Ohio State. Questions and trial referrals should be directed to Dr. Reneau via email at john.reneau@osumc.edu.

To search for cancer clinical trials at Ohio State, visit
go.osu.edu/cancerclinicaltrials. To receive a monthly e-newsletter with information on newly opened cancer clinical trials at the OSUCCC – James, send an email to cancerclinicaltrials@osumc.edu.

Join us for Ohio State’s Breast Cancer Virtual Update Jan. 22-23
Register for Ohio State’s Update From the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium®. The update will take place virtually Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23, and will feature a review by breast cancer experts from the OSUCCC – James and invited speakers who will offer the latest insights and practical guidance as presented at the annual symposium.

Invited speakers include: Lisa Newman, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCO, chief of the Section of Breast Surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine; and Ian Krop, MD, associate chief, Division of Breast Oncology at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers, and clinical research director of the Breast Oncology Center at Harvard Medical School.

Gateways serve as an embassy for Ohio State in several focus countries. They focus on students, research, alumni and partnerships to foster connections and facilitate opportunities.

https://oia.osu.edu/china.html
https://oia.osu.edu/india.html

Contact Destination Medicine

MEDICAL AND HEMATOLOGIC ONCOLOGISTS
The Ohio State University Divisions of Medical Oncology and Hematology seek additional physician-scientists at the associate professor level, clinical and lab-based, for medical oncology and hematology sub-specialties. This is an incredible opportunity to build specific cancer programs that will have national visibility given the clinical and research resources available at Ohio State through our NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, rated "exceptional" by the NCI, and freestanding cancer hospital. The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute ranks as the third-largest cancer hospital in the nation, with 21 floors and 356 beds. Email cover letter and CV either to MedicalOncology@osumc.edu or Hematology@osumc.edu. For more information, visit cancer.osu.edu/physiciancareers.

GROUP LEADERS FOR THE PIIO CENTERS OF RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
The OSUCCC – James is seeking proven leaders and innovators with active and established research programs for the position of Group Leader in the Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO). The successful candidate will join the PIIO’s executive team in accelerating the pace for discovery and translation in immuno-oncology (IO), directing one of the institute’s four interconnected Centers of Research Excellence:

• Cancer Immuno-Genomics
• Cell Therapy
• Systems Immuno-Oncology
• Translational Immuno-Oncology

To apply, send cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, 2-3 page description of current and future research interests, and contact information for three references to the office of the director of the PIIO, Zihai Li, MD, PhD, via email to Tamra Brooks at tamra.brooks@osumc.edu.

Candidates for clinical faculty positions must be board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology or hematology and must meet Ohio medical licensure requirements. Located in Columbus, Ohio, The Ohio State University is an EOE/AA/M/D/V employer.

ONCOLOGY NURSES
The OSUCCC – James—which has achieved Magnet® designation, considered the highest honor an organization can receive for quality patient care and professional nursing practice—has several oncology opportunities available, including inpatient and outpatient staff/clinic nurses in areas such as perioperative, critical care and medical/surgical. If you are interested in open nursing positions at the OSUCCC – James, contact Heather Costa at heather.costa@osumc.edu or 614-293-4095.

In addition, we are excited to announce the opportunity for an experienced, passionate oncology nursing professional to lead our world-class oncology nursing team as 
chief nursing officer (CNO). The CNO is responsible for the practice of nursing at the OSUCCC – James by ensuring consistency in the standard of nursing practice across clinical settings. If you have any questions about the CNO position or other open nursing leadership or advanced practice positions at the OSUCCC – James, contact Precious Suchora Farroni at precious.suchora@osumc.edu or 614-366-8608.

We offer a team-oriented environment with great pay, generous benefits, attainable career paths and free tuition toward furthering your education. Click here to learn more about these nursing positions and others.