LITTLE ROCK — Members of the grassroots group Ashley County Cares visited the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) on Nov. 16 to present a donation of $35,000 for breast cancer research and outreach.

Since 2005, Ashley County Cares has worked in its community to raise $358,000 for breast cancer programs at UAMS. Representatives of the group traveled to the UAMS Cancer Institute to present their most recent donation — $35,000 to be used for breast cancer research and statewide outreach and education efforts.

Ashley County Cares President Donna Shields presented the check to UAMS Cancer Institute Director Peter Emanuel, M.D.

“Ashley County Cares is a remarkable group that has truly made an impact on breast cancer research and awareness in Arkansas. We are honored to accept their donation and to support their work on behalf of the women in our state,” said Emanuel, who also serves as a professor in the UAMS College of Medicine.

Joining them were Issam Makhoul, M.D., professor and director of the Division of Medical Oncology; Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D., professor in the Department of Surgery; and V. Suzanne Klimberg, M.D., professor and director of the Division of Breast and Surgical Oncology, all in the UAMS College of Medicine.

“We have all been touched by breast cancer and know how important it is to keep fighting for a cure,” Shields said. “We are happy to support UAMS’ research and outreach efforts across the state, as well as honor our own breast cancer survivors in Ashley County.”

Accompanying Shields were her fellow Ashley County Cares members Bernice Nelms and Kay Hartshorn.

The group’s donation was raised through their annual events, including two T-shirt sales, a dinner and auction, and the Armadillo Festival 5K run/1K walk.

Learn more about Ashley County Cares here.

Nov. 15, 2016 | A month-long promotion at a North Little Rock car dealership is helping provide mammograms for women across Arkansas.

During October, a portion of proceeds from sales at Gwatney Buick GMC were designated for the, a mobile mammography unit that offers screening mammography to women throughout Arkansas. The donation was presented Nov. 14 by Penny Burkhalter, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Foundation board member and Gwatney advertising spokesperson, to Sharp Malak, M.D., director of the Mobile Mammography Program in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Radiology.

Malak, who holds a master’s degree in public health, also is assistant professor of radiology and epidemiology and director of the Breast Imaging Research Program at UAMS.

“We are so grateful for this donation in support of the MammoVan. When women have access to mammograms, cancers are caught earlier and treatments are more successful,” Malak said.

Burkhalter, who is a breast cancer survivor, joined the UAMS Cancer Institute Foundation Board of Directors in 2015.

“Everyone at Gwatney Buick GMC is supportive of this promotion and thrilled that we can help make a positive impact on the health of women in Arkansas,” Burkhalter said. This the third year for the dealership to donate a portion of its proceeds to benefit breast cancer programs at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

The MammoVan is outfitted with the most advanced digital mammography equipment and is staffed by a certified mammography technologist and a technical assistant.

Patients receive their test results within two to three weeks. Results also are sent to each patient’s primary care physician. If the mammogram shows a potential abnormality, the patient is referred for follow-up to the appropriate services.

Oct. 6, 2016 | A glamorous bygone era briefly reappeared in Little Rock on Sept. 30 when the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute hosted its 21^st annual Gala for Life.

The black-tie fundraiser raised more than $1.2 million and treated about 800 guests to the opulence of 1960’s Las Vegas, complete with showgirls, themed cocktails and an acrobatic “human chandelier” who poured champagne while suspended upside down in the center of the Statehouse Convention Center ballroom.

The Las Vegas-based Rat Pack Trio — featuring the looks and sounds of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. — performed throughout the evening, and a Marilyn Monroe lookalike worked the crowd with the star’s flirtatious style. A surprise performance by the king himself rounded out the night, as an Elvis impersonator took the stage to cap off the evening.

“Even with all the fun and excitement our guests enjoyed, the real purpose of the Gala for Life is to raise much-needed funds for cancer research and education here in Arkansas,” said Cancer Institute Director Peter Emanuel, M.D.

A portion of this year’s net proceeds will benefit the UAMS Radiation Oncology Center, the only facility in Arkansas to provide radiation therapy for both children and adults. Fen Xia, M.D., Ph.D., is chair of the UAMS Department of Radiation Oncology.

The center’s faculty plan to use the event proceeds to expand their research projects and start a radiation oncology residency program designed to train the next generation of Arkansas’ radiation oncologists. Additional funds may be used for equipment upgrades or other needs.

Following an appeal for support via video from Arkansas Razorback head football coach Bret Bielema, guests spontaneously donated funds to send three pediatric radiation oncology patients and their families to the Razorback football game in Fayetteville on Nov. 5. The young patients joined event chairs Carol and Porter Rodgers Jr., M.D., on stage sporting hog noses and kicking off a rousing hog call by emcee and THV news anchor Craig O’Neill.

In addition to chairing the event, the Rodgerses joined Mary Kay and F.E. Joyce, M.D., and family in matching the table card donations received that evening, resulting in an additional $178,930 for the Radiation Oncology Center.

Presenting sponsors were the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation and Highlands Oncology Group. Click here to view a complete list of sponsors and here to view more photos from the event.

July 1, 2016 | If you truly want to make a difference, why not shoot for the moon?

That’s the thinking behind the national Cancer Moonshot Initiative, an effort announced by President Barack Obama at the 2016 State of the Union address. The goal of the initiative is to double the rate of progress in cancer research by making a decade’s worth of advances in the next five years.

With Vice President Joe Biden at the helm, the initiative’s task force is focused on forming collaborations across private and public sectors and maximizing the impact of federal investments, patient engagement and targeted incentives.

With task force’s final recommendations due to the president by the end of year, Biden issued a historic challenge to cancer centers and other organizations across the country: Host local summits and events on June 29 to gather input on how to meet the president’s charge.

The local events would be an offshoot of the national Cancer Moonshot Summit hosted by Biden on the same day at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The results were overwhelming. More than 7,400 individuals gathered at more than 270 events in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam. Of those events, 39 were conducted at cancer centers, including the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute.

“We were honored to host Arkansas’ summit and be a part of this important national effort. This truly was a statewide effort, with 143 participants from across the state gathering to discuss the future of cancer research and care,” said Cancer Institute Director Peter Emanuel, M.D.

The UAMS event began with a large group session led by moderator Richard Nicholas, M.D., professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and director of the Center for Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors.

In his remarks, Nicholas outlined the goals of the national Cancer Moonshot Initiative and the role of the local summits. “Today, we are joining with thousands of cancer survivors, researchers, advocates, health care professionals and others to add our voice to this urgent national cause,” he said.

Participants viewed a video of Biden’s speech from earlier that day at the national summit in which he outlined progress made by the task force and goals for the future. Following the video, small groups formed to discuss topics related to cancer survivorship, advocacy, research and philanthropy.

“Our small group discussions were insightful and spirited. Not only did we get productive suggestions to report back to the White House, we also found new ways to work together here in Arkansas to better improve our patient care and research efforts,” Nicholas said. Read the full report here.

Major discussion points and recommendations included:

• The need for expanded availability and access to clinical trial information through a comprehensive national database and on-site education for patients.
• The importance of patient navigation programs to assist newly diagnosed patients in understanding and moving through the health care system.

• The need for scientists to have a variety of public and private funding sources available that improve overall accountability and transparency in research.

• The impact of private philanthropy on access to cancer care in local communities through funding telehealth programs, clinic expansions, and mobile vans for screening and other services.

• The value of providing a network of support to patients through access to palliative care professionals, social workers and survivor networks.

• The importance of using social media and face-to-face interactions to share information about clinical trials, support groups, prevention programs and survivorship services.

Small group discussion leaders included:

• Research group co-facilitators Thomas Kieber-Emmons, Ph.D., a professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Pathology, and Pat Travis, M.D., a hematologist/oncologist at Highlands Oncology Group in northwest Arkansas

• Advocacy group co-facilitators Robin Dean, coordinator of the UAMS Cancer Institute Auxiliary Cancer Support Center, and Miriam Karanja, director of programs at the Arkansas Cancer Coalition

• Survivorship group co-facilitators Issam Makhoul, M.D., director of the UAMS Division of Hematology/Oncology, and Carrie Calhoon, oncology social worker

• Philanthropy group facilitator Kent Westbrook, M.D., distinguished professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Division of Surgical Oncology

June 9, 2016 | Ten projects highlighting the use of natural products in medical research were on display June 1 at the latest Showcase of Medical Discoveries wine-and-cheese reception hosted by the UAMS College of Medicine and vice chancellor of research. The event was the 14^th reception in a series created to foster communication and collaboration among UAMS investigators and clinicians. Participants included faculty members, student trainees, postdoctoral researchers, research staff and other guests.

“Natural products from plants and animals are a rich source for novel drugs that can be used to treat and identify mechanisms underlying human disease. Through this event, we hope to connect UAMS researchers with diverse backgrounds and accelerate the drug discovery process,” said Lawrence Cornett, Ph.D., UAMS vice chancellor for research.

Posters at the showcase, which was held at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, used text and graphics to portray data and  conclusions from months of work by researchers.

Peter A. Crooks, Ph.D., a featured speaker at the event, was eager to promote the benefits of natural products to medical research. “My interests lie in investigating the biological properties of plants,” said Crooks, whose drug discovery research includes work with natural plant products to combat methamphetamine and tobacco addiction.

Crooks was trained in natural products chemistry and serves as professor and chairman of the UAMS Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy.

Fellow researcher Cesar M. Compadre, Ph.D., shared information on his research that investigates the cancer-fighting properties of a plant native to southern Ecuador. “This particular plant is typically used to fight infection, but we have shown it also has the ability to kill leukemia stem cells,” said Compadre, who has conducted extensive research on bioactive compounds of natural origin. He also is a professor in the UAMS Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Another participant, Michael Borrelli, Ph.D., presented the work of his research team, which includes Crooks and graduate assistant Zheng Chen, on the natural drug parthenolide to inhibit the growth of liver tumor cells. In their research, liver tumors treated with the drug exhibited a significant decrease in volume in only nine days. Borrelli is a professor in the UAMS Department of Radiology in the College of Medicine.

These projects and others represented at the event were:
• A Useful Rice By-product for Radiation Protection by Kimberly J. Krager, Mary Kordsmeier, Luke Howard, Philip J. Breen, Cesar M. Compadre, Martin Hauer-Jensen, Nukhet Aykin-Burns

• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) Extract Dose-Dependent Growth Inhibition of H. pylori Bacteria and Effects of H. pylori on Gastric Cell Free Amino Acid Concentrations by Nimasha Fernando, Aime T. Franco, Howard P. Hendrickson

• Transarterial Chemoembolization with Parthenolide in a Rat Liver Tumor Model induces Tumor Regression without any detectable Liver or Systemic Toxicity by Zheng Chen, Peter A. Crooks and Michael J. Borrelli

• Natural Compounds in the Prevention and Treatment of Radiation-induced Heart Disease by Marjan Boerma, John Seawright, Preeti Singh, Maohua Cao and Viji Mohan Seenivasan

• Development and Commercialization of Tocol-containing Pharmaceuticals Derived from, or Inspired by, Natural Products by Philip J. Breen, Nukhet Aykin-Burns, Shraddha Thakkar and Cesar M. Compadre

• Dehydroleucodine a Sesquiterpene Lactone from Gynoxysverrucosa Demonstrates Cytotoxic Activity Against Human Leukemia Cells by Paola E. Ordóñez, Krishan K. Sharma, Laura M. Bystrom, Maria A. Alas, William F. Reynolds, Raul G. Enriquez, Darcy C. Burns, Omar Malagón, Darin E. Jones, Monica L. Guzman and Cesar M. Compadre

• Rapid Pharmacokinetic Screening of Lobelane and Lead Lobelane Analogs in Rats via Cassette Dosing by ZAF Albayati, M. Sunkara, A.J. Morris, L. Dwoskin, and P. A. Crooks

• Metformin and Soy Bioactives Limit the Frequency of the CD133+CD44+ Epithelial Sub-population in Human Colon Cancer Cells by Maria Theresa E. Montales, Adam R. Brown, Rosalia C.M. Simmen and Frank A. Simmen, Ph.D.

• The Vitamin E Analog Gamma Tocotrienol (GT3) Suppresses Ionizing Radiation- and/or Microgravity-Induced Cytogenetic Damage: Possible Role of RAD50 by R. Pathak, A. Bachri, S. P. Ghosh, I. Koturbash, G. A. Nelson, M. Boerma and M. Hauer-Jensen

• Comparative Pharmacokinetics of S-(-)-Nornicotine and S-(-)-Nicotine after Transdermal Application by Zaineb A. F. Albayati, Buchi Nalluri, Philip J Breen and Peter A. Crooks

June 7, 2016 | Seventeen patient support programs have been awarded grants by the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Auxiliary.

The grants total $144,119 and represent proceeds from the auxiliary’s two fundraising programs — Partners Card and the auxiliary-run Cancer Institute Gift Shop.

In addition, new officers for 2016-2017 were elected at the auxiliary’s spring luncheon and annual meeting May 19. Officers are Kimberly Pickett, president; Tara Smith, president elect; Kenan Keyes, recording secretary; Cheryl Johnson, corresponding secretary; and Jake Eddington, treasurer.

Cancer Institute Auxiliary members provide day-to-day patient support services by greeting and escorting guests, serving snacks, assisting with cancer screening events, and working in the gift shop and Patient Support Pavilion. Other members participate in a variety of auxiliary-sponsored events throughout the year.

Projects receiving grants are:

• Cancer Institute Supplemental Pantry

• Oncology Massage for Cancer Institute Patients and Caregivers

• Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Screening

• Free Wigs and Caps for Cancer Institute Patients Experiencing Hair Loss

• Subscriptions for Print Materials in Patient Support Pavilion

• Program Support for Northwest Arkansas Cancer Support Home

• Tobacco Cessation Program

• Information and Education Binders for Patients

• Knitting Supplies for Sit and Knit

• Gift Cards for Service Recovery

• Integrative Therapies and for Cancer Patients and Caregivers/Yoga for Healing and Rejuvenation

• Cancer Institute Patient Support Fund

• Palliative Care Education and Bereavement Support Fund

• Patient Assistance Program – Reynolds Cancer Support House in Fort Smith

• HOPE Cancer Resources in Northwest Arkansas for Emergency Assistance Program

• Patient Safety and Cancer Treatment Support through CPR Readiness

• Envoy Ambassador Program