On
the Trail of a Killer
Cancer doctor teams with overseas
researchers to perfect breast cancer vaccine
It's 6 a.m., but Dr. Robert
Elliott doesn't seem sleepy. Putting aside dizzying talk of T-cells, gene therapy
and host immunities, Elliott downshifts into simple
terms for a moment to explain what motivates him to
get out of bed so early every day.
"My goal is to help people
who've got breast cancer."
More than 40,000 Americans will
die from breast cancer in 2002, says the American
Cancer Society. The disease is second only to lung
cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths among
women worldwide.
FULL
STORY
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Doctor to collaborate on cancer
vaccine research
The Breast Foundation and the
Elliott-Elliott-Head Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Center, headed by Dr. Robert Elliott here, will collaborate
in cancer vaccine research with the Norwegian Radium
Hospital in Oslo, Norway.
"Norway is further ahead
with regard to the concept of immunotherapy of cancer,"
said Elliott, who recently traveled to Norway to present
his research findings.
Elliott developed a patented autogenous
breast cancer vaccine that bolsters the patient's
own immune system to fight cancer. Vaccine therapy
has the added advantage of avoiding the negative side
effects associated with chemotherapy.
With the new collaboration, it is possible that cancer
vaccines developed in Norway could be tested here
as well.
From
research to treatment, Elliott, Elliott, Head Center
at forefront of breast care
Most Baton Rouge residents don’t
know it, but one of the most renowned breast cancer
centers in the world is located right here, at the
Summit Hospital campus off O’Neal Lane. Some
of its latest research offers not only hope for women
with breast cancer, but also great news for men with
prostate cancer.
Led by Dr. Robert Elliott, the
Elliott, Elliott, Head Breast Cancer Research &
Treatment Center is extraordinary for two reasons.
First, it is one of very few clinics to offer comprehensive
care in one center. EEHC provides early detection
through on-site mammography, ultrasound, infrared
imaging and education, along with treatment of breast
disease on its spacious fourth floor suite at Physicians
Plaza II. Second, it is rare to find a breast center
that also has a certified laboratory and conducts
ongoing breast cancer research to improve survival
rates and provide the least invasive treatments.
FULL STORY
Radiofrequency
Ablation of a Stereotactically Localized Nonpalpable
Breast Carcinoma
A nonpalpable breast lesion was
detected in a 71-year-old woman who had returned for
her annual mammogram. Stereotactic core needle biopsy
revealed an infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The patient
agreed to stereotactic localization and radiofrequency
ablation of the lesion followed after 4 weeks by open
surgical biopsy. The breast lesion was localized and
the radiofrequency ablation performed under local
anesthesia in the outpatient/office setting. The lesion
was ablated for a total of 20 minutes at a sustained
mean temperature of 75 degree C. After a 30-second
cooldown the peripheral temperature of the four peripheral
thermocouples ranged from 58 degree C to 70 degree
C. A surgical clip was placed at the site of the ablated
lesion. The postprocedure course was uneventful and
the patient proceeded to open biopsy 4 weeks later.
The open biopsy specimen, a left segmental mastectomy,
underwent specimen radiography, which confirmed the
surgical clip in the center of the lesion. There was
extensive central necrosis and hemorrhage surrounded
by fat necrosis. There was no definite viable residual
rumor and the margins were clear. This is the first
case in a clinical protocol designed to determine
the efficacy of stereotactic localization and radiofrequency
ablation of nonpalpable breast lesions. Additional
ablations will be required to define the procedure
but the results from this initial patient suggest
that this is a promising minimally invasive curative
approach for nonpalpable breast
lesions. FULL STORY
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