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screening program cost $1 million per year and was estimated to save $8.5 million annually, which would have otherwise been spent largely on costly cancer treatments. Recent results for colorectal incidence and mortality, 2009 -2013, revealed Delaware ranked 37th in the U.S. for colorectal cancer incidence (36th in 2008-2012); males ranked 34th (36th in 2008-2012) and females ranked 41st (37th in 2008-2012). Delaware colorectal cancer incidence rate (38.3 per 100,000) than the U.S. (41.0 per 100,000) (2009-2013). From 1999-2003 to 2009- 2013 huge declines in colorectal cancer mortality were evident among African American males (45 percent) and females (52 percent). Lastly, Caucasian males
(30 percent) and females (34 percent) also saw declines in colorectal cancer mortality. This colorectal screening program involves the collaboration of all hospitals and cancer centers in the state and continues today.
A similar statewide supported program for lung cancer screening was initiated
in 2015, and provides an opportunity for Delawareans who quality for low-dose CT scan lung cancer screening according to national guidelines. This program has the potential to reduce the mortality from lung cancer by 20 percent. This program is critical since lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer mortality in Delaware and is responsible for 30 percent of cancer deaths in our state.
In 2012, the Graham Center made
history joining The Wistar Institute in between a National Cancer Institute basic research institution and a community cancer center. Together these two institutions are working to more quickly translate or advance discoveries into early phase clinical trials for our patients. The Center for Translational Cancer Research (CTCR) at the Graham Center and the
Tissue Procurement Center support the Wistar partnership, bringing cutting-edge research to our community. Research in progress, including studies of colorectal cancer, cancer stem cells, and triple negative breast cancer in the African- American community, demonstrates
how an independent academic hybrid community cancer center can make a major contribution to the advancement
of what we know about treating and defeating cancer. It allows the Graham Cancer Center to stay on the cutting edge of translational cancer research. The goals of the translational cancer research program is to discover new biomarkers and treatments with teams of clinicians and scientists working together.
With the establishment of the Gene Editing Institute at the CTCR in 2015, the Graham Center has brought home some of the world’s most advanced medical and research technology, including ground-breaking genetic engineering research. This pioneering laboratory works at the molecular level to translate results into personalized treatments
for leukemia and other cancers, as well
as providing instruction in the design
and implementation of genetic tools. Gene editing in lung cancer research
will soon lead to new clinical trials at
the Graham Cancer Center. As part of Wistar’s Molecular Screening Facility, the Gene Editing Institute has begun research to conduct a clinical trial in melanoma, while making innovative gene editing technologies available to Wistar scientists, as well as external users. With funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Gene Editing Institute is partnering with Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children to develop
a gene editing strategy for the treatment of sickle cell anemia and leukemia. A partnership with Bio-Rad Inc. advances
a gene editing educational curriculum. Looking to the future, the Gene Editing Institute has embarked on a new opportunity to revolutionize how we
deliver cancer care. A license agreement with the Jerusalem-based NovellusDx NovellusDx’s cancer diagnostic screening tools. With the use of advanced gene editing technology, NovellusDx will be able to identify the genetic mechanism responsible for both the onset and progression of many types of cancer
and determine the most effective cancer therapy for the individual patient.
In partnership with the Delaware Cancer Consortium, working together with cancer centers and hospitals statewide, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, the American Cancer Society, Cancer Support Community, and other non- Cancer Center and Research Institute is committed to continue moving forward
to address and resolve the problem areas of cancer care delivery in our state. The Cancer Consortium has been incredibly successful but the state needs to remain committed to that work and all of us must not rest on the present success. The Consortium funding is an investment that reduces state spending for treatment which is especially pertinent when we risk an increase in the uninsured and potentially an increase in uninsured treatment costs given Federal instability.
There is no doubt that, by continuing
to work together, we can improve our model for high quality cancer care and prevention to better serve the people of Delaware and communities across our nation. The progress that has been made thus far is a model for the rest of the country in cancer care and prevention.
CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR
■ NICHOLAS J. PETRELLI, MD is Bank of America endowed Medical Director of the Christiana Care Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute.
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