OF NOTE:  PHLBI IS EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO TONY AND JANET CHOMO FOR THEIR NUMEROUS DONATIONS TO SUPPORT DR. ROBERT CAMERON’S MESOTHELIOMA RESEARCH EFFORTS AT THE PUNCH WORTHINGTON RESEARCH LABORATORY AT UCLA, FUNDED BY PHLBI.

 

Tony Chomo and his wife, Janet, moved from Massachusetts to California in 1977. The day finally came when Tony, a career maintenance worker and licensed plumber, had all he could take of the brutal East Coast winters. The family, now consisting of four grown children and nine grandchildren, settled in Simi Valley.

In August 2006, Tony was involved in a motorcycle accident. But, his injuries seemed minor, and Tony went home. One month later, he found himself having a hard time breathing normally.  Tony went to the emergency room at Northridge Hospital. An EKG ruled out a heart attack, but fluid was found surrounding his lung, and was drained.  Tests on the fluid revealed abnormal mesothelial cancer cells, and Tony was diagnosed was malignant pleural mesothelioma.

A friend told Tony about Dr. Robert Cameron at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, and Tony met Dr. Cameron in October 2006.  For Tony, the eternal optimist, the family provider, the rock of stability who could nonetheless let loose on the open road atop 1200cc’s of  motorcycle muscle, the options seemed slim, until Dr. Cameron talked about treating mesothelioma as a chronic condition which Tony would have to deal with the remainder of his life—like high blood pressure or diabetes. The focus became choosing a treatment that would hopefully extend his life and allow him to maintain his quality of life. 

Dr. Cameron: “I told Tony that his disease appeared to be limited just to that part of the chest and did not have obvious spread to his lymph nodes. He was a good candidate for the pleurectomy with decortication procedure done, so I recommended that.”  Tony had the pleurectomy with decortication surgery on January 9, 2007.  Dr. Cameron, removed all visible tumor attached to Tony’s chest cavity and organs. Tony required ten days of recovery in the hospital.  Tony responded reasonably well.  Many people have problems with abnormal heart rhythms, pain, coughing up phlegm, and that kind of thing. But he seemed to get through that reasonably well.  He’s a pretty strong person. Then Tony did radiation on the body. What’s really tricky about radiation is that you technically want to radiate every place where the tumor was present. But that involves every single surface of the lung, the diaphragm, the middle of the chest and the ribs. That’s a big area. Also, the lung itself is very sensitive to radiation damage. So you have to have a lot of fancy treatment planning to be able to deliver radiation to all those areas and yet not hurt the lung.”

Tony is proud to say he has not taken any prescription pain medication since February 2007. He feels soreness and occasional numbness at the incision site but manages it without medication. In June 2007 he finished radiation with Dr. Michael Selch at UCLA. By July 2007 he started the next phase of treatment, daily injections of interferon alpha. Initially he felt tired and fatigued from the injections, but this has since improved.

In November 2007, Tony grew concerned when a CT scan revealed possible fluid in the lower left lung.  However, tests determined it was not fluid development, but rather air that had accumulated, resulting in a partial collapse of one lung.  Inflammation due to radiation was still visible, but this has since improved, as well. There is currently no sign that the cancer has spread.  Tony has monthly comprehensive blood tests along with scans and the Mesomark blood test every three months.

Tony tries to go on walks two to three days a week to stay active. He tires easily and notices significantly decreased breathing capacity. He loves riding his motorcycle with his buddies whenever he gets a chance and has gone on several bike rides with a friend in the mountains and in Ojai.

A Loving Couple

Tony and Jan continue their active and adventurous lifestyle. They own Harley-Davidson and Suzuki motorcycles and enjoy taking the motorcycles on tours and trips. Prior to becoming motorcycle enthusiasts, they owned boats and would go scuba diving. A seasoned dirt bike rider, Tony enjoys the thrill of showing his grandchildren how to ride off-road.  And, no job or occupation is as dear to Tony as the role of “Grandpa” and babysitter.  The Chomos’ home is constantly filled with the laughter and chatter of rambunctious youngsters.

Prior to his diagnosis, Tony had no plans of retiring, but since his surgery and radiation, Tony made the decision to cut out work completely, which was one of the hardest adjustments. Tony’s life has changed, but he faces those changes with fortitude and optimism. His surgery has given him the precious gift of time, which he lovingly spends with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

OF NOTE:  The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute would like to express their heartfelt thanks to David and Pilar Vanderhyde for their gift of $100,000 in support of mesothelioma research at the Punch Worthington Research Laboratory, funded by PHLBI.

Diagnosis and Treatment 

David Vanderhyde was diagnosed with pleural malignant mesothelioma (epithelial type – epithelium are tissue membranes that line the internal organs),  in October 2006, and  was instructed by his oncologist to begin chemotherapy right away.  A month later, he began the standard regimen of Alimta with Cisplatin, however, his oncologist included a non-standard targeted therapy drug as well called Avastin (Bevacizumab), which is not a chemotherapy drug but rather an anti-angiogenesis therapy.  Anti-angiogenics are drugs that inhibit blood vessel formation, and blood vessel formation is critical for tumors to grow — it’s like their food supply.  Research has shown that in some instances, Avastin may prevent blood vessel formation in some types of tumors.

ANTI-ANGIOGENIC DRUGS:  Anti-angiogenics are drugs that inhibit blood vessel formation, and blood vessel formation is critical for tumor to grow — it’s like their food supply. 

After his six rounds of chemotherapy, PET scans revealed that the chemo was effectively reducing the size of the tumors in David’s chest.  His oncologist extended treatment for two more rounds, but without Cisplatin, due to a bad reaction after round six.  David finished in May 2007, and starting researching mesothelioma treatments on the web.  After noting repeated references to the expertise and skill of Dr. Robert Cameron, Executive Medical Director of Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, David made an appointment with Dr. Cameron.

Dr. Robert Cameron performs Pleurectomy with Decortication

Dr. Cameron informed David that while chemotherapy helped reduce the size of his tumors, a surgical procedure to remove the remaining tumor, known as a Pleurectomy with Decortication (P/D), might both extend his life and give him a better quality of life. 

Dr. Cameron’s ”Less is More” approach to surgery:  Perform Pleurectomy with Decortication, and resect (remove) the pleural lining around the lung, without disturbing tumor-free organs inside the chest, as opposed to the radical, highly invasive Extrapleural Pneumonectomy, a surgery that removes the entire lung, part of the membrane lining the thoracic wall, the diaphragm and the pericardium.

On June 7, 2007, David underwent the eight hour procedure with Dr. Cameron.  Once inside, Dr. Cameron saw tumor growing around the heart, so the lining of the pericardium (heart sac) was also resected. 

Approximately three weeks after his surgery, David was feeling so good, he took a long walk along the Santa Monica Pier.   Later that night he woke up with a fluttering heart and high blood pressure.  Doctors put him on Lopresor to restore his normal heart rate. 

In July 2007, David inhaled for a deep cough to clear the phlegm causing his scratchy throat.  Phlegm occasionally occurs after surgery for mesothelioma patients and can range from moderate to severe congestion.  David coughed with such force that he opened the surgical stitches on his left side.

David’s wife Pilar immediately drove him to a nearby San Diego emergency room where doctors attempted to put steristrips over the wound.  Within minutes of leaving the ER, David could feel the strips loosening, so the Vanderhydes drove straight to UCLA. 

At UCLA, doctors found an infection had developed, so they couldn’t re-stitch his side.  Instead, David had a “wound vac” attached to his side for over four months.  A “wound vac” gently and continuously drains the open wound so that it can heal quickly — without the machine, healing could have taken up to a year. Pilar became an expert at packing the wound with sponges, then bandaging the top until it eventually healed.

David continued his regular visits to Dr. Cameron who recommended radiation with Dr. Michael Selch, also at UCLA.  David’s PET scans in November 2007 showed good results, though David was concerned about the four month delay in radiation due to the blown stitches.

David completed his radiation, then began nightly injections of interferon alpha as maintenance therapy beginning April 24, 2008. David usually keeps a very positive attitude and outlook on all aspects of life, however, while he was on interferon, he noticed that he felt extremely fatigued, which caused depression. He did not want to get out of bed. David found it difficult to summon the optimism he often relied upon during his treatments.

Depression and fatigue are common side effects associated with interferon alpha. Usually these symptoms (and possibly flu-like side effects) disappear after a few days. David continued the interferon treatments, but after three weeks of worsening depression and fatigue, David and Dr. Cameron decided to stop the drug. Two days later, David noticed that he was feeling better and was a little more upbeat.

In October, 2008, a CT scan revealed some micronodules in David’s right lung, however, after four rounds of chemotherapy, Dr. Cameron says the nodules look fainter, and may be receding.

When David is finished with chemotherapy, he is going to try the interferon injections again, but at a lower dosage. 

“Never Surrender”

Despite the hardships during treatment, David plans to set an example by continuing to fight the good fight and never surrender.  He often says he can’t wait to share his story about being a 10 year survivor!  He hopes to inspire others to donate their time and money to the efforts of the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, as “[they] believe in trying to find a cure for this so-called incurable disease.”

——————————————————-

 

Pilar Vanderhyde’s Tips for stress reduction: 

 

*Draw on your personal relationship with God, in whatever form you perceive God to exist.

 

*We watched a video called ‘The Secret’, which is all about positive thinking, and positive thinking is why David is alive today.  A thoracic surgeon in San Diego told us that David’s cancer was inoperable, and there were no options.  We decided to do some research on our own, and an interesting thing happened: Dr. Cameron’s name kept coming up, not only on the web, but also from the daughter-in-law of a friend, an attorney, and other oncologists.  Be sure to explore your options, even if someone tells you “nothing can be done.”

 

  *Find things that make you smile, and, if you really like the rain, like I do, make a fool out of yourself and go dance in the rain… 

 

 

 

Dr. Cameron appeared on the television program “Extra” this evening in a segment about lung cancer and mesothelioma.  Click link below to watch!

http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2008/12/lifechangers_the_facts_about_l.php

Much debate and research exists regarding these two methods of surgical resection in treating mesothelioma. Because no randomized clinical studies have been conducted to compare P/D to EPP, much of the survival data, quality of life issues, even the techniques behind the surgeries remain unproven. Dr. Robert Cameron favors sparing the lung utilizing the Pleurectomy with Decortication surgery. He tells us why: 

 

“When performing surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma, no matter how meticulous a surgeon might be, they will never be able to completely resect (remove) every last cancer cell — that is impossible. They are going to leave tumor cells in the chest no matter what they do.  Proponents of the radical, highly invasive EPP surgery want to tell a patient they ‘got it all’,  but in fact, that is never the case, and removing a vital organ (a lung) underneath the tumor that has nothing to do with getting all the tumor out is sacrificing vital function that greatly increases the risks of the operation.  Sacrificing vital function of a lung increases the risk of dying during the surgery and increases the risk of complications later on. Why cause problems where there are no problems already?  My philosophy has always been: ‘do no harm.’  Taking out a lung does harm and there is absolutely no benefit to the patient.

 

Another advantage of P/D over EPP is that P/D allows you to limit the operation site to the areas of tumor. By performing EPP, your surgeon may expand your surgery into new places where there is no tumor, and that will just spread the tumor.  In P/D, we leave barriers up (diaphragm, pericardium, chest wall) between tumors and other areas so we don’t spread it.

 

Doing a bigger operation makes no sense from an oncology standpoint, because a surgeon cannot rid a mesothelioma patient of every last cancer cell and cure them – that won’t happen.  Once you accept that, then you can understand why P/D is the best surgical option with the least side effects, the least chance of dying and a better chance of getting as much tumor clearance as possible.” 

 

 

When side effects of cancer treatment interfere with normal eating, adjustments can be made to ensure the patient continues to get the necessary nutrition.  Medications may be given to stimulate the appetite. Eating foods that are high in calories, protein, vitamins and minerals is usually advised. Meal planning, however, should be individualized to meet the patient’s nutritional needs and tastes in food.

Anorexia

Anorexia (lack of appetite) is one of the most common problems for cancer patients.

The following suggestions may help cancer patients manage anorexia: 

         Eat small high-protein and high-calorie meals every 1-2 hours instead of 3 larger meals.

      Have help with preparing meals.

      Add extra calories and protein to food (such as butter, skim milk powder, honey, or brown sugar).

      Take liquid supplements (special drinks containing nutrients), soups, milk, juices, shakes, and smoothies when eating solid food is a  problem.

      Eat snacks that contain plenty of calories and protein.

      Prepare and store small portions of favorite foods so they are ready to eat when hungry.

      Eat breakfasts that contain one third of the calories and protein needed for the day.

      Eat foods with odors that are appealing. Strong odors can be avoided by using boiling  bags, cooking outdoors on the grill, using a  kitchen fan when cooking, serving cold food instead of hot (since odors are in the rising steam), and taking off any food covers to release the odors before entering a patient’s room. Small portable fans can be used to blow food odors away from patients. Cooking odors can be avoided by ordering take-out food.

      Try new foods. Be creative with desserts. Experiment with recipes, flavorings, spices, types, and consistencies of food. Food likes and dislikes may change from day to day.

The following high-calorie, high-protein foods are recommended:

      Cheese and crackers.

      Muffins.

      Puddings.

      Milkshakes.

      Nutritional Supplements.

      Yogurt.

      Ice cream.

      Powdered milk added to foods such as pudding, milkshakes, or any recipe using milk.

      Finger foods (handy for snacking) such as deviled eggs, cream cheese or peanut butter on crackers or celery, or deviled ham on crackers.

Taste Changes

Changes in how foods taste may be caused by radiation treatment, dental problems, or medicines. Cancer patients often complain of changes in their sense of taste when undergoing chemotherapy, in particular a bitter taste sensation. A sudden dislike for certain foods may occur. This may result in food avoidance, weight loss, and anorexia, which can greatly reduce the patients’ quality of life. Some or all of the sense of taste may return, but it may be a year after treatment ends before the sense of taste is normal again. Drinking plenty of fluids, changing the types of food eaten and adding spices or flavorings to food may help.

The following suggestions may help cancer patients manage changes in taste:

     Rinse mouth with water before eating.

     Try citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, lemons, grapefruit) unless mouth sores are present.

     Eat small meals and healthy snacks several times a day.

     Eat meals when hungry rather than at set mealtimes.

     Use plastic utensils if foods taste metallic.

     Try favorite foods.

     Eat with family and friends.

     Have others prepare the meal.

     Try new foods when feeling best.

     Substitute poultry, fish, eggs, and cheese for red meat.

     Find nonmeat, high- protein recipes in a vegetarian or Chinese cookbook.

     Use sugar-free lemon drops, gum, or mints if there is a metallic or bitter taste in the  mouth.

     Add spices and sauces to foods.

        Eat meat with something sweet, such as cranberry sauce, jelly, or applesauce.

**Taking Zinc Sulfate tablets during radiation therapy to the head and neck may speed the return of normal taste after treatment.  BE SURE TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.

 

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is often caused by radiation therapy to the head and neck. Some medicines may also cause dry mouth. Dry mouth may affect speech, taste, ability to swallow, and the use of dentures or braces. There is also an increased risk of cavities and gum disease because less saliva is produced to wash the teeth and gums.

The main treatment for dry mouth is drinking plenty of liquids, about ½ ounce per pound of body weight per day.

Other suggestions to manage dry mouth include the following:

     Eat moist foods with extra sauces, gravies, butter, or margarine.

     Suck on hard candy or chew gum.

     Eat frozen desserts (such as frozen grapes and ice pops) or ice chips.

     Clean teeth (including dentures) and rinse mouth at least four times per day (after each meal and before bedtime).

     Keep water handy at all times to moisten the mouth.

     Choose foods and drinks that are very sweet or tart, to stimulate saliva.

     Avoid mouth rinses containing alcohol.

     Drink fruit nectar instead of juice.

     Use a straw to drink liquids.

Mouth Sores and Infections

Mouth sores can result from chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These treatments target rapidly-growing cells because cancer cells grow rapidly. Normal cells inside the mouth may be damaged by these cancer treatments because they also grow rapidly. Mouth sores may become infected and bleed, making eating difficult. By choosing certain foods and taking good care of their mouths, patients can usually make eating easier.

Suggestions to help manage mouth sores and infections include the following:

Eat soft foods that are easy to chew and swallow, eg:

            Soft fruits, including bananas, applesauce, and watermelon.

Peach, pear, and apricot nectars.

   

Cottage cheese.

 

Mashed potatoes.

 

Macaroni and cheese.

 

Custards; puddings.

 

Gelatin.

 

Milkshakes.

 

Scrambled eggs.

 

Oatmeal or other cooked cereals.

 

TIP: Use the blender to process vegetables (such as potatoes, peas, and carrots) and meats until smooth.

     Avoid rough, coarse, or dry foods, including raw vegetables, granola, toast, and crackers.

     Avoid foods that are spicy or salty. Avoid foods that are acidic, such as vinegar, pickles, and olives.

     Avoid citrus fruits and juices, including orange, grapefruit, and tangerine.

     Cook foods until soft and tender.

     Cut foods into small pieces.

     Use a straw to drink liquids.

     Eat foods cold or at room temperature. Hot and warm foods can irritate a tender mouth.

     Clean teeth (including dentures) and rinse mouth at least four times per day (after each meal and before bedtime).

     Add gravy, broth, or sauces to food.

     Drink high-calorie, high-protein drinks in addition to meals.

     Numb the mouth with ice chips or flavored ice pops.

Using a mouth rinse that contains GLUTAMINE may reduce the number of mouth sores. Glutamine is a substance found in plant and animal proteins. BE SURE TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.

Nausea

Nausea caused by cancer treatment can affect the amount and kinds of food eaten. The following suggestions may help cancer patients manage nausea:

     Eat before cancer treatments.

     Avoid foods that are likely to cause nausea. For some patients, this includes spicy foods, greasy foods, and foods that have strong odors.

     Eat small meals several times a day.

     Slowly sip fluids throughout the day.

     Eat dry foods such as crackers, breadsticks, or toast throughout the day.

     Sit up or lie with the upper body raised for one hour after eating.

     Eat bland, soft, easy-to-digest foods rather than heavy meals.

     Avoid eating in a room that has cooking odors or that is overly warm. Keep the living space at a comfortable temperature and with plenty of fresh air.

     Rinse out the mouth before and after eating.

     Suck on hard candies such as peppermints or lemon drops if the mouth has a bad taste.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea may be caused by cancer treatments, surgery on the stomach or intestines, or by emotional stress. Long-term diarrhea may lead to dehydration (lack of water in the body) and/or low levels of salt and potassium, important minerals needed by the body.

The following suggestions may help cancer patients manage diarrhea:

      Eat broth, soups, sports drinks, bananas, and canned fruits to help replace salt and potassium lost by diarrhea.

      Avoid greasy foods, hot or cold liquids, and caffeine.

      Avoid high-fiber foods–especially dried beans and cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage).

      Drink plenty of fluids through the day. Room temperature liquids may cause fewer problems than hot or cold liquids.

      Limit milk to 2 cups or eliminate milk and milk products until the source of the problem is found.

      Limit gas-forming foods and beverages such as peas, lentils, cruciferous vegetables, chewing gum, and soda.

      Limit sugar-free candies or gum made with sorbitol (sugar alcohol).

      Drink at least one cup of liquid after each loose bowel movement.

Low White Blood Cell Count

Cancer patients may have a low white blood cell count for a variety of reasons, some of which include radiation therapy, chemotherapy or the cancer itself. Patients who have a low white blood cell count are at an increased risk of infection.

The following suggestions may help cancer patients prevent infections when white blood cell counts are low:

     Check dates on food and do not buy or use the food if it is out of date.

     Do not buy or use food in cans that are swollen, dented, or damaged.

     Thaw foods in the refrigerator or microwave. Never thaw foods at room temperature. Cook foods immediately after thawing.

     Refrigerate all leftovers within 2 hours of cooking and eat them within 24 hours.

     Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.

     Avoid old, moldy, or damaged fruits and vegetables.

     Avoid unpackaged tofu sold in open bins or containers.

     Cook all meat, poultry, and fish thoroughly. Avoid raw eggs or raw fish.

     Buy foods packed as single servings to avoid leftovers.

     Avoid salad bars and buffets when eating out.

     Avoid large groups of people and people who have infections.

     Wash hands often to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Fluid Intake

The body needs plenty of water to replace the fluid lost every day. Long-term diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and pain may prevent the patient from drinking and eating enough to get the water needed by the body. One of the first signs of dehydration (lack of water in the body) is extreme tiredness.

The following suggestions may help cancer patients prevent dehydration:

     Drink 8 to 12 cups of liquids a day. This can be water, juice, milk, or foods that contain a large amount of liquid such as puddings, ice cream, ice pops, flavored ices, and gelatins.

     Take a water bottle whenever leaving home. It is important to drink even if not thirsty, as thirst is not a good sign of fluid needs.

     Limit drinks that contain caffeine, such as sodas, coffee, and tea (both hot and cold).

     Drink most liquids after and/or between meals.

     Use medicines that help relieve nausea and vomiting.

Constipation

Constipation is defined as fewer than 3 bowel movements per week. It is a very common problem for cancer patients and may result from lack of water or fiber in the diet; lack of physical activity; anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy; and medications.

The following suggestions may help cancer patients prevent constipation:

      Eat more fiber-containing foods on a regular basis. The recommended fiber intake is 25 to 35 grams per day. Increase fiber gradually and drink plenty of fluids at the same time to keep the fiber moving through the intestines.

      Drink 8 to 10 cups of fluid each day. Water, prune juice, warm juices, lemonade, and teas without caffeine can be very helpful.

      Take walks and exercise regularly. Proper footwear is important.

If constipation does occur, the following suggestions for diet, exercise, and medication may help correct it:

     Continue to eat high-fiber foods and drink plenty of fluids. Try adding wheat bran to the diet; begin with 2 heaping tablespoons each day for 3 days, then increase by 1 tablespoon each day until constipation is relieved. Do not exceed 6 tablespoons per day.

     Maintain physical activity.

     Include over-the-counter constipation treatments, if necessary. This refers to bulk-forming products (such as Citrucel, Metamucil, Fiberall, FiberCon, and Fiber-Lax); stimulants (such as Dulcolax tablets or suppositories and Senokot); stool softeners (such as Colace, Surfak, and Dialose); and osmotics (such as milk of magnesia). Cottonseed and aerosol enemas can also help relieve the problem. Lubricants such as mineral oil are NOT RECOMMENDED because they may prevent the body’s use of important nutrients.  BE SURE TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST. 

Good food sources of fiber include the following:

4 or more grams of fiber per serving

             Legumes (½ cup, cooked).

              Kidney beans.

              Navy beans.

              Garbanzo beans.

              Lima beans.

              Split peas.

              Pinto beans.

              Lentils.

             Vegetables and fruit

%

How common is mesothelioma among women?

It is relatively rare.  While studies show that men are the most prominent victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, here are a few examples of how a women may have contracted mesothelioma, prior to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) implementation of limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace in the early 1970’s:

Working in company laundry facilities:

Women who worked in company laundry facilities, where asbestos was used in large commercial dryers and other appliances where heat and fire was a threat, were at risk for asbestos exposure.  If asbestos insulation was damaged, asbestos fibers could circulate, and potentially be inhaled or ingested.  Additionally, women who cleaned these facilities may have been exposed to fibers while sweeping asbestos dust from the floors.

SIMILARLY:

Wives of asbestos workers were subjected to second hand asbestos exposure every time they put their husband’s work clothes into the washing machine at home.  Many asbestos workers literally “brought their work home”  on their clothing and in their hair.

Working for cosmetics companies:

At one time, asbestos was used in cosmetics, and women who worked in factories that manufactured asbestos-containing make-up and powders may have inhaled the mineral on a daily basis.

During World War II:

During World War II, civilian women were often hired to work in shipyards, steel-producing facilities, and power plants to replace men who had gone to war.  Asbestos was commonplace in these environments.

PLEASE NOTE:  DR. CAMERON HAS TREATED A NUMBER OF WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH MALIGNANT PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA (MPM). IF YOU’RE A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH MPM AND YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO ONE OF DR. CAMERON’S FEMALE PATIENTS, PLEASE CONTACT: ASRIBERG@PHLBI.ORG

Dr. Robert B. Cameron

Curriculum Vitae

Full Name:		Robert Brian Cameron, M.D.
Academic Title:		Associate Professor Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgical Oncology Chief, Thoracic Surgery Director, Thoracic Oncology Department of Surgery UCLA School of Medicine Chief, Thoracic Surgery West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital
Work Address:		Department of Surgery UCLA School of Medicine Center for the Health Sciences, Room 64-128 10833 Le Conte Avenue Box 957313 Los Angeles, California  90095-1741 email:  rcameron@mednet.ucla.edu
Telephone:		(310) 794-7333 (office) (310) 794-7335 (fax)
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery
Institution: Location: Dates:J Title: Title: Title: Hospitals: Institution: Location: Dates:J Title: Hospitals:		University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California July, 2001-present Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery Surgical Director, Thoracic Oncology Program Surgical Director, Lung Volume Reduction Surgery Program UCLA Medical Center West Los Angeles, Veterans Administration Los Angeles, California July, 2001-present Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery Wadsworth VA Hospital
Associate Professor of Surgery
Institution: Location: Dates: Title: Title: Hospitals: Institution: Location: Dates: Title: Hospitals:		University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California March, 1997-July, 2001 Chief, Section of Thoracic Surgery Surgical Director, Thoracic Oncology Program UCLA Medical Center West Los Angeles, Veterans Administration Los Angeles, California February, 1998-July, 2001 Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery Wadsworth VA Hospital
Associate Professor of Surgery
Institution: Location: Dates: Title: Hospitals:		University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, California September, 1994-February, 1997 Chief, Section of General Thoracic Surgery Moffitt-Long Hospital UCSF-Mt Zion Medical Center San Francisco Veteran’s Administration Medical Center San Francisco General Hospital Kaiser Permanente Hospital, San Francisco
Education
Medical Education
Institution: Location: Attendance: Insitution: Location: Attendance: Degree:		University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan August, 1980-August, 1982 University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California August, 1982-June, 1984 M.D.
Undergraduate Education
Institution: Location: Attendance: Degree:		Stanford University Stanford, California September, 1976-June, 1980 Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.) in medieval studies  and biology
Training
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Position: Institution: Location: Dates:		Fellow in Cardiothoracic Surgery New York Hospital-Cornell Medical     Center/Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer New York, New York July, 1992-June, 1994
General Surgery
Position: Institution: Location: Dates:		Senior and Chief Resident University of California, Los Angeles  Los Angeles, California July, 1989-June, 1992
Surgical Oncology
Position: Institution: Location: Dates:		Clinical Associate in Surgical Oncology Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute,    National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland July, 1986-June, 1989
-General Surgery
Position: Institution: Location: Dates:		Intern and Resident University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California July, 1984-June, 1986

Honors

Phi Beta Kappa Membership; Stanford University (as junior student): June, 1979
Departmental Distinction; Department of Biology, Stanford University: June, 1980
Alpha Omega Alpha Membership; University of Michigan Medical School (as junior student): December, 1982
Outstanding Faculty Educator, Thoracic Surgery, UCLA Dept. of Surgery, June, 2001

Board Certification

General Surgery: May 5, 1993 (valid until July 1, 2003)
General Surgery recertification: October 18, 2002 (valid until July 1, 2013)
Cardiothoracic Surgery (certificate #5615): June 2, 1995 (valid until December 31, 2005)

Medical Licensure

California: G56430 (active)
Maryland: (inactive)
Virginia: (inactive)
New York: (inactive)

Society Memberships

Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society: since 1979
American Medical Association: since 1980
Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Society: since 1982
American College of Surgeons Candidate Member: 1986-1994
American College of Surgeons Associate Member: 1994-1997
American Association of Immunologists: 1986-1992
New York Academy of Sciences: since 1987
American Association for the Advancement of Science: since 1987
American College of Cardiology: 1992-1996
New York Society for Thoracic Surgery: since 1993
Longmire Surgical Society: since 1993
New York Hospital-Cornell Cardiothoracic Surgical Society: since 1994
Society of Surgical Oncology: since 1995
San Francisco Surgical Society: since 1996
American College of Surgeons Fellow: since 1997
Society of Thoracic Surgeons: since 1997
American Association for Cancer Research: since 1998
American Society for Clinical Oncology: since 2000
International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer: since 2004
International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer: since 2004

Group Memberships

UCSF-Mt Zion Cancer Center Thoracic Tumor Board (Chairman): 1994-1997
UCSF-Mt Zion Cancer Center: 1995-1997
Cancer and Leukemia Group B (Investigator): 1995-1997
UCSF Thoracic Oncology Research Group: 1995-1997
UCLA-Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Thoracic Tumor Board (Chairman): 1997-present
Southwest Oncology Group (Investigator): 1997-present
American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (UCLA Principle Investigator): 1999-present

Committees

Local/Regional

Preferred Oncology Network of California Lung Cancer Committee (Chairman): 1994-1995
UCSF Cancer Center Protocol Review Committee: 1995-1997
UCSF Cancer Center Steering Committee: 1995-1997
UCSF-Mt Zion Quality Improvement Council: 1995-1997
UCSF-Mt Zion Surgery Committee: 1996-1997
UCLA-Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Qualtiy Assurance Committee: 1997-present
UCLA-Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Committee: 1997-present
UCLA Cancer Committee: 1997-present
UCLA Pain Management Task Force: 2000-present
UCLA ad hoc Peer Review Committee: 2005-present

National/International

CALGB Surgery Committee: 1995-1997
CALGB Thoracic Surgery Subcommittee: 1995-1997
CALGB Respiratory Committee: 1995-1997
SWOG Lung Committee: 1997-present
SWOG Thoracic Surgery Subcommittee: 1998-present
ACSOG Thoracic Committee: 1999-present
SSO Clinical Affairs Committee: 2005-present

Reviewer of Scientific Articles

Cancer ResearchJournal of Immunology
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Annals of Surgery
Journal of Immunotherapy
Surgical Endoscopy
Lung Cancer
World Journal of Surgery
Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Directorships

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF), Santa Barbara, California: 1999-present

Consultant

Hemacell, Inc, San Francisco, California: 1993-present
Preferred Health Systems, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland: 1996
Axiom Medical, Rancho Dominguez, California: 2000-present
Pacific Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute: 2002-present

Patents

Bioengineered human blood cells: U.S. patent 5,599,705: issued: February 4, 1997; Australian patent issued
Genetic modification of human blood cells: U.S. patent 5,811,301; issued: September, 9, 1998

Research Topics

1. Cell inactivation by heat (hyperthermia): Stanford University School of Medicine (Drs. George M. Hahn and Gloria Li); 1975-1976.

2. Inhibition of interleukin-2 production by melanoma tumor cell extracts: UCLA School of Medicine (Dr. Donald Morton); 1984.

3. Synergistic antitumor effects of interleukin-2 and interferon-a: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg); 1987.

4. Antitumor effects of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (Drs. Steven A. Rosenberg and David Sachs); 1987.

5. Normal and antitumor effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF): National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg); 1988.

6. Methods of mass production of human lymphocytes for use in human immunotherapy trials: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg); 1988.

7. Normal and antitumor effects of macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF): National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg); 1989.

8. Synergistic antitumor effects of interleukin-2, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and local irradiation: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg); 1989.

9. Specific cellular antigens in human lung cancer: UCSF School of Medicine and UCLA School of Medicine 1994-present.

10. Role of interleukin-4 in lung cancer and mesothelioma: UCSF School of Medicine and UCLA School of Medicine, 1995-present.

11. Role of intraoperative radiation in human mesothelioma: UCSF School of Medicine and UCSF-Mt. Zion Cancer Center; 1994-1997.

12. Dendritic cell-derived vaccines in human lung cancer: UCSF School of Medicine and UCLA School of Medicine; 1996-present.

13. Photodynamic Therapy in lung cancer, mesothelioma and esophageal disease: UCLA School of Medicine and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center; 1997-present.

14. Respiratory monitoring in thoracic surgical patients: UCLA School of Medicine and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2001-present

Invited Lectures

1. Cameron RB. Bleomycin toxicity and bleomycin lung. Surgery Branch Grant Rounds, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD: November 11, 1983.

2. Cameron RB. Video-assisted thoracic surgery. Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN), San Francisco/Marin County Chapter Educational Program, Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children, San Francisco, California: November 9, 1994.

3. Cameron RB. Neoadjuvant therapy followed by resection for stage IIIA lung cancer. 15th Annual Current Approaches to Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics, San Francisco, California: March 13, 1995

4. Cameron RB. New methods in the treatment of lung cancer. Grand Rounds, Brookside Hospital, San Pablo, California: April 4, 1995.

5. Bueff HU and Cameron RB. Thoracoscopy with thoracic disk excision. Debating Complex Issues in Spine Surgery, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California: April 7, 1995.

6. Cameron RB. Surgical treatment of lung cancer. UCSF Postgraduate Course in General Surgery, San Francisco, California: April 21, 1995.

7. Cameron RB. Iatrogenic esophageal trauma. American College of Surgeons Northern California Chapter Meeting, San Francisco, California: May 13, 1995.

8. Cameron RB and Urba W. Immunotherapy of cancer III: Discussion. 9th International Immunology Congress, San Francisco, California: July 25, 1995.

9. Cameron RB. Lung cancer. Cancer Registry Training Program, UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, San Francisco, California: August 10, 1995

10. Cameron RB. Surgical treatment of locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Grand Rounds, Mt Diablo Medical Center, Concord, California: September 15, 1995.

11. Cameron RB. Lung Reduction Surgery in COPD. 14th Annual Recent Advances in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, San Francisco, California: October 19, 1995.

12. Cameron RB. Thorascopic approaches to the thoracic spine. Minimally Invasive Anterior Approaches to Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Surgery, San Francisco, California: November 10, 1995.

13. Cameron RB. Lung cancer. Cancer Registry Training Program, UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, San Francisco, California: February 7, 1996

14. Cameron RB. Lung Reduction Surgery in COPD. Medical Grand Rounds. Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Oakland, California: April 9, 1996.

15. Cameron RB. T cell recognition of non-small cell lung cancer. General Thoracic Biology Club; 76th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, San Diego, California: April 28, 1996.

16. Cameron RB. What the thoracic surgeon needs from the diagnostic pathologist. 12th Annual Current Issues in Anatomic Pathology: 1996, San Francisco, California: May 24, 1996.

17. Cameron RB. Lung cancer. Cancer Registry Training Program, UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, San Francisco, California: August 7, 1996.

18. Cameron RB. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Thoracic Surgery Grand Rounds, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California: September 10, 1996.

19. Cameron RB. Lung reduction surgery in COPD. 15th Annual Recent Advances in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, San Francisco, California: October 18, 1996.

20. Cameron RB. The surgeon’s approach to lung cancer. Quarterly Oncology Conference, Mercy Medical Center, Redding, California: November 16, 1996.

21. Cameron RB. Lung cancer. Medical Education Speakers Network, Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Northridge California: November 4, 1997.

22. Cameron, RB. Surgical Approaches to Lung Cancer. Los Angeles Radiologic Society/Southern California Radiation Oncology Society Annual Meeting, Universal City, California: January 23, 1999.

23. Beseth B, Bedford R, Isacoff W, Holmes EC, and Cameron RB. Endoscopic ultrasound does not accurately assess pathology stage of esophageal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. American College of Surgeons Southern California Chapter Meeting, Huntington Beach, California, January 21, 2000.

24. Beseth B and Cameron, RB. Closure of parenchymal air leaks and buttressing of bronchial closures in an ex vivo swine model. American College of Surgeons Southern California Chapter Meeting, Huntington Beach, California, January 22, 2000.

25. Beseth B, Cameron RB, Leland P, You L, Varricchio F, Kreitman R, Maki RA, Pastan I, Jablons DM, Husain SR, Puri R. Cytotoxin directed to Interleukin-4 receptors for therapy of human malignant pleural mesothelioma xenographs. Society of Thoracic Surgeons 39th Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, January 31, 2003.

26. Cárdenas, AF, Pon, RK, and Cameron, RB, “Management of Streaming Body Sensor Data for Medical Information Systems. The 2003 International Conference on Mathematics and Engineering Techniques in Medicine and Biological Sciences (METMBS ‘03), Las Vegas, Nevada, June 24, 2003.

27. Hofstetter, WL, Cameron, RB, Lad, T, and Holmes, EC. Surgeons Specializing In Lung Cancer Perform Higher Quality Resections. Society of Thoracic Surgeons 40th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, 2004.

28. Cárdenas, AF, Pon, RK, and Cameron, R B. Management of Streaming Body Sensor Data for Medical Information Systems, 2003 International Conference on Mathematics and Engineering Techniques in Medicine and Biological Sciences (METMBS ‘03), June 23, 2003, Las Vegas, Nevada.

29. Hofstetter W, Holmes EC, Cameron RB, and Lad T. Surgeons Specializing in Lung Cancer Perform Higher Quality Resections. Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting, San Antonio, January 27, 2004.

Bibliography

Abstracts

1. Cameron RB and Rosenberg SA. In vivo synergy between interleukin-2 and interferon-a (IFN) in a murine multiple hepatic metastatic model. FASEB J 2(4):A689, 1988.

2. Cameron RB, Mule JJ, and Rosenberg SA. Evidence against a critical role for MHC upregulation in the in vivo synergistic antitumor activity of interferon-a and interleukin-2. Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res 30:390, 1989.

3. Jablons DM, Roach M, Jahan TM, and Cameron RB. Resection and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) followed by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy +/- adjuvant chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma. Proc 6th Int IORT Symposium, p. 37, 1996.

4. Rajasinghe H, Chen J, Merrick S, Keith F, Jablons DM, and Cameron RB. Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema. Chest 110(4 suppl):80, 1996.

5. Jablons DM, Cameron RB, Xia W, Leland P, Varricchio F, and Puri R. In vitro and in vivo expression of IL-4 receptors on human malignant mesothelioma: implications for therapy. Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research 38:pending, 1997.

6. Jablons DM, Cameron RB, Xia W, Varricchio F, Lelan P, Kreitman R, Pastan I, Puri R. Detection of IL-4 Receptors on Human Mesotheliomas and Demonstration of Specific Cytotoxicity by a Recombinant IL-4 Pseudomonas Exotoxin Against Human Mesothelioma Cell Lines. Chest 112:115, 1997.

7. Cameron RB, Fishbein M, Crean D, Wong T, Walker J, and Holmes EC. Photodynamic therapy of the normal canine airway with a new photosensitizing agent SnET2. Ann Thoracic Surg, 1999.

8. Schiepers C, Yap CS, Meta J, Seltzer MA, Silverman DH, Gambhir SS, Cameron RB, Phelps ME, Czernin J. Staging of recurrent lung cancer: Value of FDG-PET in therapy selection and management of patients. J Nuclear Med. 41(5 Suppl.), 75P, 2000.

9. Schiepers C, Yap CS, Silverman DH, Meta J, Seltzer MA, Gambhir SS, Cameron RB, Phelps ME, Czernin J. Staging of newly diagnosed lung cancer: Impact of FDG-PET on patient management. J Nuclear Med. 41(5 Suppl.): 109P, 2000.

10. Schiepers C, Yap CS, Seltzer M, Silverman D, Cameron R, Phelps ME, Czernin J. Prognostic value of metabolic imaging in lung cancer. J Nuclear Med. 42(5 Suppl): 300P, 2001.

11. Schiepers C, Yap C, Cameron R, Phelps ME, Czernin J. Metabolic imaging in lung cancer: Prognostic significance of a negative FDG-PET scan. J Nuclear Med. 43(5 Suppl): 114P-115P, 2002

12. Yap C, Schiepers C, Cameron R, Phelps ME, Czernin J. False positive (FP) and false negative (FN) FDG-PET findings of lesions suspicious for lung cancer. J Nuclear Med 43(5 Suppl): 115P, 2002.

13. Yap C, Vranjesevic D, Cameron R, Czernin J. F18-fluoro-thymidine: a new molecular probe for PET imaging of cancer. Ann Surg Oncol: 10(1):S38, 2003.

14. Phillips M, Altorki N, Austin JH, Cameron RB, Cataneo RN, Greenberg J, Kloss R, Maxfield RA, Pass HI, Rom WN, and Tietje O. Prediction of lung cancer using volatile biomarkers in breath. J Clin Oncol 23(16S): 839S, 2005.

Papers

1. Li GC, Cameron RB, Sapareto S, and Hahn GM. Reinterpretation of the Arrhenius analysis of cell inactivation by heat. Third International Symposium: Cancer Therapy by Hyperthermia, Drugs, and Radiation. NCI Monograph 61:111-113, 1982.

2. Moore TC and Cameron RB. Spontaneous perforation of the extrahepatic biliary tract in infancy and childhood. Pediatr Surg Int 1:206-209, 1986.

3. Cameron RB, McIntosh JK, and Rosenberg SA. Synergistic antitumor effects of combination immunotherapy with recombinant interleukin-2 and a recombinant hybrid alpha-interferon in the treatment of established murine hepatic metastases. Cancer Res 48(20):5810-5817, 1988.

4. Eisenthal A, Cameron RB, Uppenkamp I, and Rosenberg SA. Effect of combined therapy with lymphokine-activated killer cells, interleukin-2, and specific monoclonal antibody on established B16 melanoma lung metastases. Cancer Res 48(24):7140-7145, 1988.

5. Cameron RB, Spiess PJ, and Rosenberg SA. Synergistic antitumor activity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, interleukin-2, and local tumor irradiation. Studies on the mechanism of action. J Exp Med 171(1):249-263, 1990.

6. Eisenthal A, Cameron RB, and Rosenberg SA. Induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in vivo with specific anti-B16 monoclonal antibody. J Immunol 144(11):4463-4471, 1990.

7. Bock SN, Cameron RB, Kragel P, Mule JJ, and Rosenberg SA. Biologic and antitumor effects of recombinant human macrophage colony stimulating factor in mice. Cancer Res 51(10):2649-2654, 1991.

8. Barsky SH, Cameron RB, Osann KE, Tomita DK, and Holmes AC. Rising incidence of bronchioloalveolar lung carcinoma and its unique clinicopathological features. Cancer 73(4):1163-1170, 1994.

9. Cameron RB, Fringer J, Taylor C, Gilden R, and Figlin RA. Practice guidelines for non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer J Sci Am 2(3A suppl):61-68, 1996.

10. Cameron RB, Smith NG, Taylor C, Gilden R, and Figlin RA. Practice guidelines for small cell lung cancer. Cancer J Sci Am 2(3A suppl):69-75, 1996.

11. Jablons DM, Roach M, Jahan T, and Cameron RB. Resection and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) followed by three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy +/- adjuvant chemotherapy for malignant mesothelioma. Frontiers of Radiat Ther Oncol 31:140-145, 1997.

12. Key SP, Cameron RB, and Jablons DM. The Heimlich Device in Thoracic Surgery. Surgical Tech Int’l VI 91-95, 1997.

13. Xia W, Jablons DM, and Cameron RB. Presentation of tumor antigens by peripheral blood derived dendritic cells in lung cancer patients. Surg Forum 49:432, 1998.

14. Lim M, Martinez T, Jablons D, Cameron R, Guo H, Toole B, Li JD, Basbaum C. Tumor-derived EMMPRIN (extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer) stimulates collagenase transcription through MAPK p38. FEBS Lett. 441(1):88-92, 1998.

15. Beseth B, Bedford R, Isacoff W, Holmes EC, and Cameron RB. The use of endoscopic ultrasound in the assessment of response following induction therapy in esophageal carcinoma. Am J Surg 66(9):827-31, 2000.

16. Lee TT, Everett DL, Shu HK, Jahan TM, Roach M 3rd, Speight JL, Cameron RB, Phillips TL, Chan A, Jablons DM. Radical pleurectomy/decortication and intraoperative radiotherapy followed by conformal radiation with or without chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 124(6):1183-9, 2002.

17. Cárdenas, AF, Pon, RK, and Cameron, RB. Management of Streaming Body Sensor Data for Medical Information Systems, 2003 International Conference on Mathematics and Engineering Techniques in Medicine and Biological Sciences (METMBS ‘03), June 23-26, 2003, Las Vegas, Nevada.

18. Beseth B, Cameron RB, Leland P, You L, Varricchio F, Kreitman R, Maki RA, Pastan I, Jablons DM, Husain SR, Puri R. Cytotoxin directed to Interleukin-4 receptors for therapy of human malignant pleural mesothelioma xenographs. Ann Thorac Surg, Ann. 78:436-443, 2004.

19. Cárdenas, AF, Pon, RK, Cameron, RB, and Coyle, MA, “The Mobile Patient and Mobile Physician Data Access and Transmission,” The 2005 International Conference on Mathematics and Engineering Techniques in Medicine and Biological Sciences (METMBS ‘05), June 20-23, 2005, Las Vegas, Nevada

20. Dohadwala1 M, SC Yang, Luo J, Sharma1 S, Batra RK, Huang1 M, Lin Y, Goodglick L, Krysan K, Fishbein MC, Hong L, Cameron RB, Gemmill RM, Drabkin HA, Dubinett SM. Cyclooxygenase-2-dependent regulation of E-cadherin expression: PGE2 induces E-cadherin transcriptional repressors ZEB1 and Snail in NSCLC (JCI submitted)

21. Beseth B and Cameron RB. Acute Closure of Parenchymal Air Leaks and Buttressing of Bronchial Closures in an Ex-vivo Swine model. Chest (in preparation).

22. Cameron RB, Fishbein M, Crean D, Wong T, Walker J, and Holmes EC. Photodynamic therapy using a new photosensitizing agent SnET2 in canine airways (in preparation).

23. Cameron RB. Gastropulmonary fistula presenting as a lung abscess: a rare complication of abdominal surgery. (in preparation).

24. Cameron RB. Dermal Metastasis: A novel complication of thoracic epidural catheters. (in preparation).

Other peer-reviewed publications

1. Cameron RB. Lung cancer: specifications for acceptable care. Preferred Health Systems, LLC, Bethesda, Maryland, 1996.

Book Chapters

1. Cameron RB. Introduction to the cancer patient. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

2. Cameron RB. Principles of surgical oncology. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

3. Cameron RB. Principles of Immunotherapy. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

4. Rose L and Cameron RB. Metabolic problems and emergencies. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

5. Rose L and Cameron RB. Infectious problems and emergencies. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

6. Rose L and Cameron RB. Dermatologic problems and emergencies. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

7. Cameron RB and Wong J. Melanoma. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

8. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the lung. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

9. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the pleura. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

10. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the mediastinum. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

11. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the esophagus. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

12. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the stomach. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

13. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the small bowel. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

14. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the exocrine pancreas. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

15. Wade T and Cameron RB. Malignancies of the liver and intrahepatic biliary tract. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

16. Wade T and Cameron RB. Malignancies of the gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

17. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the colon. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

18. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the rectum. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

19. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the anus. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

20. Cameron RB. Malignancies of the adrenal medulla. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

21. Cameron RB. Malignancies of unknown primary site. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

22. McIntosh J and Cameron RB. Ewing’s sarcoma. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

23. McIntosh J and Cameron RB. Rhabdomyosarcoma. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

24. McIntosh J and Cameron RB. Neuroblastoma. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

25. McIntosh J and Cameron RB. Retinoblastoma. in Practical Oncology, Robert B. Cameron, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

26. Cameron RB and Gonella JS. Classification Systems (TNM and Disease). in Clinician’s Pocket Reference, Gomella LG, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 7th edition, 1993.

27. Cameron RB and Ginsberg RJ. Surgery and neoadjuvant chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer. in Lung Cancer, Carney D, editor, Edward Arnold, Sevenoaks, Kent, England, 1995.

28. Hodder RV, Cameron RB, and Todd TRJ. Lung infections: Bacterial infections. in Thoracic Surgery, Pearson FG, Deslauriers J, Ginsberg RJ, et. al., editors. Churchill Livingstone, New York, 1995.

29. Cameron RB. Contributor. Surgery On Call, Gomella LG and Lefor AT, editors. Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 2nd edition, 1996.

30. Cameron RB and Jablons DM. Chest wall, pleura, mediastinum, and lung. in Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment. Way L, editor. Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 10th edition, 1996.

31. Cameron RB and Gonella JS. Classification Systems (TNM and Disease). in Clinician’s Pocket Reference, Gomella LG, editor, Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 8th edition, 1996.

32. Cameron RB. Bedside procedures. in Clinician’s Pocket Reference, Gomella LG, editor. Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 8th edition, 1996.

33. Robles R, Cameron RB, Roach M, and Cornett P. Lung Cancer. in Current Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment. Henderson IC and Northfelt D, editors. Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1997 (in press).

34. Prager D, Cameron RB, Ford J, and Figlin RA. Bronchogenic Carcinoma. In: Textbook of Respiratory Medicine, Murray JF, Nadel JA, Mason RJ, et. al. eds., 3rd ed., Saunders, Philadelphia, 1999.

35. Figlin RA, Cameron RB, and Turrisi AT. Non-small cell lung cancer. In: Cancer Treatment, Haskell CM, ed. 5th ed., Saunders, Philadelphia, 1999.

36. Cameron RB, Loehrer PJ, and Thomas CR. Neoplasms of the Mediastinum. In: Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, DeVita VT, Hellman S, and Rosenberg SA, eds. 6th ed. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 2000.

37. Beseth, BD, Cameron RB, Mule JJ. Human Gene Therapy. In: Surgery: Scientific Principles and Practice., Greenfield LJ, ed. 3rd ed. Lippicott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2001.

38. Cameron RB, Loehrer PJ, and Thomas CR. Neoplasms of the Mediastinum. In: Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, DeVita VT, Hellman S, and Rosenberg SA, eds. 7th ed. Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 2005.

39. Cameron RB and Andaz S. Management of Pleural Effusions in Mesothelioma. In: Mesothelioma Pass H et. al., eds. Springer-Verlag, New York, 2005.

Books

1. Cameron RB and Schwarz SL, editors. Laboratory Protocols for the Immunotherapy of Cancer. Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, 1989.

2. Cameron RB, editor. Practical Oncology. Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT, 1994.

Reviews

1. Cameron RB. Book review of Atlas of video-assisted thoracic surgery by WT Brown. Surg Endo 9: 1995.

2. Cameron RB. Book review of General Thoracic Surgery by TW Shields, et. al. World J Surg, 24(12): 1599C-1600, 2000.

3. Cameron, RB Invited commentary on Expansion of chondrocytes in a three-dimensional matrix for tracheal tissue engineering Ann Thorac Surg, 78:448-449, 2004.

PRESENTATION TOPIC: Maintenance therapy for malignant mesothelioma to inhibit new cancerous tumors from forming and possibly extending the time between recurrences. When combined with surgery and radiation, Dr. Robert Cameron reports prolonged life expectancy to 37 months on average.  Click here to watch his presentation: Presentation Link

BACKGROUND:

What is interferon?

A protein produced naturally by the body’s immune system which helps fight infections and viruses.  Interferon alpha in particular fights infection and also prevents tumor formation.

One reason tumors grow in the body is because blood vessels bring nutrients to them.  Mesothelioma is a cancer known to cause many new blood vessels to form allowing multiple and diffuse tumors to grow and spread through the body.  Interferon alpha prevents new blood vessels from growing, which in turn starves tumors and limits their growth.

using interferon as maintenance therapy for mesothelioma may extend a patient’s life. 

Dr. Robert Cameron of UCLA has been treating malignant pleural mesothelioma patients with a daily low dose of interferon alpha since 2002.  Each night before going to sleep, the patient self-injects with a small dose of interferon alpha.  If, over time, the body tolerates the medication well, Dr. Cameron may slowly increase the dose.

Common side effects:

• Flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle pain, joint pain, headache, chills)
• Fatigue and low energy levels
• Discomfort related to food and digestion
• Loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness or confusion
• Mood disturbances such as depression
• Other possible changes such as hair thinning, skin discomfort or rash, dry mouth, or altered sense of taste
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Autoimmunity

Warning to females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given during pregnancy. Use reliable birth control during this treatment. Contact your health care provider right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Do not breastfeed during treatment with this medicine.

Warning to diabetics: This medicine may worsen diabetes, but rarely. Contact your health care provider if your condition changes.

When taken with other medicines, interferon can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Also, using multiple medicines together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider, especially if you are taking any of these medicines:

• theophylline and aminophylline
• zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT)

Be sure to tell all health care providers who treat you about all medicines you are taking, including nonprescription products, vitamins, and natural remedies. And remember to keep all medicines out of the reach of children. Do not share medicines with other people.

Is Interferon Alpha 2b right for you?

Have your Doctor contact Dr. Robert Cameron at (310) 231-2130 for more information.

FYI:  The Schering Plough Commitment to Care program offers financial assistance to qualified patients:

For some, there may be financial assistance through the Schering Plough Commitment to Care program.  In the U.S. complete your application by downloading this Commitment to Care Application and mailing it to:

Commitment to Care, Oncology Program
6900 College Blvd., Suite 1000
Overland Park, KS 66211

Or via Fax: (866) 277-9328
Questions? Call (800) 521-7157. 

In Canada, call (877) 494-0454 to speak with a specialist who will mail the appropriate forms to you and your doctor.  Hours are Monday – Friday 8 am – 8 pm (eastern).