7 NCCU Walk tto CCure

At the Lineberger Club Brunch on February 10, 2007,Shelley Earp, Director, UNC Lineberger ComprehensiveCancer Center, launched the Carolina Capstone Challengefor Innovative Cancer Research. Dr. Earp reported thatthe Center had received a wonderful commitment for$1,000,000 from two anonymous challengers. Thesechallengers have agreed to match all gifts and pledges(payable up to 5 years) of $25,000 or more made beforeDecember 31, 2007.

The Challenge targets the Lineberger SeedGrants program, one of the Cancer Center's mostsuccessful initiatives, generating new ideas andnovel approaches to cancer treatment, earlydetection and prevention. These funds give ourexcellent faculty the resources they need to set out

in new directions to discover the unexpected and findnew paths to a cure. Knowledge made possible by theirinnovative approaches will make a difference in the livesof cancer patients and their families.

Although the program has a twenty-year track record ofproducing life-saving cancer research, it has never been onsecure financial footing. Since its establishment in 1986,the Seed Grants Program has relied almost entirely on

Researchers at UNC Lineberger are advancing beyond one-size-fits-all treatments for cancer to prescribe personalizedtherapies based on each patient's genetics.

"The big clinical need we're trying to serve iswhich of the many cancer drugs is right for eachpatient, and how we can avoid the unacceptablelevel of side affects," explains Lineberger memberHoward McLeod, Fred N. Eshelman DistinguishedProfessor in the UNC School of Pharmacy.

Pharmacogenomics, the study of inherited DNAvariations, enables clinicians to design treatmentsthat are more effective, have fewer adverse effectsand stand to improve patient outcomes.

"Differences in our genetic makeup can affecthow individuals metabolize and respond to drugs,including cancer therapy," says Karen Weck,associate professor of pathology and laboratorymedicine, and director of molecular genetics in UNCHospitals’ McLendon Laboratories. Her workincludes developing and validating clinical tests thatcan be used to target the right therapy for individualpatients based on a patient's genotype.

"The hope," she says, "is that personalized diagnostics andtherapies will result in better response to cancer therapies andless toxicity."

Two centers at UNC are exploring the link betweengenetics and drug therapies:

The UUNC IInstitute ffor PPharmacogenomics aand IIndividualizedTherapy ((IPIT): McLeod runs this new research institute thatis the first of its kind in the nation. IPIT will work to createeffective therapies and precise treatment options forindividual patients diagnosed with a wide range ofconditions. Faculty and staff from the Schools of Pharmacy,Medicine, Public Health, Nursing and College of Arts &Sciences are actively involved, with planned integration of

investigators from the Schools of Business, Law andJournalism. The goal is to use the multidisciplinary nature ofthe institute to more efficiently bring individualized therapy

to routine clinical practice. Initial efforts will focus on cancertherapy with planned expansion into cardiovascular disease,psychiatric disorders and global health.

The BBryson CCenter ffor HHuman GGenetics: James Evans, directorof clinical cancer genetics and a Lineberger member, headsthis center which integrates basic science investigation withclinical care. Part of this effort is a campus-wide

U N C L i n e b e r g e r C o m p r e h e n s i v e C a n c e r C e n t e rcancer

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The Cancer Program of UNC-Chapel Hill & UNC Health Care Spring 2007

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Program leaders with the UNC Institute for Pharmacogenomics andIndividualized Therapy (IPIT) (left to right): Dr. Jim Evans, director,clinical cancer genetics program, UNC; Dr. Howard McLeod, director,UNC IPIT; Dr. Dan Jonas, IPIT investigator; and Dr. Karen Weck,director, molecular genetics, UNC Hospitals’ McLendon Laboratories.

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At a special celebration in January 2007, Charles Johnston and his family joined UNCLineberger Cancer Center Director Dr. Shelley Earp to dedicate a research laboratory. Thisdedication was in recognition of a generous gift from Mr. Johnston of Chapel Hill in support ofovarian cancer research and in memory of his late wife Carolyn (Chris) Johnston who had been a nurse at North Carolina Memorial Hospital for many years. The laboratory was named inmemory of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston's daughter, Margaret Anderson Johnston, who died in 1979. Mr.Johnston passed away in February 2007. The Johnston family (left to right): Patricia Johnson;Deborah Rodgers; Chuck Johnston; and Susan Sellars, with their father, Charles Johnston.

Cancer is muchin the news-nationally, withE l i z a b e t hEdwards, TonySnow, and FredThompson, aswell as locally,with UNC'sfootball coachButch Davis andNCSU women's

basketball coach Kay Yow. They andmore than 10 million otherAmericans are living with cancer -coping with new diagnoses orrecurrences, getting throughtreatment, and, most importantly,learning how to move forward withtheir lives in productive andsatisfying ways.

The number of cancer survivorsmarks our considerable progress.Over the past thirty years, thenumber of survivors has tripled.Over the next thirty years, asscreening and treatment continue toimprove, that number is likely totriple again. In addition to being areason to celebrate, the growingnumber of survivors presents achallenge. We must improve ourcapacity and ability to addresssurvivors' short and long-term needsso they can live their lives to thefullest extent possible.

As you will read in this issue ofCancer Lines, UNC Lineberger isdoing just that. Under the energetic

leadership of Claudio Battaglini andDiane Groff, Get Real & Heel ishelping our breast cancer patientsreduce treatment side effects throughexercise and recreational therapy. Asthe tired but enthusiastic participantswill tell you, this program also givesthem tools to enhance theirpsychological, as well as theirphysical, well being Funded in partby the NC Triangle chapter of theSusan G. Komen Foundation, thissuccessful program is now looking toexpand.

Live Strong is the Lance ArmstrongFoundation's motto, but how can webe sure that programs, resources, andexpertise available in an NCI-designated Comprehensive CancerCenter become available to rural andminority cancer survivors? MarciCampbell is leading a multi-disciplinary team of UNC Linebergermembers who are using a LanceArmstrong Foundation planninggrant to develop programs andrelationships that can assure highquality and comprehensive follow-upand support for patients at UNC andfrom three rural communities inNorth Carolina.

These survivorship projects arejust two of the many that UNCLineberger members are leading.Don Baucom is testing a couplescounseling intervention to improvecoping and quality of life for breastcancer patients. Merle Mishel hasdemonstrated the effectiveness of an

uncertainty management counselingintervention for prostate cancerpatients and is now applying that toyoung women with breast cancer.Marilie Gammon and Andy Olshanare examining issues of weight gainand quality of life in breast and headand neck cancer survivors. This fall,the Center will sponsor a one-daysurvivorship retreat for ourresearchers and staff so that we can identify critical researchopportunities on which to focus ourenergy.

As always, the Cancer Centercontinues to look to the future ofcancer treatment and care. Thisissue's lead story presents the secondinstallment in our coverage ofpersonalized medicine. The newUNC Institute for Pharmacogenomicsand Individualized Therapy in theUNC School of Pharmacy, led by Dr.Howard McLeod, is developing toolsto determine which cancer drug willwork for which patient and with thefewest side effects.

Success in this and otherapplications of science to clinical careinevitably brings us back to thecancer patient and the survivor. Ourgoal must be not just to extend life.We must extend the quality of life aswell. How we do just that must andwill be an increasingly important partof the UNC Lineberger's research andcare mission.•

2 cancerLines Spring 2007

UNC Lineberger is designated aComprehensive Cancer Center bythe National Cancer Institute.

Cancer Lines is a tri-annualpublication of the UNC LinebergerComprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North CarolinaSchool of Medicine at Chapel Hill.

Dr. H. Shelton Earp, III, DirectorDr. Richard M. Goldberg, AssociateDirectorDr. Joseph S.Pagano, Director EmeritusDebbie Dibbert, Director of External AffairsDianne G. Shaw, Director ofCommunications/Executive EditorMargot Carmichael Lester, WriterAlyson Newman, Design & Layout

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Please add the following to theCancer Center’s mailing list.

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UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

CB# 7295School of MedicineUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC 27599-7295(919) 966-5905http://unclineberger.org

Printed on Recycled Paper

Director’sMessageDirector’sMessage

Dr. H. Shelton Earp, III

LINEBERGER COMPREHENSIVECANCER CENTER

N.C. CANCER HOSPITAL

Dr. Michael O'Malley, UNC Lineberger associatedirector and co-director of the UNC LinebergerCancer Control Education Program, was one of sixUNC employees to be honored with the 2007 C.Knox Massey Distinguished Service Award, one ofthe most coveted distinctions bestowed uponUniversity faculty and staff. He was cited for his

work that reaches beyond campus to touch countless lives. Described as the"cancer maven" by one colleague, O'Malley's expertise is enhanced bycomplementary skills as an administrator, teacher and scientist.

O’Malley has been with UNC Lineberger since July of 1990.•

O’Malley WinsMassey DistinguishedService Award

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annual solicitations and special one-time gifts to fund its annual budget.The Seed Grants Program began in 1986 to give researchers the opportunity to develop

innovative ideas and in many cases, use their findings to leverage major funding fromconventional sources. The program has been highly successful, allowing UNC Linebergerfaculty to produce significant and surprising new knowledge in many areas of cancerresearch over the years. They have also successfully leveraged modest grant awards ofbetween $20,000 and $35,000 into hundreds of thousands and in a few cases, millionsof dollars in federal research grants

“If we meet our goal before December 31, 2007, the Carolina Capstone Challenge willprovide $2 million in venture capital for this leading edge, high-reward research. Thiswould allow us to expand the Seed Grant program and increase our ability to respondmore quickly to new opportunities. We all are in agreement that innovation for cancerpatients cannot wait!” said Dr. Earp.

The initial response to the Challenge has been very enthusiastic. Through the end ofApril, twenty-one donors had committed $537,500, 54% towards the $1 million goal. Ifyou are interested in learning more about the challenge, please contact Debbie Dibbert,Director of External Affairs, at (919) 966-9874 or at debbie_dibbert@unc.edu.•

The 31st annual UNC Lineberger symposium attracted more than 400 scientists fromNorth Carolina and beyond to hear the latest findings on "Viruses, Immunity andCancer." Shown here (left to right) are Dr. Dirk Dittmer of UNC; symposium co-chairDr. Jenny Ting; and symposium speaker Dr. Tak Mak of the University of Toronto allsharing a laugh with Dr. Blossom Damania of UNC and a symposium speaker.

"Phenotyping Core" that collects DNA samplesand clinical information from a broad array ofinvestigators in order to gain maximum amountsof information from genetic studies; to facilitatesuch studies; and to protect subjects of research.

Identifying MarkersA deeper understanding of the human genomeallows scientists to better predict a person'sresponse to a particular drug or dosage.

"If all we had was one drug, all that wouldmatter was the dosage," McLeod notes. "But nowwith so many kinds of drugs available, there's areal choice to make about what drug and whatdose. One-size-fits-all is better than nothing andhas helped a lot of people, but as we refine thechoices, you want the first therapy to be the rightone."

McLeod is currently working with several largenational clinical trials groups-such as Cancer andLeukemia Group B (CALGB) to confirm thatfindings from small institutional studies willactually translate into better therapy across thenation. Most large CALGB studies now collect aspecific blood sample for DNA analysis as part ofthe trial. CALGB is a program of the NationalCancer Institute.

"Right now, we're working hard to answerwhether a marker is a good predictor," he says."We're working with an NCI-funded clinical trialsgroup, so instead of being able to look at only 50patients from North Carolina, for instance, we canlook at 1,500 patients from across North Americato find out if a marker really does predict the riskof side-effect or bad outcome -- or not."

In some cases, the Food and DrugAdministration will change drug package insertsto identify patient groups that are geneticallypredisposed to experience severe side effects orinadequate benefit. McLeod and his team havesuccessfully pushed for changes in packaging fordrugs used to treat advanced colorectal cancer(Irinotecan), solid tumors (5-FU) and childhoodleukemias (thiopurines such as mercaptopurine).

From the Lab to the PatientFindings such as this can help physicians makebetter treatment decisions for their patients. Afterall, there are more than 70 FDA-approved drugsthat might be useful for a particular tumor, soanything that helps narrow down the choices to ahandful of very effective options is a significantimprovement.

For instance, later this year Evans, Weck andmembers of the Lineberger Breast Cancer Programwill undertake a study of how breast cancerpatients respond to Tamoxifen. Most breast cancerdevelopment is dependent on estrogen, andTamoxifen blocks the estrogen receptor that allowsthe hormone to work. Women who have a geneticvariant in the enzyme that converts Tamoxifen intoits active form may not respond as well to thedrug.

"If we can identify women who aren'tresponding well to the treatment," Evans says, "wecan adjust their treatment and achieve betteroutcomes."

Extended BenefitsGenetics also help researchers understand howsomeone might respond to all kinds of medicine,not solely chemotherapy regimens, McLeod adds."We need to do a better job at matching patientswith the right pain meds, anti-nausea meds anddrugs that stimulate red or white blood cells.Personalized medicine lets us looks at patients andtheir treatments in a more comprehensive way."

And these more effective treatments havebenefits beyond the health care realm. There's alsoan economic benefit.

"In many cases right now, we have to treat allpatients with expensive drugs to find out which 10percent of patients actually benefit from thetreatment," McLeod explains. "Or, with veryexpensive drugs, the access is limited. Knowingmore about who will respond well to what willhelp us prescribe the expensive treatments only tothe people who will actually benefit from them.That will create a decrease in costs to the state aswe choose better. Being more rational means wecan be more responsible to taxpayers."

The Bottom LineOur increasing knowledge of the human genomewill have a far-reaching positive impact onmedicine as scientists learn - and apply - more ofwhat they know.

"Medicine as we've practiced it has beeninefficient because we didn't treat individuals,"Evans says. "We're entering a new era of medicinewhere we can treat people as individuals and notjust their diseases. It's our hope that through theapplication of this knowledge and technology,we'll be able to treat better, prevent better andavoid adverse reactions. We can stop using thesame screening and treatments for all and startimproving the quality and effectiveness of carewhile lowering the cost and of treatment."•

Pharmacogenomicscontinued from page 1

cancerLines Spring 2007 3

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Capstone Challengecontinued from page 1

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Ever since he was a kid growing up in San Diego,Robert Millikan wanted to be a scientist.

"I was interested in chemistry, and I thought itheld the answers to why things work they way theydo," says Millikan.

Today, he's an epidemiologist trying tounderstand how breast and colon cancers andmalignant melanomas work by studying genetics,environment and tumor biology.

"By identifying causes of cancer, we learn how toprevent it from occurring in the first place," saysMillikan. "It's very important that we give peopleinformation than enables them to be proactiveabout their health," he notes. "As a society, wewould benefit tremendously by lowering theburden of cancer through better methods ofprevention. Huge outlays of money are spent ontreatment every year. The burden of humansuffering will steadily increase as the populationages unless we act effectively in the area of primaryprevention, preventing cancer from occurring."

The Doctor of EpidemiologyMillikan graduated from Reed College where hedeveloped a love of rowing. He then received hisdegree in Veterinary Medicine from the

University of California-Davis and his doctorate inepidemiology from theUCLA School of PublicHealth. Squeezed in betweenwas a very productivelaboratory stint at DanaFarber Cancer Institute

learning the intricacies of molecular oncology.The Breast Cancer Specialized Program of

Research Excellence (SPORE) brought Millikan toChapel Hill from UCLA in 1993.

"The chance to do interesting and importantwork was the biggest draw," he says."It is to the Cancer Center's creditthat population-based epi-demiologic studies have alwaysbeen at the forefront of their agenda.I think it is one of the things that setsLineberger apart from other cancercenters."

Doing population-based researchrequires reaching out to people,demonstrating that the research isworthwhile and achieving highparticipation rates. "It takes dozensof staff and thousands of peoplefrom the general population to carryout a large epidemiologic study," heexplains.

Millikan has served as facultyadvisor and assistant coach for theUNC rowing program since 1994.

Several undergraduate rowers worked in hislaboratory, and many have gone on to medical orgraduate school in public health. Bob can still befound in the early morning on University Lakechallenging undergraduates to the race of their lives.

The DoctrineAsked what words he lives by, Millikan quotes

Teresa of Calcutta: "There are no great deeds. Onlysmall works done with great devotion." "Many of usin research spend our lives looking for answers tovery big important questions," he says. "We make awell-meaning attempt to change the world, to make

meaningful contributions. But hardwork really has to be its ownreward, knowing that you are doingyour best regardless of theoutcome."

He continues: "I think what wereally need in research are peoplewho are just willing to work hard,who take the time to follow up ontheir ideas and who do the mostcreative work they can imagine."

Bob is passionate about givingback to the patients he studies, andhe is a regular teacher at ProjectLEAD, a training program forpatient advocates•

Dr. Robert Milliken

Health Disparities in ProstateCancer Stem More from Lack ofCare, not Lack of KnowledgeDecreasing the incidence and mortality rates ofprostate cancer among African-American menmay require improving access to routine healthcare, rather than increased education about thedisease, a UNC study suggests.

"The reassuring part of the findings is thatmeasures to generally make health care moreaccessible would also potentially address someof the disparities in prostate cancer," says Paul A.Godley, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor ofhematology and oncology in the UNC School ofMedicine and the study's senior author. He alsois a UNC Lineberger member.

The findings were reported in the March 12,2007 in CANCER, the journal of the AmericanCancer Society.

Industry-funded Breast CancerTrials More Likely to YieldPositive ResultsDrug-industry investment in research currentlyexceeds the operating budget of the NationalInstitutes of Health. And a recent study from UNCand the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found thatindustry-funded studies of breast cancer therapiesare more likely to report positive results than non-pharmaceutical funded studies.

"The significance of ourstudy is not to say that thedrug industry does anythingwrong - they are excellent atdeveloping new therapies,and there are many recentexamples in breast cancerresearch," explains Jeffrey

Peppercorn, assistant professor of medicine inUNC School of Medicine's division ofhematology and oncology and UNC Linebergermember. "But if more and more research isfunded by drug companies, then the limitedamount of funding coming from other sourcesmay need to be directed to address otherquestions."

The findings were reported online February26, 2007 in CANCER, the journal of theAmerican Cancer Society.

MRI Screening of Opposite BreastNecessary for Women withRecent Breast Cancer DiagnosisA new multi-center study recommends thatwomen at a high risk of breast cancer shouldundergo MRI screenings, and that patientsdiagnosed with cancer in one breast should havean MRI of the other one. The internationalresearch team found that MRI detected cancer inthe opposite breast in 3.1 percent of patients whohad recently been diagnosed with cancer in onebreast only. The cancers in the opposite breastwere missed by previous mammography andclinical exam.

"No one is recommending that we give upmammography," asserts study co-author EttaPisano, a principal investigator and Kenanprofessor of radiology and biomedical engineering

at the UNC School of Medicine. She also is a UNCLineberger member. "MRI screening is a veryexpensive tool that should be used judiciously forhigh risk populations. The last thing we wouldwant is for every woman to think she should getan MRI."

The findings were reported in the March 28,2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

UNC scientists discover cellular"SOS" signal in response to UV skin damageUNC researchers have discovered two proteinsthat help slow the growth of damaged DNA incells affected by ultraviolet radiation in sunlight.Left unrepaired by the cell, this damage can turninto mutations that lead to cancer. CalledTimeless and Tipin, the proteins send a signalthroughout the nucleus of the cell to slow therate of replication, which may give the celladditional time to repair its DNA and potentiallysave itself from becoming cancerous or fromdying in response to ultraviolet radiation.

"This protective response may make somecells more resistant to certain types of cancertherapies which work by inducing the cancercell to die," explains William Kaufmann, aprofessor of pathology and laboratory medicineand a UNC Lineberger member. He speculatesthat this response may be relevant to other typesof DNA damage as well - including those used astreatments for cancer.

The findings were reported in the March 15,2007 online version of the journal Molecular andCellular Biology.

For more stories about UNC Linebergerresearch, visit www.unclineberger.org/research.•

BriefsBriefs

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ProfileProfile

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A new program combines exercise and recreation therapies that can helppatients mitigate the side-effects of cancer and cancer treatment.

"The Get Real & Heel program is unique because it is an integrated approachthat targets the body through exercise but also the mind through recreationtherapy and exercise," says Diane Groff, assistant professor of recreation therapyin the UNC Department of Exercise and Sport Science and the program's co-director.

The program is the brainchild of Claudio Battaglini, assistant professor ofexercise physiology in the UNC Department of Exercise and Sport Science, andthe program's other co-director.

"Physical and psychosocial therapies have been shown to assist patients in themitigation of many side-effects commonlydeveloped during treatment," Battagliniexplains. "Especially fatigue and depression,according to our preliminary program results.There is a tremendous impact from thesetherapies on the overall cancer experience, thushelping patients to go through the overall cancerprocess experiencing fewer side-effects andconsequently living a better quality of life."

Rocky (Mountain) StartAfter doing research in Colorado at the RockyMountain Cancer Rehabilitation Institute,Battaglini started to question the possibility toaddress more specifically the psychosocialaspects of breast cancer.

"Although exercise has a tremendous impact on the physiology of patients,the psychological gains observed with exercise could, in my opinion, beimproved with other interventions that would more specifically target thepsychosocial aspects of the disease," he explains.

Upon arriving at UNC, Battaglini and Groff started Get Real & Heel forwomen between 35 to 75 who have completed all cancer treatment within thepast three months.

The ProgramParticipants meet three times a week for about one hour over a six-month periodand engage in a variety of activities, including:

• Cardiovascular endurance

• Resistance training

• Flexibility exercises

• Cognitive and behavioral interventions for pain and stress management

• Relaxation techniques

• Biofeedback

• Leisure counseling

• Music

• Expressive arts

"We are able to provide these services free of charge because of a $42,316grant from the N.C. Triangle Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation," Groffsays. Lineberger and the Department of Exercise and Sport Science also providesupport and assistance.

By participating in this integrated program, patients experience increasedstrength, endurance, flexibility andcardio-respiratory health, plusdecreased fatigue. Most participantsreport about a 60 percentimprovment in cardiorespiratoryendurance, muscular strength,flexibility of the shoulder affected bysurgery, and overall functionality.They also have improved self-confidence and self-esteem, moreeffective coping skills, better painand stress management, and astronger sense of personalempowerment.

"To our knowledge, we are theonly program in the country, andpossibly in the world, using acombined exercise and recreationaltherapy intervention with the goal toassist post treated breast cancerpatients to regain physical andmental strength allowing for better recovery, possibly better treatment outcomes,and ultimately increase survivorship rates," Battaglini explains.

The Get Real & Heel program is open to women with a confirmed diagnosisof Stage I, II, or III invasive breast cancer from 13 North Carolina counties servedby Komen. For more information about participating, call (919) 962-1222 orvisit www.unc.edu/depts/exercise/RTB/.•

Get Real and Heel program co-directors Claudio Battaglini and Diane Groff

5cancerLines Spring 2007

“Get Real & Heel” Addresses Breast CancerPatients' Physiological and Psychological Needs

One of the programactivities is a ropescourse. Here,participant MimiDavies prepares towalk across a ropemore than 30 feetabove the ground.

Thirteen of the nation's top cancer centers,including UNC Lineberger, have formed TheCancer Research Alliance, a separate 501(c)(3)devoted to securing national cause-relatedmarketing alliances to fund cancer research at theparticipating organizations and to raise awarenessof issues related to cancer.

Cause-related marketing, the public associationof a for-profit company with a nonprofit organization or cause, promotes thecompany's product or service and raises money and awareness for the nonprofitor issue. As a marketing tool, cause-related marketing has long been used bynon-profit organizations and companies to benefit their brands. According to theInternational Events Group, U.S. sponsorship spending on cause marketing willhit $1.44 billion in 2007.

The Cancer Research Alliance is the first organization of its kind to provideboth local and national value to participating companies and is currentlysecuring national corporate partners for consumer promotions. Interestedcompanies can contact Debbie Dibbert at debbie_dibbert@unc.edu.

The 13 member organizations are located inseven of the top 10 media markets according toNielsen Media, and geographically represent keyconsumer markets across the United States. Eachmember institution has been designated as aComprehensive Cancer Center by the NCI. Theother institutions include: City of Hope; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Fox Chase Cancer Center;

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; The Holden Comprehensive CancerCenter at University of Iowa; Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J.Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University; LombardiComprehensive Cancer Center of Georgetown University; The University ofTexas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and ResearchInstitute; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of NorthwesternUniversity; Roswell Park Cancer Institute; and the University of California SanFrancisco Comprehensive Cancer Center. For more information, please visit theCRA Web site at: http://www.cancerresearchalliance.org/.•

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Introducing ...“Hugh Morton’s North Carolina” notecards

on sale June 1 to benefit UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Hugh Morton, UNC ‘43 and owner of Grandfather Mountain, wasan extraordinarily talented photographer. His photographs have

appeared in numerous magazines and hang in nearly every visitorcenter along North Carolina’s highways. Mr. Morton passed awayin the summer of 2006 after a short battle with cancer. His familyhas graciously given us permission to use four of his photographsfeaturing North Carolina landscapes on a new line of notecards toraise funds for cancer research, treatment and prevention programsat UNC Lineberger. These photographs originally appeared in Mr.Morton’s last book, “Hugh Morton, North Carolina Photographer.”

Cards will be sold in packs of 12 (with 12 envelopes) for $20. Awonderful gift idea for birthdays, graduation, and Father’s Day, the

notecards are available exclusively through UNC Lineberger.

To place your order, please visit www.unclineberger.org andfollow the links, or call the

Office of External Affairs at 919-966-5905.

We are grateful to Litho Industries of Morrisville, NC for making this project possible with their generous donation of printing and paper.

Cancer survivors from across the state of NorthCarolina will benefit from a one-year, $75,000planning grant from the Lance ArmstrongFoundation (LAF) to help researchers and cliniciansat UNC Lineberger improve cancer survivorshipprograms and services. The grant will support thedevelopment of a strategic plan for Lineberger andthe new NC Cancer Hospital enabling them toapply to join the prestigious LIVESTRONG™Survivorship Center of Excellence Network, aninitiative of the LAF.

"This year in the US, there are 10.5 millioncancer survivors. This growing number speaks toimprovements in therapy and care. As thispopulation increases, health care providers musthave programs and resources in place to help thesepatients and to live as fully as possible," says MarciCampbell, PhD, Professor of Nutrition at UNCSchools of Public Health, Program Leader forPrevention and Control at Lineberger, and programdirector of the planning grant.

The planning year focuses on three areas:clinical services, developing partnerships withcommunity-based centers, and statewidecollaboration. The clinical focus will build on theexisting programs of the clinical, resource andpsycho-oncology staff at UNC by creating aseamless transition from end of treatment toongoing care through the creation of survivorshipclinics, the use of treatment summaries, andsurvivorship care plans. These efforts can help toprevent and control adverse outcomes andencourage the provision of optimal follow-up careand surveillance, and will include lifestylerecommendations, information about psychosocialresources, and referrals to patient and familygenetics counseling if appropriate.

Patients seen at UNC are often fromcommunities in rural areas of the state, and need

services closer to home. "Through ourcollaboration with our three partnercommunities we will work withexisting groups and agencies toestablish a network of resources thatavoids duplication of effort and thatcan maximize services, and access tothose services, for survivors," says PaulGodley, MD, Director of the UNCProgram on Ethnicity, Culture, andHealth Outcomes, clinical oncologist,Lineberger faculty member, and co-director of the planning grant. "Havingclose community partners will helpsurvivors follow their survivorshipcare plans in their homecommunities." UNC partners are AreaHealth Education Center(AHEC) Area Lwhich includes Edgecombe, Halifax,Nash, Northampton and Wilsoncounties; AHEC Greensboro whichincludes Alamance, Caswell, Chatham,Guilford, Montgomery, OrangeRandolph, and Rockingham counties; and Tri-CountyCommunity Health Council of Newton Grove.

"With better monitoring and follow-up ofpatients, as well as better continuing medicaleducation with community health providers, newsymptoms may be caught earlier and treated," saysCampbell. "In addition, the emphasis on healthpromotion (weight, smoking cessation, physicalactivity, regular health care and screenings) mayhelp prevent cancer recurrence and greatly improvethe quality of life for survivors."

The LAF-funded team is collaborating with theState on a county by county assessment aroundsurvivorship, helping to disseminate informationand education to the clinical community ofphysicians and care providers, and assisting with the

first NC Cancer Survivorship Summit in June 2007."It's all about orienting our health care system tohave cancer survivorship as a centerpiece of whatwe do," according to Walter Shepherd, PhD,Director, NC Comprehensive Cancer Program, andExecutive Director, NC Advisory Committee onCancer Coordination & Control. "It is importantthat we make a firm commitment to ensure thatthose of us who are in positions to impact careembrace the goal of providing survivors and theirfamilies with the highest quality and mostcompassionate care and attention possible. The timeis right to make that happen, and being part of theLAF-funded team will help us reach these goalsmore quickly."•

LAF grant team members. Front row (left to right) Judy Swasey, nurse practitioner;Dr. Paul Godley; Dr. Marci Campbell; Bobbi Marks, administrative director, UNCHealth Care Oncology Services; Mindy Gellin, LAF grant outreach coordinator. Backrow (left to right) Dr. Marilie Gammon, professor of epidemiology, UNC School ofPublic Health; Elizabeth Sherwood, nurse practitioner and patient counselor; SalliBenedict, LAF grant project coordinator; Dr. Michael O'Malley, associate director,UNC Lineberger. Not pictured is Dr. Merle Mishel, Kenan Professor of Nursing.

6 cancerLines Spring 2007

Improving Cancer Survivor Resources and Services:At UNC and Across North Carolina

Mr. and Mrs. William G. Clark, III made a giftof $500,000 to the SECU Family House atUNC Hospitals. Bill and Gray Clark made thegift in memory of William G. Clark andWilliam G. Clark, Jr., and have thus providedthe funding for the William G. ClarkCourtyard at SECU Family House, a 40-bedroom hospital hospitality house for adultcritical care patients and family memberscurrently being built next to the RonaldMcDonald House of Chapel Hill.

"Through the Lineberger Cancer Center, mywife and I became aware of the dire need forhousing for family members visiting ChapelHill from all over North Carolina," Bill Clarksaid. "Many of these families stay in ChapelHill more than eight weeks at a time. We areglad to be able to help meet the urgent needfor affordable, comfortable accommodationsfor family members caring for critically illloved ones at UNC Hospitals."

SECU Family House plans to open to guestsin late 2007.•

Clarks Make Major Giftto SECU Family House

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The Iota Tau chapter of Phi Beta Lambda at NCCU held its Walk to Cure on January 27. Closeto $1000 was raised to support breast cancer research at UNC Lineberger. Pictured left to right:Bruce Corbett, Mr. Phi Beta Lambda; James Cheek, Jr. Co-Mr. Phi Beta Lambda; JacquelineMadry; Tina Young, Chair, Walk To Cure; Anthonio Black, President; Vanessa Knight, VicePresident and Tyra Brooker, Reporter, and advisor Sonya Scott.

Zeta Tau Alpha held its 18th annual Franklin 5 K with UNC Lineberger as one of the recipientsof funds raised from the event. Get Real & Heel co-director Diane Groff spoke at the event.Left-right Sara McBride, 2007 5 K chair; Groff; Lauren Kelley, 2008 5K chair.

The Rho chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a UNC co-ed community service fraternity, donated$1700 to UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center's Patient and Family Resource Center.The 2007 Spring Pledge Class raised the funds to purchase comfort items from the ResourceCenter's Wish List for our patients and their families. The Pledge Class' funds, raised fromdonations at several organized events, were matched by the entire chapter. Pictured are somemembers of the Pledge Class with Patient and Family Resource Center staff Tina Shaban andPam Baker accepting a check from Class President Kristen Black, and patient Greg Hart fromRaleigh, who joined them for the occasion.

7cancerLines Spring 2007

Lineberger Board of Visitors members Wayne and Billie Ann Peterson hosted over 70 guests foran evening of friendraising and fundraising at their home in Pinehurst on April 12, 2007. Theyare pictured here with UNC Lineberger Surgical Oncologist Dr. HJ Kim and his wife Dana.

February 10, 2007 marked the 20th annual Lineberger Club Brunch and Basketball Game. Dr. Shelley Earp offered special recognition to the 10, 15 and 20 year Lineberger Club members.Attendees were updated on cancer genetics by Dr. Jim Evans, leader of the UNC Clinical CancerLineberger Genetics program at UNC, and heard a moving talk given by breast cancer survivorRivka From and daughters Carlye and Courtney, also known as “The Gene Girls,” all ofRaleigh. Special thanks to corporate partners Embarq, Lee-Moore Oil and Café Carolina andWachovia for underwriting this year’s brunch. Pictured (front row left to right): Courtney,Carlye, Rivka, and Allan From, Dr. Richard Goldberg and Dr. Jim Evans; (back row) JoshHirsch and Dr. Shelley Earp.

On June 10th, seven local high school students will put down their books, quit their part timejobs, load their bikes up, and head to Aberdeen, Maryland. For the next 10 weeks, and for 3700miles, this high school crew will live in small farm towns, swim in rivers, bike through cornfields, over the Cascades, and finally to the water of Annacortes, Washington. For what somedescibe as 'THE perfect summer' they will not be a student of the classroom but a student of life.Along the way, the WaBu crew (that’s Washington or Bust!) will be raising money andawareness for the UNC Lineberger Cancer Center. This is being done as a tribute to rider DavidHare's mother, Gill, who was successfully treated for breast cancer at Lineberger. Follow theprogress of the WaBu crew by logging onto www.WabuCycleTour.com.

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2007 Beach Ball A Big Splash!The 2007 Lineberger Beach Ball was a big splash this year with festive food and

drinks, great music and beautiful decorations.The evening began with a picture perfect pre-party, underwritten by an

anonymous donor, at The Weathervane restaurant in A Southern Season. Morethan 100 Beach Ball sponsors and patrons attended.

Over 700 guests attended the Lineberger Beach Ball held in center court ofUniversity Mall. Guests included local celebrities like "Voice of the Tar Heels"Woody Durham, and Mick Mixon, now the play-by-play announcer for theCarolina Panthers, who served as emcee for the evening. "It's the who's who ofChapel Hill," one guest said after the evening. "I had no idea how big an event theBeach Ball is."

Thanks to the leadership and dedication of this year's Beach Ball chairs - SuzieHavens, her sister Deb Shah, and their mother Bev Foster, and their energeticcommittee, this year’s event raised more than $110,000, bringing the four-year total toover $420,000! A special thank you to our most generous sponsors for their loyalsupport - Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, The Chapel Hill Herald, Eurosport, Spice

Street and Skanska. All proceeds from the Beach Ball support UNC Lineberger's cancer prevention, care andtreatment programs.•

Bob and Nancy Myer (front) of Skanska, a corporatesponsor of the Beach Ball, and Debbie and Jay Hodshon(back) enjoy fine food and good company at the beach ball pre-party at A Southern Season.

The 2007 Lineberger Beach Ball Planning Committee.

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8 cancerLines Spring 2007

calendarof eventsJ U N E 2 0 0 7

9th 11th NC Triangle Komen Race for the Cure,Raleigh, NC

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7

6th-20th Lilly Oncology on Canvas:Expressions of a Cancer Journey Art ExhibitLobby, N.C. Children’s Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC

14th UNC Lineberger Board of VisitorsMeeting, Chapel Hill, NC

O C T O B E R 2 0 0 7

2nd Tickled Pink Women’s Cancers Luncheon,Squids, Chapel Hill, NC

4th Tickled Pink Women’s Cancers Luncheon,Galloway Ridge, Pittsboro, NC

12th Third Annual Roy Williams’ Fast BreakAgainst Cancer, Smith Center, Chapel Hill, NC

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer CenterCB# 7295School of MedicineUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillChapel Hill, NC 27599-7295(919) 966-5905http://unclineberger.org

Return Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed.Address Correction Requested.

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 71

Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1110

Beach Ball guests dance to themusic of Liquid Pleasure.

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