Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute
The Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute, founded in 1990, offers patients the full range of the most advanced diagnostic and treatment services for all types of cancer, including participation in national clinical trials. The Cancer Institute conducts basic oncology research and offers participation in more than 100 phase I, II, or III clinical trials for a range of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Since its inception the Cancer Institute has also been a member of the Cancer and Leukemia Group B, which provides national protocols for the treatment of patients with cancer and leukemia.
Breast Diagnostic Imaging Center
Professionals in the Breast Diagnostic Imaging Center are active researchers with a long list of published articles and monographs on topics related to breast radiography and ultrasound techniques and their roles in critical pathways. Faculty of the Breast Diagnostic Imaging Center play active roles in The Western Pennsylvania Hospital's Diagnostic Radiology Residency Training Program and are key to the success of the Women's Imaging Fellowship Program. In addition, the Center's director is a course director for the Pittsburgh Breast Imaging Seminar, a 4-day continuing medical education conference held annually since 1980.
Gynecologic Oncology
A major focus of gynecologic oncologists is perfecting a vaccine to prevent or halt the progression of cervical cancer. The major risk factor for cancer of the cervix is human papillomavirus infection, most frequently type 16 (HPV16). Patients eligible for the cancer vaccine study include those with stage IV and some with stage III cervical cancer and those with other diseases associated with HPV, including cancer of the vulva or vagina. Patients will receive several innoculations of vaccine to boost their immune systems' response to the cancer-causing genes in HPV 16.
Radiation Oncology
Radiation oncology professionals constantly seek for ways to improve the delivery and effectiveness of radiation therapy. A recent research initiative involves fusion of magnetic resonance and computed tomography images to achieve tumor images with 1-mm resolution, so that view of the tumor will reflect the precision with which radiation therapy can be delivered using cutting-edge modalities such as the Peacock system and radiosurgery.
Radiology Imaging Services
The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, home of the Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute, has been selected as one of the first 20 sites in the nation for evaluation of FDG gamma camera imaging with attenuation correction.
Radiology specialists in The Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute are participating in the first United States trial of interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) as a treatment for patients with five or fewer primary or metastatic lesions in the liver who are not candidates for surgery. ILP is performed as an outpatient procedure under ultrasound or computed tomography guidance, using fiber optic laser proves to deliver NdYAG laster energy.
Surgical Oncology
Surgical oncologists play a key role in Tumor Board follow-up of patients whose cancer is treated surgically. As a result of these efforts, The Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute has achieved Tumor Board follow-up on a high proportion of surgical oncology patients.
Program and Research Support Services
Clinical programs and research efforts of The Western Pennsylvania Cancer Insitute receive outstanding suport from Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services, The Oncology Protocol Office, and the Tumor Registry.
Pathology, Laboratory Medicine
Pathology and clinical laboratory medicine services available through The Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute encompass the latest techniques for evaluation of all types of clinical specimens. The laboratories specialize in the following service areas:
- Anatomic Pathology
- Blood Bank
- Clinical Chemistry Laboratoy
- Cytogenetics Laboratory
- Hematology Laboratory
- Microbiology Laboratory
Oncology Protocol Office
More than 100 clinical trials are available to patients of The Western Pennsylvania Cancer Institute. Professional nurses in the Oncology Protocol Office facilitate patient participation in clinical trials through screening and coordination of patient care activities. Protocol nurses screen patients systematically to determine their eligiblity to participate in clincal trials. Annually, more than 500 patients enter the screening process.
Tumor Registry
Key to research into better ways to diagnose and treat cancer are tumor registries--complex databases rigorously maintained by accredited cancer programs such as that based at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital. The Tumor Registry began entering cases in 1986. Each year since this reference year, increase in numbers of cases have been added, both analytic cases and nonanalytic cases. West Penn Hospital's Tumor Registry now contains information on more than 11,000 patients (more than 4,000 surviving) and follow-up information on well more than the 90% targeted by the Commission on Cancer.
