Centers & Programs News

CUMC Establishes the Center for Innovative Cancer Management

Center Features Special Interleukin-2 Unit for Therapy of Melanoma and Kidney Cancer

Howard L. Kaufman, MD, to lead new Center

Howard L. Kaufman, MD, FACS

Columbia University Medical Center has established the Center for Innovative Cancer Management. Howard L. Kaufman, MD, Vice Chairman of Surgical Oncology, will lead the new Center, together with Ziv J. Haskal, MD, Director, Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology.

The Center encompasses a specialized unit for the administration of Interleukin-2 (IL-2), especially for patients with melanoma, colorectal cancer, and kidney cancer. Such patients have been shown to experience durable reductions or elimination of their tumors after treatment with IL-2. Many members of Columbia University Medical Center's comprehensive team of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, and psychosocial counselors were trained in IL-2 treatment at the National Cancer Institute, where IL-2 was first established.

The Center for Innovative Cancer Management is staffed by scientists, physicians, nurses, medical oncologists, surgeons, immunologists, pathologists, radiologists, and others, who will weekly to discuss options for every oncology patient. By bringing this diverse group together, we hope to develop new treatment techniques and encourage research that will lead to novel therapies, such as vaccines against specific cancers.

Research Initiatives

Under the direction of Dr. Kaufman, researchers are conducting clinical studies of new biologic agents for various types of cancer, including malignant melanoma, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and kidney cancer. In addition, they are trying to determine how vaccines recognize and destroy tumor cells. This research is expected to lead to more effective treatment of human cancers.

The interventional radiology team affiliated with the Center has developed expertise in combination therapies, including chemoembolization and direct tumor ablation, using CT, ultrasound, and fluoroscopic imaging. Chemoembolization blocks the blood supply to tumors and deprives the tumor of its nutrients, and allows delivery of a higher concentration of chemotherapeutic agents directly to the cancer site.

Continuing Medical Education

In addition to this and other research projects, the Center for Innovative Cancer Management will be involved in the education of medical students, nurses, residents, physicians, graduate students, and fellows who are caring for cancer patients and pursuing basic and clinical research. We also look forward to presenting CME programs focusing on surgical oncology.

For further information about the Center, please call 1.800.543.2872.

Related Links

Surgical Oncology